Spokane Oldtimers History

It All Began Back In 1974...or maybe 1948!
30 Years And Still Going Strong In Community

Back in 1975, a group of former Spokane hockey players got together to organize what would become the Spokane Oldtimers Hockey Association.

Now, although many of the names have changed, 30 years later the organization is still a force in the hockey community. One constant in the organization has been Vern Kneeshaw, pictured above in the first row of the 1948-49 Spokane Flyers National Senior Championship team. Kneeshaw was part of the group that got the Spokane Oldtimers going and recently was honored the group's lone current "lifetime" member. Kneeshaw recalled how the group got going in the spring of 1975. "Oldtimer hockey was popular in Canada at the time and we wanted to try to get it going down here.

Spokane Oldtimers Founders

Blinkey Boyce		Carl Cirullo		Jerry Fodey
Vern Kneeshaw		Dan McDougald		Red Tilson
		Don Scherza

In looking back through the notes on the organization, Kneeshaw recalled the first meeting took place on March 23, 1975. Less than a week a week later Kneeshaw, along with Jerry Fodey, Carl Cirullo, Dan McDougald, Tony Hemerling, Blinkey Boyce, Don Scherza, John Dolan and Red Tilson gathered to officially for the organization. Kneeshaw joked that Scherza probably wasn't old enough at the time to officially be an "oldtimer."

A copy of the original documents showing the founders of Spokane Oldtimers Hockey Association. It's kind of our "constitution" with the signatures of our forefathers.'

Kneeshaw was voted the organizations's first president and from that day forward the group has helped keep the tradition of Spokane hockey alive and well. The first Oldtimers Tournament was held in 1981, in 2006 celebrated 25 consecutive years of fun and fellowship. To this day, attending the Spokane tournament has been a tradition for many teams each season. Some teams spend their off-season raising money to attend the Spokane tournament, oftentimes bringing themselves and their families to the event.

In addition to the Spring Tournament that is coordinated by the Masters Division, the Grinders present a June golf tournament and have played a spring game versus the Calgary Flame Alumni. All events that the Spokane Oldtimers present provide monies to both local charities that include both hockey and non-hockey causes.

The group annually sponsors youth hockey players and teams as well as providing dollars to the likes of the Vanessa Behan Nursery, Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, the Mark Rypien Foundation and others. Contact us if you have a worthwhile charity we might be able to help.

Looking Back...
The 1979-80 Flyers: Our last Allan Cup winners
Over a quarter century has passed since the Spokane Flyers last hoisted the Allan Cup in victory.

The Flyers went out in impressive fashion beating the Cambridge Hornets 4 games to none at the old Spokane Coliseum.

Not long after, the Flyers would abandon their long-time senior hockey roots and move to the junior Western Hockey League. Of course that move to the Western Hockey League has resulted in two more championships – Memorial Cup victories in 1991 and 2008.