The Society for International Hockey Research held its 2008 AGM on Friday and Saturday, May 16 & 17, 2008, in Québec City, during the latter stages of the first Hockey World Championship held in Canada, on the occasion of International Ice Hockey Federation’s 100th anniversary, and Québec City’s own 400th anniversary. The city’s mood was quite festive!  SIHR, an Ontario-based organization, made a great break-out.

Friday afternoon saw members trickle into Hôtel Acadia, which had no shortage of old-world charm, and served as both meeting place and hotel for the weekend's events. The meet-and-greet began at 7 PM and drew a large gathering of members who chatted about hockey and had the opportunity to meet members from all parts of Canada, portions of the US as well as European members Pat Houda of Sweden and Martin Harris of England.

Of interest at the meet-and-greet, among a collection of French-language books about hockey (some authored by SIHR members), was a binder full of pictures and articles on the history of hockey and ice rinks in Québec City, prepared by local member Mario Trépanier, and featuring the two versions of the Québec Skating Rink, the old Colisée, and the old and new appearances of the current one, as well as champion local teams over the years: Bulldogs, Aces, Remparts, Nordiques. Of particular interest was the picture of houses in the region decorated with sidings made from old hockey skate blades.

Host J.P. Martel's efforts did not go unnoticed, as members enjoyed themselves into the wee hours of the morning.

Thirty-nine members and a few observers took in the all-day Saturday meeting , enjoyed the convivial atmosphere and cuisine of la belle province and a few were lucky enough to take in the ice action at the Pepsi Colisée. Kudos to Russia!

Two Quebec residents were elected to the highest offices: James Milks of Gatineau as President and host Jean-Patrice Martel of Chambly as Executive Vice-President. "J.P.," who was complimented for his convention arrangements, successfully moved a motion to adopt a French-language version of our name--Société Internationale de Recherche sur le Hockey, while retaining the acronym--SIHR.

Ed Grenda of Kingston was elected Honorary President, joining writer-broadcaster Brian McFarlane in this vaunted position. The McFarlane Award for outstanding research and writing will go to Toronto's Paul Patskou, who collects, preserves, shows and shares a century of hockey films. The only other executive change was the election of Whit Bacon of Springfield, Mass. as VP U.S. East. A proposal to elect five European vice-presidents was tabled for a change in the constitution.

SIHR Quebec VP Earl Zukerman, who has hosted three meetings in Montreal, invited SIHR to return to Mount Royal (McGill) for the Canadiens' 100th anniversary in May, 2009. Belleville, Ontario, which will celebrate the McFarlands' 1959 world championship, was submitted as the site for the 2009 Fall meeting.

Outgoing President Len Kotylo, without instant translation service available, conducted the morning business session in his best barrister English and a few members, notably Secretary Lloyd Davis and Treasurer Paul Bruno, both of Ontario, brushed up their high school French in their reports.

The latter duo reported 280 members in good standing--103 in arrears--spread through 10 countries, 27 states and 10 provinces. The president noted 37 new members since January. "The numbers are due to the positive attributes and abilities that the Society shows to the world; through our website, database, Journals, participations," he said. "(We have) been paid the ultimate compliment by the newly-formed non-profit corporation, the Canadian Football Research Society, which has modeled itself after the practices, methods and procedures of SIHR."

The society is solvent if not rich. The bank balance as of April 1, 2008 was $4,174.70, with memberships of $7,361 covering our major expenditure of $6,186 for Journals and Newsletters. Donations topped $400, mainly for the Creighton Memorial Fund, which was augmented by a $100 donation from Patrick Houda of Sweden, who along with Martin Harris of England, were two of five international attendees.

Roger Godin, SIHR VP-West reported that the SIHR plaque recognizing the present Rainbow Foods Super Market at 29th/Dupont in Minneapolis as the site of the former Minneapolis Arena was dedicated on February 7, 2008 with both Godin and member Glen Sonmor making remarks. The Minneapolis Arena was the home rink for five Minneapolis Millers teams that won minor league cahampionships in 1928, 1932, 1934, 1937, and 1950. Sonmor was a member of the last team. The dedication was filmed by FOX Sports North and was subsequently featured on that network's Minnesota Hockey Day telecast on February 9.

The meeting heartily endorsed a $100 donation to the group organizing the replacement of the Dey's Rink plaque in Ottawa, a project personally supported by Past President Paul Kitchen. Mr. Houda added $40 to this fund. Merci!

