St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Letter writing seems quite inadequate at present, but I do feel that I should make some attempt to inform you of our trip and adventures in the World Hockey Tournament, 1966 . As you probably know, the tournament has taken place in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia from March 3rd to 13 th. During this period we have played seven games against the best repre¬ sentatives from Europe and Asia. Playing seven games in ten days is very demanding, and it almost leaves the body in a state of mental and physical exhaustion. Feeling tired, as I do, and having been subjected to a series of poor refer¬ eeing, as well as being involved in a form of political war¬ fare, I am having difficulty proving to myself that our cause is justifiable. In 1964 Father Bauer assembled a group of young men with the intention of forming a hockey team of international calibre while the boys were still able to further their uni¬ versity education. In other words, we hoped that we would combine hockey and education. I must add that I feel we have been successful in this area, as most of our players have enjoyed two highly successful years at university. Dur¬ ing our hockey ventures, we have attempted not only to be enthusiastic, but also ambassadors of our country. It is in the latter where we have encountered problems. We will¬ ingly accepted the responsibility of representing Canada, hoping that we could best exemplify the true character of our democratic country. However, little did we realize the true involvement of such a responsibility. Members of Canada’s National Hockey Team are, to put it quite truthfully, being used as pawns in a form of political war¬ fare. The Communist countries are definit ely using victories over Canada and other democratic nations as a political propaganda in the well known cold war.” Officials from Communist countries, or from countries bordering a Communist country, often are pressured into bias. Because of this, we often are unjustly penalised, and therefore are unable to play to our full potential as a hockey team. This is extremely frustrating. If the hockey teams were allowed to play hockey without political interference, I am sure that international competition would be a much more enjoyable and satisfying experience. Ljubljana is a beautiful city. Temperatures have been very mild, and the nearby Alps provide a beautiful back¬ ground for the city. Although Yugoslavia is a Communist country and is divided into six Republics, the people are united in a strong national pride and spirit of independence. This has become quite evident to most of our JLetia jfiom JLjdljcm players. Our accom modations are ideal. We are staying at the Hotel Tabor, a new building which will become an old people’s home when we leave. The food has been excellent (usually we are subjected to large quantities of greasy food). While some of the boys have had difficulty in selecting a suitable beverage, I have been drinking large quantities of Italian Pepsi and goats’ milk. I am not over impressed with either of them, but they will do for now. As for the games themselves, I feel that we did quite well. Our first game was against the U.S.A. which we Continued on page 42

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$ moi ' JwjjWU Errol Naiman, Mark Jackman, Douglas Kiddell, Jamie Little, Bob Williams, David Everett. INSET: Simon Truelove. This year has been an especially good one for me, probably because it is my last, and it looks as if it might end up a rather memorable and exciting one, if the impending flood comes about. Great spirit and sacrifice have already been shown by the boys who have given up their Easter holidays to fill sandbags to save the school buildings from danger. And maybe we will get a few extra days of holidays later (which would really make this the best year I have spent here). I hope that this year has not only been a ' test” year for me, but that it has been a successful year for the school as well. Being School Captain during this, my final, year has been a truly rewarding experience, and I can think of no finer way of ending my years here. It has been a very great honour, and I only hope I have done a fraction for the school of what it has done for me. I am proud to have been a part of this school, and will be proud to be an old boy. BILL COTTICK - SCHOOL CAPTAIN Out of focus

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SPORTS