A Great Game (52 page)

My work on this book began back in 2004 as a distraction from the hectic and obsessive nature of political life. I had become unusually interested in hockey history as a youngster growing up in Toronto. As a studious and rather unathletic boy, this pastime helped to compensate for my conspicuous inability on the ice. Two people deserve some credit for cultivating this interest of mine. First and foremost, my father, Joseph Harris Harper, was himself an avid researcher in many fields and a role model in all things. Some mention is also due to an individual whom my dad much admired, the late W. Harold Rea—the man who also gave me my first ticket to an NHL game.

The Society for International Hockey Research is the foremost organization of its kind and is largely responsible for reviving my attention to this boyhood hobby. Past president Lenard Kotylo, who possesses a wealth of information on all aspects of hockey history, provided a number of documents at the outset of my research. His initial help truly got this project off the ground. Lenard closed the loop by providing an expert review of the final manuscript.

Lenard also connected me with a couple of other walking hockey encyclopaediae, Eric Zweig and Glen Goodhand. Eric also did a thorough review of the final product, finding an embarrassing number of inaccuracies and digging up some good stuff on Bruce Ridpath. As for Glen, his unpublished work on the Ontario Professional Hockey League has long been the only one of substance relating to the Toronto Professionals hockey club. (Kevin Slater's recent opus on the OPHL is now another.) Reverend Glen, through Professor Jo Behrens of the University of Omaha, was also helpful in tracking down information on the theological career of Chuck Tyner. As well, James Milks and Ernie Fitzsimmons of SIHR were helpful on matters relating to the statistical record.

The laborious task of combing through the original news reports of the era was handled by this project's researcher, Greg Stoicoiu. Greg's contribution is significant. An expert in hockey memorabilia, he has
solid knowledge of the subjects he was digging into and a good eye for relevant material. That good eye also provided the jersey drawings that colour the inserts. Let me state for the record that Greg was paid by me personally, not by the taxpayers of Canada.

A number of organizations and their people were supportive in tracking biographical information. This includes Ian Wilson, Marthe Seguin-Muntz and Neysa McLeod of Library and Archives Canada. They were particularly helpful for those players who served in the First World War. Patrick Deane, Rick Stapleton and Alexandra Lawson of McMaster University assisted with details of Rolly Young's academic and sports career at that institution. Guy Lauzon, MP, pointed me to Tracy Cameron of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, David Hill and George and Bev Runions, all of whom provided information on Zina Runions. Reverend Lauren Lyon of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Kansas City shared a number of pictures and stories of Chuck Tyner's career there. Jim Miln of Winnipeg and Bruce Miln of Victoria supplied some family trees on namesake Alexander. Kevin Shea also provided some useful bits of information on the hockey history of St. Michael's College.

More general sources of information included the Toronto Public Library. Special thanks go to Jane Pyper and a number of people whose assistance she procured, including Nancy Marshall, Linda Mackenzie, Mary Rae Shantz, Bill Hamade and Christopher Coutlee. They were especially accommodating in reproducing articles and photographs from the local newspapers of the era. Craig Campbell of the Hockey Hall of Fame deserves special mention for opening its files and photographs collections. A similar thanks is owed to Chuck Puchmayr and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in New Westminster.

I know that Greg would also like to convey some additional appreciation to those who helped him. The folks at the Calgary Public Library, the University of Calgary McKinney Library and the Glenbow Museum and Library were of great assistance in getting newspapers on microfilm and navigating genealogical information. Suzanne Plouffe and Janet Seally of the Waterloo Public Library and Crystal Williamson of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons were eager to aid in tracking down Rolly Young's later life story. Finally, Jim Woodland assisted Greg in getting some local information while spending time in Toronto.

After seven years of slow but steady progress, I finished the first version of this work some two years ago. It was then that I began the process of seeking a publisher. That led me to my dedicated agent, Michael Levine—a veteran expert who literally knows everyone—and ultimately to the good people at Simon & Schuster.