Man’s hockey passion leads to penning a book

Early Hockey Years in Parry Sound – Part 1-1896-1942.. Early Hockey Years in Parry Sound – Part 1-1896-1942. By Rick Thomas.

PARRY SOUND – He’s the first to admit that he’s not a writer, he’s a “math person”, but curiosity turned into a passion for first-time author Rick Thomas, when he penned the book Early Hockey Years in Parry Sound – Part 1-1896-1942.
Thomas had spent about 20 years coaching minor hockey in Parry Sound as well as helping his uncle, Dave Thomas, make his historical DVD collection and, following his retirement in 2008, wanted to learn more about the history of Parry Sound’s local hockey teams.
After doing his own research in the Parry Sound Public Library, going through old articles and photos in the North Star he, on a whim, decided to compile all the information into a book.
“I did a lot of interviews with my Uncle Dave and Aunt Lenore (Thomas), because they lived in the ‘20s and ‘30s and they remember so much about the old Shamrocks hockey team,” said Thomas. “As a matter of fact my Aunt Lenore is related to the person who built one of the first arenas in Parry Sound, the Virgo Arena over on Miller Street.”
As word got around, Thomas said people began sending him old hockey photographs for his book.
“It tells the story of the history of hockey in Parry Sound, but it’s laid out so you can open it up and you can read about anything,” he said.
For example, Thomas learned about the history of the place where he spent winters playing hockey – Strains Lake.
“Behind the (Parry Sound) Mall there’s a lake called Strains Lake, when I grew up that’s where a lot of people went to play hockey and I found out while writing this book, that that’s where hockey probably originated in Parry Sound, to go out to Strains Lake to play shinny. Governor (William) Beatty, when he founded the town, he actually built a road to Strains Lake for the people of the town to go to play hockey and to enjoy the lake and that’s probably where hockey originated. Everybody my age and older than me, that’s where they played hockey.”
Thomas said he enjoyed the experience of writing the book, and has nearly finished Part 2 in the series.
“It just became so huge,” he said. “I was getting pictures from the ‘50s and the ‘40s and I was taking them to the arena to the hockey games going around the crowd to see if anybody recognized these people. I had a lot of fun last year. I just had so much fun going through the old newspapers finding out other things. I’ve almost finished the next one, it’s going to be from 1942 to 1973 when the old arena, the Memorial Arena, burnt down in 1973.”
In the two weeks since the book has been out, Thomas has sold 125 copies.
“The feedback I’m getting is just amazing,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m getting a lot of pressure to do Part 3. There’s a likelihood that I’ll do a part 3.”
The book, Early Hockey Years in Parry Sound – Part 1-1896-1942 is available at the West Parry Sound District Museum and Barely Used Books for $16.
Thomas encourages everyone to join his Facebook group: Early Hockey Years of Parry Sound.