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Eddie got his first pair of skates when he was five years old. During his early years his favorite position was center.
He would only play a few games a year playing goal when he was needed to fill the position.
By age 10, Eddie played
center or defense. He didn't start minding the net until he was 12. Thanks to the goalie on the team, who refused to continue
to play goal, Eddie stepped in and greatness was beginning to be created!
When Eddie was in high school, he tried
out for the Varsity Team at age 15. Three goalies were trying out for two spots and Eddie was the one to get cut. He decided
to play JV that year instead of quitting.
The next year, a new coach took over the team and even though Eddie still
was on the JV Team, the coach gave Eddie his big break.
Eddie recalls, "Our team was down two games to none in
a best of five Championship Final. I hadn't even dressed for game 1 or game 2, but Coach Mckinnon gave me the chance to start
in that third (do-or-die) game. It was a road game. Their rink was packed with everybody ready to celebrate 'the sweep'.
Bus loads of kids from our school had traveled with the team so we had a strong core of very vocal fans. It was great! Town
against town - school spirit against school spirit. I had a very strong game, helping us spoil the sweep and extend the series."
"I had another good outing the next game at home, and won, forcing a fifth game back at Winkler. The game was
very close. We scored. They scored. The score went back and forth, end to end. After regulation, it was all tied up.
Sudden death overtime would decide the series! They scored and won."
"The next year we were a team with
a mission. I played the whole year with the varsity team and ended my High School Hockey experience on a high by winning
the Championship. The following year I signed with the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL."
Eddie and the 1983 Cougars!
Eddie as a member of the 1985 Winkler FLyers!
Eddie in his MJHL uniform with the Cup!
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