Darrell Davis: Canadian hockey passion

Recruited to join Canada’s 1968 Olympic hockey team, my father was emotionally crushed when he was cut before the Games.

I thought about that passion as Hockey Canada announced the men’s hockey team that will be competing at next month’s Olympics in Korea. For the first time since 1994, there will be no current NHL players competing. In 1968 they weren’t allowed to play in the Olympics; even former professionals weren’t allowed.

Fifty years ago, Canada’s team was mainly a collection of university and junior players. My father, Lorne Davis, was a former NHLer who joined the squad as a “reinstated amateur.” The team was managed by Father David Bauer and coached by Jack McLeod.

Just before the 1967 world championships, former NHL all-star Carl Brewer became a reinstated amateur who bumped my dad from the roster. From that point on our family never mentioned Brewer’s name.