 Ouch. From the Seattle Times, February 1, 1971. The home
team lost, but a new hockey fan was born. |
On January 31, 1971 my father took me to my first professional sporting event. A hockey game between the Seattle Totems and the Denver Spurs. It was not a good night for the Totems. The frisky Spurs threw much vulcanized rubber at the Seattle net, and the Totems could not stop them. The masked George Surmay was even substituted for the maskless Don Head, but the team's fortunes did not change. At the final horn, Denver 6 Seattle 0, the fans grumbling as they made their way to the exits. But in the midst of all this disgruntlement, a new hockey fan was born, attracted by the skating, the speed, the color and physical contact of the sport. The Totems and hockey in general quickly became a part of this 10 year old's life. My brother and I played street hockey on an almost daily basis. We and the neighborhood kids started a two-team street hockey league (Bellevue Bruins vs Hilltop Habs!) We also took to the ice and played in the local amateur hockey association (EAHA). We had the pleasure of meeting some of the Totems' players over the years, who were always willing to take some time to sign an autograph or talk hockey. I can honestly say that it's because of these players and the Totems organization I am still a hockey fan today. |
| And that's where seattletotems.org comes in. To keep the torch burning for Seattle's last professional hockey team through stories, sounds and images. I Hope you enjoy it. - Louis Chirillo. (seatotems@seattletotems.org) |
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