Paul presented the annual report of SIHR 2001 Origins Committee, which outlined the recent "birthplace" claim of Deline, N.W.T, based on explorer John Franklin's diary entry. "While Franklin does refer to both hockey and skating, he does not indicate any description of the hockey activity, nor does he directly link the skating with the 'hockey' his men played. It doesn't cut it!"

Papers and PowerPoint presentations, in comparison to the program at the Fall 2007 meeting in Springfield, Mass., were numerous and excellent. Heading the list of special speakers was South Porcupine native Murray Costello, Vice-President Americas for the International Ice Hockey Federation, who ignored his NHL career (162 games with Chicago, Boston and Detroit, 1953-57) and gave us an insight into a new "team" in world hockey--the officials.

Dave Pichette, 48, gave us a peek into his storied career with hometown Quebec, St. Louis, New Jersey and NY Rangers, 1980-88. A six-foot, three-inch defenceman, who played with such Nordique greats as the Stastny brothers, reached his peak with a 40-assist season with the Devils.

Pichette lives in Quebec City and now works as a realestate agent. He currently serves as the President of the Quebec Nordiques Alumni Association.

Craig Campbell, head of the Hockey Hall of Fame's photo collection, took time out from the FanFest near the Colisée to present an illustrated talk on Images on Ice. The Toronto-based shrine has a great collection "with lots of holes," he said, but is creating unique new photographs while preserving and managing the old.

Variety was the spice of five fine papers by members. Tommie Holmes, of Pointe Claire, Que., outlined one of his three books, The Gift of Hockey. Jake Bartlett of Charlottetown, P.E.I. gave a complex statistical analysis of "Stay-At-Home Defencemen in the NHL, 1918-1999," including such journeymen 1,000 plus gamers, Brad Marsh and Craig Ludwig, 300-plus game blueliners Randy Holt and Jack McIlhargey and one-game fringe player Raymie Skilton.

Gary Mossman of Pickering, Ont., presented a scholarly thesis on innovative author-broadcaster-coach "Lloyd Percival: Forgotten Father of the New NHL. James Mancuso of Utica, N.Y., combined with past president Ernie Fitzsimmons of Fredericton, N.B., to reveal the "Minor-League All-Time, All-Star Team. And "J.P." Martel: with newspaper clippings, illustrated "The First World Hockey Championship of Hockey in Canada (1970)." All of the papers will be published in the next Hockey Research Journal.

One paper, "Quebec's Gallant Goalie--Frank Stocking, 1873-1961," was distributed in printed form by Bill Fitsell, who told the story to Marc Durand of the Radio-Canada (CBC's French network).

Dave Holland of Calgary, Alta., introduced his excellent self-published book, Canada on Ice: The World Hockey Championships, 1920-2008, which he wrote in four months and sells at $20. Dave McNeil (dmcneil@dal.ca) distributed an outline on Hockey in Print, a bibliography of writing on hockey, including books by SIHR members and Hockey Research Journal articles. The site encourages readers to post comments on items they have read.
Newsletter editor Wayne Geen of Oshawa appealed for more 250-word articles and pictures in the form of a Word document.(newsletter@sihrhockey.org). He is investigating the possibility of placing ads on the front page to help defray costs. A similar discussion was held about adding advertising--no pop-ups please--to the website.

SIHR e-list moderator James Milks reported on this valuable info exchange tool serving 132 subscribers. He also reported the creation of a second e-list entitled SIHR Brainstorming: "This is intended for use by members and the executive to discuss issues and exhange ideas related to the growth and development of SIHR." Paul Bruno was authorized to conduct a SIHR-related broadcast segment on the Internet site, That Radio.com, based in Toronto. Past President Len will co-host.

The convention and social functions were graced by a number of women, including new member Monika Moravan of Mississauga, Ont., regulars Marlene Fitzsimmons and Anne Kitchen; plus Barb Fitsell. The latter two and hubbies, along with Jim and Denise Vantour of Ottawa, and John and Donna Finley of Mississauga, witnessed one of the most joyous vignettes of the weekend on Quebec's trendy Grande Allee after the Sunday final: Vladislav Tretiak being tossed up in the air by jubilant Russian hockey fans. And, who got the autograph of the Soviet goaltending great when he landed--Anne of Ottawa. Priceless!