As part of the official name change to the Vern Poffenroth arena, the alumni of Rimbey West Stars Junior B hockey team donned team jerseys, laced up their skates and headed out on the ice last Saturday to face off against Rimbey Midgets.
With a good crowd in attendance and lots of cheering, The West Stars alumni won the game 10 – 8.
“I thought we would get our butts kicked,” joked Larry Trautman, who helped organize the event. He gave credit to Pat Bordman who played goal for the West Stars.
He said some of the players hadn’t played hockey for years. The team did not even get together for a practice before hand.
“We just met at the arena and went out there and just played hockey.”
Trautman said 17 members of the alumni team played in the game. Others gave their support from the stands.
Winning the game was not the only highpoint for the former league champion and Provincial medal winning West Stars.
Getting together with old friends, reminiscing and enjoying a great night of socializing helped make the event very special.
“Quite a few people showed up. We had people from B. C. and Henry Bouchard even came all the way from London, Ontario. We had five or six coaches there as well.”
Trautman had been coached by Vern Poffenroth in Midgets and well as when playing for the West Stars. He said the coach was a close, personal friend, as well.
“Vern was passionate about hockey,” he said, noting Poffenroth was head coach of the West Stars and took the team to Provincials in 1983, 1985 and 1986. The team later became Rimbey Rock.
The sign change celebration and hockey game was well planned and a huge success, he noted, giving credit to Mayor Rick Pankiw and all who helped with the organization.
“They did a fabulous job.”