There are many people who say hockey is their life.
And then there's Mr. Hockey himself, Orville Claffey, who has lived it for more than 65 years and still spends many hours in the Cougars' penalty box, but only as an official.
For Claffey, his love for the sport began when he joined minor hockey and it quickly became his life's goal.
Playing mostly left wing throughout his career and then defence later on, Claffey moved to Prince George in 1953 to play for the Lumbermen.
"I came to town with $10 in my pocket," said Claffey, now 80 years old.
After the third practice he was welcomed into the Lumbermen club and played with them until their arena collapsed in 1956.
He moved over to the Prince George Mohawks the next year. Back then, they played on an outdoor rink where the Days Inn now stands, until the Coliseum was built in 1958, he added.
For work Claffey was at the Prince George planer mill and learned the business inside and out, including in the lumber sales department.
He tried his hand at part time work and then found his way to Sinclar Enterprises where he worked from 1968 up until he retired in 1993.
"That was the best job I ever had," said Claffey. "They treated me like family."
Claffey played with the Houston Luckies from 1968 to 1969 and then played recreational hockey for the Yellowhead Inn, Simon Fraser Hotel and Sherwood Court.
Claffey took on duties of coaching, something he loved to do, and after working with the team for five years, he took the RCMP Northern E Division to the Canadian RCMP Championships in Regina for the win in 1975.
In another facet of Claffey's longtime ice career, he refereed minor, junior and senior hockey for 35 years. He also offered free referee clinics throughout the north for eight years.
Eventually Claffey was ready for old-timers hockey and played for the Mohawk Oldtimers and took on the role of treasurer for the team for 19 years.
At 60, Claffey played in tournaments for the Victoria Oldstylers (who then changed their name to the Traditionals) until he turned 71, then he played for the 70-and-over division. He commuted from Prince George to play hockey in Victoria.
In 2000 Claffey received what he said is a great honour.
"I was inducted into the Canadian Adult Recreation Hockey Association Hall of Fame," said Claffey, who played the beloved game until he was 77 years old and had to have two knee replacement surgeries.
He volunteered with the Spruce Kings for 36 years and has been with the Cougars organization for 21 years as the visitor's penalty box official.
"I'm still involved with hockey," said Claffey. "And I will be for as long as I can."
