My friend "Mr. Hockey" Orville Claffey was born in Radville, Saskatchewan on May 1, 1934. Orville outlines some of his many accomplishments over the years and said, "I came on the train to Prince George in 1953 to play hockey for the Pr. George Lumbermen with only $10.00 in my pocket. The first place I went to was Chuck's Caf on George Street which was owned by Chuck and Rita Steward, parents of our MLA Shirley Bond. I had a coffee and an order of toast which cost me 35 cents. It was a great place to meet people.
My working career started immediately with the Prince George Planer Mill where I stayed for 11 years until it was sold to Netherlands Overseas. While there I drove the forklift, fed the resaw-machine and the planer, graded lumber and worked on the green chain. All in all I had a fairly comprehensive education in the workings of a planer mill. This was an excellent preparation for my future when in 1962 Superintendent, Tom Dillworth, approached me to go inside and help Sales Manager, Bob Spurr, while he was recuperating from a heart attack. When the Pr. George Planer Mill was sold, I went to work at Eagle Lake Sawmills in Giscome with Sales Manager, Reno Gobbi and Jack Sisson.
During the years 1960 to 1975 I worked part time for the liquor store, Westfair Foods (Malkins) and in 1967 I took over Lloyd's Drive-In until it was sold to George Fabi and Bob Goode.
I returned to the lumber business and I went to work for Sinclar Enterprises, the best job I ever had. Owner Bob Stewart was the sales manager and his partner, Ivan Anderson was in charge of the accounting. I worked there from April 1968 until I retired August 31, 1993.
I played softball ball in P.G. with the Canada Hotel, Europe Hotel, McDonald Hotel and the National Hotel for several years.
Hockey has been a large part of my life for the past 72 years. I played with the P.G. Lumbermen in 1953 until 1956 when the rink collapsed. The Pr. George Mohawks were formed in 1957. We played on the outdoor rink, where the Day's Inn stands today, until the new coliseum was finished in 1958.
I played with the Houston Luckies from 1968 to 1969 and moved on to playing Recreational hockey for the Yellowhead Inn, Simon Fraser Hotel and Sherwood Court.
Coaching was another area of hockey I enjoyed and I coached the RCMP Northern E Division hockey team for 5 years. They won the Canadian RCMP Championship in 1975.
In between I also refereed Minor, Junior and Senior Hockey for 35 years and instructed referees and put on referee clinics all over the North for eight years.
When I was ready for old-timers hockey I played for the Mohawk Old-timers and at the same time I was their treasurer for 19 years. When I turned 60 I started playing in tournaments for the Victoria Oldstylers which then became the Victoria Traditionals: at 71 I played for the 70 and over division. In 2000 I had the great honor of being inducted into the Canadian Adult Recreation Hockey Association (CARHA) Hall of Fame.
Some of my hockey and softball equipment is now stored at Exploration Place. It was on display for three months in 2006.
I volunteered for the Spruce Kings for about 25 years as well as being the Vice Commissioner for the Rocky Mountain Hockey League.
Since the Cougars hockey team came to Prince George I have volunteered to work the visitor's penalty box. In the 2007-2008 season the Cougars presented Russ Bayley, Steve Shelley and me with a plaque representing the fact that we worked over 500 games."
Both Orville now 79 years old and his wife Barb Claffey are some of the most dedicated Prince George volunteers that I have had the pleasure to meet. See my column again next week and I will tell you all about Barb Claffey's volunteer work in our community.
Send me your seniors' information at: [email protected]
