|
- by Bruce Munroe The idea for this tournament was born in the late 60's and early 70's. A friendly rivalry between members of Boston and Montreal centers in baseball, golf and hockey turned into the first International ATC Hockey Tournament, held in 1972 in Nashua, NH, home of the Boston Center. They invited teams from New York, Chicago, Montreal, Moncton and Gander. The hangouts were the Legion, the Thunderbird Club in Lowell, Mass. and of course the halls of the Holiday Inn where a new sport was invented, "Newfy Races", our version of streaking. The Gander team flew to Moncton to join the Moncton team for a 12 hour bus ride. Four year old Jimmy Desmond became the mascot for the Moncton team. The FAA flag disappeared from the center and then disappeared from the room of the culprits. An awards banquet was held on the last evening and it was announced that Moncton who arrived with lots of support from city council would be the next host. Where is this place called Moncton? Keddy's Hotel was home for 1973. New teams were added. This was the first year for Steve McGreevy Sr. and the Waz. Boston came in a motor home with a roof high enough for people to remove banners from streets. Newfy races were more organized with outside guests as spectators and our first major race injury was a dislocated shoulder.
In 1974 Montreal hosted. Newfy Races went outdoors including one heat from the International Hotel to the Holiday Inn (approx. a mile along the #2 highway). In 1975 we went to Aurora, Illinois, home of Chicago Center. The highlights were a night at the Elks Club, a girl named Tex,
the Odd Couple and Waz playing pool on the Mezz of the hotel, sans duds. The tournament patch was introduced and receiving one each year has become a tradition. In 1976 we descended upon Gander Newfoundland where we took over several parts of town including the Curling Club which stayed open 24 hours a day. People to remember, Jennifer and Jessica. Remember the river boat filled with beer? 1977 was the year of the Apple (Big). NY hosted on Long Island at the Kings Grant Hotel and we played on the Islanders practice rink. Eddie Westphal and boys made us feel welcome. Trips to Manhattan in the daytime to watch Waz troll for muggers with $100 bills hanging from his Foster Grants and the best of 42nd St. warmed us up for a night at the Playboy Club where they fed and entertained us. There was a charity game between the NY City cops and a team made up of reps from each of our teams. The cops (32 and 0) wanted to play contact. Our guys didn't as they had all played that day and some had never played contact before. The first defense pairing for our guys was Ted Northcott and Pat "Elbows" Penny from the Gander Flyers senior team. A cop on the first rush into our end ended up on the wrong end of Ted's hip. That set the tone for the game. When the dust settled the cops were 32 and 1. Toronto for 1978. The Skyline Hotel with the "No Jeans" rule in the front bar hosted us. Clarkie fixed that. He took off his jeans, folded them and put them on the bar. Quote from the bartender, "Okay, one beer, then you're outta here." Quite a few went to see the Maple Leafs and the Flyers. A very successful benefit game in support of the Sick Kids Hospital between our guys and the Maple Leaf Oldtimers. 1979. Lookout Mary Tyler Moore, we're coming to town. Our first of 3 trips to the Twin Cities. They had a great hospitality room with too many kegs. Two new games were invented, "Drop The Empty Keg Out The Window Into The Alley Below", and "See How Long You Can Hold Your Mouth Under The Tap Without Spilling Any Beer". We found a new police weapon too - mace. The Red Wings played the North Stars and we made the score board in the Met Center. Ottawa in 1980. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in the Market and Bare Fax was out the back door. International Hide and Seek was invented. The tenth tournament was back in Nashua in 1981. The Castle was the poshest hotel yet, too good for us. The first night we all got a candy on our pillow and the next night we got a letter talking about alternate accommodations. The people who had been to all 10 tournaments received medals. Rodney Ramjet did Dangerous Dan while we waited for the lovely performers. Ronnie Reagan did his thing before we could return to Moncton for the 11th…U.S. controllers, under the leadership of their union PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike. After just a few days, Reagan gave them an ultimatum to return to work or be fired. PATCO stayed on strike and over 11,000 controllers were fired. Out of respect for the U.S. controllers and the horrible event that took place, the tournament for 1982 was cancelled and play was not resumed until 1984. The Screech:
Long before any liquor board was created to take alcohol under its benevolent wing, Demerara rum was a mainstay of the Newfoundland diet, with salt fish traded to the West Indies in exchange for rum. When the Government took control of the traditional liquor business in the early 20th century, it began selling the rum in an unlabeled bottle. The product might have remained permanently nameless except for the influx of American servicemen to the Island during World War II.
As the story goes, the commanding officer of the original detachment was having his first taste of the Newfoundland hospitality and, imitating the custom of his host, downed his drink in one gulp. The American’s blood-curdling howl, when he regained his breath, brought the sympathetic and curious from miles around rushing to the house to find out what was going on. The first to arrive was a garrulous old American sergeant who pounded on the door and demanded, “What the cripes was that ungodly screech?”
The taciturn Newfoundlander who had answered the door replied simply, “The Screech? ‘Tis the rum, me son.” Thus was born a legend. As word of the incident spread, the soldiers, determined to try this mysterious “Screech” and finding its effects as devastating as the name implies, adopted it as their favorite.
The ATC Hockey “Screech-In” is a social celebration hosted by our brothers from the East Coast of Canada that allows players and fans an opportunity to become part of the “Screecher” organization and history as Honorary members. First time players and fans are “welcomed” to the tournament through a crazy presentation that includes a taking a drink of screech, saying the screecher’s words, and then kissing the fish!
A Screech Story by Bruce Munroe:
Just to touch on the Screech story, I can't remember what year it started, but we usually brought a fish with us and sometimes we had to acquire one in the host town. Most times I would go to a fish store in Halifax and look for the ugliest fish I could find and freeze it for the trip. On arrival day at the Tournament we would find a place for it to thaw and season itself. I must say, by Friday night it was pretty ripe. It never stopped the Finns. One year we handed the fish to a Finn and it came back with a big bite out of the side of it. The last time in Chicago, Steve and Dee McGreevy bought about an 8 to 10 pound salmon for the ceremony. Chapter 2 - 1984 and play resumes:
Halifax 1984. Around 50 people arrived in Halifax for the rebirth. Montreal, Gander, a group from Ottawa who drove a motor home in a snow storm and Halifax were the teams. Charlie Carpenter, who had been fired in 1981 and was teaching in London, England and the Waz brought the the US colours.
Some people played for 2 teams as we didn't have enough players. A van load of beer-packing participants drove in another snow storm to visit Bruce's family for an afternoon. Corned Beef and Cabbage was served at the banquet (typical Maritime fare). We didn't have any trophies as they were with the last winners. Sam Moon played nets for Gander and he and Dana have been fixtures ever since.
Life goes on and so does ATC hockey. New U.S. controllers were hired (some of which actually played hockey), old players returned, the interest grew again, and the game played on… |
