If you've ever hung from the rafters to cheer on the Timmins Northstars, or laced up for the team back in the day — mark Aug. 17 on the calendar.
The former Intermediate A hockey team is having a reunion at the McIntyre Arena this summer.
Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. there is an open house for all supporters and friends of the team. There will also be a social and brunch for players, management, trainers and other people directly associated with the team.
The Timmins Northstars enjoyed an 11-year run in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League.
“The team was probably the most successful, best hockey team that this town ever had. The number of league championships, the number of eastern Canadas that they won over the period of time is probably unequalled by anything in the history of the town,” said Joe Campbell.
Back in 1973, Campbell and the late Bill Moffat led a group to approach the Mattagami League to gauge interest in forming an Intermediate A league. The Northland Intermediate Hockey League was soon formed, with play beginning the next year.
“In the early days we begged, borrowed and stole to support the team. But then, Bill Moffat started a construction business and he was passionate about the team, so the latter years we had no problem financing the team because he financed it,” Campbell said.
“The team had tremendous success because we had an owner with deep pockets, so every Feb. 10 we would all sit down and say ‘OK before the signing deadline, what do we need to win the league?’ So then he would scour the country and bring guys in from all over the place."
The name comes from the Kidd Creek North Stars.
According to the City of Timmins, in its first season when the players had no jerseys executive member Rick Young loaned the mine's sweaters and socks to the team until it could outfit itself.
Over the years, the team won eight league championships, six NOHA championships, and three All-Ontario championships.
In 1983, they won the Eastern Canada title, earning a ticket to the All-Canadian finals in Winnipeg.
"The one thing that (Moffat) wanted to win was the national championship and we did manage to make it to Winnipeg for the nationals, but we got beat up in Charlottetown that year big time and we lost three key players in a very tough series winning the eastern Canada,” recalled Campbell.
Former NHLer Bep Guidolin was behind the bench for the Northstars that season.
Steve Kidd was in net at nationals and still remembers being caught on a bad change.
“We were playing in the Winnipeg arena where the old Jets used to play,” Kidd said. “It was a race on the puck, it was five on O, I gotta get there first. I got there first and went to flip it up and the guy I tried to flip it over, I think was a giraffe. It just hit the tip of his glove, I’m here and now there are five guys behind me with an open net. I still see that goal in my dreams.”
Friday night home games were an event, he said.
“Literally the Mac would be filled and you know the structural steel that holds the roof up, you’d have kids up there….watching it. And another thing, it was so full, they allowed smoking in the arena at that time and you get a cloud. You have a playoff game, it’s warm and I’m in the net... by the third period the cloud is down almost to ice level and you’ve got to pick the puck out of the smoke cloud,” he said.
It was a Timmins Rock throwback game earlier this year that spurred the reunion.
In January, the Rock wore the Northstar jerseys for a game at the Mac.
Campbell was amazed at the number of former players who showed up to the game.
Organizers have been contacting former players, management, trainers and other people directly associated with the club for the reunion.
Entry to the Saturday open house is a voluntary donation to the Timmins Rock Hockey Club.
For the Northstar Alumni, there will be a Saturday social with a supper buffet and a Sunday brunch. Pre-registration is required for this part. The cost is $65 and is payable to Rick Stefanich, 2014 Rekela St. N., Porcupine, Ont., P0N 1C0.
For more information on the event, you can contact Stefanich at 705-235-5620, Brian Beyer at 705-235-5628, or Steve Kidd at 705-274-1173.
