Saskatoon’s 60+ hockey league still going strong after more than 30 years

Hockey season is in full swing, and Saskatoon’s 60+ hockey league proves that age is no barrier — it has 210 members and even more waiting in the wings.

Stan Halliwell and his friend Reg Morrison started the league in 1993, just before they both turned 60.

“We were both playing in the 50 and over league and as we were getting close to 60 it was getting a little tougher to keep up with the younger guys,” said Halliwell. “Also the 50+ league played at night and (on) weekends.”

The 60+ league plays at Schroh Arena during the day Monday to Friday, and there’s 21 teams of 10.

When the league first started only a handful of guys were playing, and Halliwell says the league’s growth has been fantastic.

“It’s terrific. We started with about 20 guys,” said Halliwell. “Now there’s 210 guys, we are playing five days a week, sometimes four games a day.”

Halliwell recently turned 90, and still laces up his skates and gets on the ice.

He explained what keeps bringing him back each year.

“Half the game is on the ice, the other half of our game is just in the dressing room just socializing with the guys,” said Halliwell.

“Over the years we’ve met people from different walks of life. We have lawyers, dentists, and teachers.”

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The league is like one big family, the players say.

Fred Wilson is 78 and has played in the league for 18 years. He said the 60+ league is the best of both worlds.

“The comradery and the entertainment and the enjoyment — actually hockey is kind of a secondary thing,” said Wilson.

There are three different divisions in the 60+ league to ensure that everyone can keep up.

League president Ken Crump said the divisions are based on ability and new teams are chosen every month.

Picking new teams allows players to get to know each other better, while also being able to play against some new faces.

Crump said the league has continued to see increases in registration numbers, with some players waiting for their own locker room stalls.

Officials for the games are players from the league who volunteer. The league pays them $2 a game, and that money gets pooled and is donated to the Salvation Army at the end of the year.

Crump said the money is donated in the name of the players lost throughout the year to honour them.

The league also keeps a plaque in the dressing room remembering past players.

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