In 1968, a group of undergraduates formed a road hockey league that forged the beginning of an enduring friendship. Although their careers and lives have varied, with Waterloo Arts at their center, the group maintained a connection that spans 50 years, and counting.
In October 2018, Arts & Letters met 20 of the original members of the Road Hockey League (RHL) at their 50th reunion held at the Grad House on campus.
Change is inevitable. However, for a group of alumni celebrating 50 years of friendship, not much has changed at all. The Grad House was bustling with excitement from the men who once, according to Jim Chomey (BA ’71), “had a little bit of bohemian and rebelliousness” in their undergraduate years. Chomey, who works in investment real estate sales with DTZ Barnicke, says, “we just [wanted] to have fun and at times stir a little controversy by participating in sit-ins and Vietnam marches.” According to Chomey, the glue that keeps them together is that they are “just fine people, fine friends, never judgmental, terrific senses of humour, and discussions of political happenings and sports kept us in touch.”
The RHL guys revel in their camaraderie whenever they get together. “We try to meet for lunch or golf several times a year in Toronto or KW,” says Jim Vincze (BA ’70, MA ’73), who was a former Partner at Deloitte and Touche, and worked with the Ministry of Finance upon graduation. “We have a shared value of old friendships that endures; we care about each other – we know that life is getting shorter, and we’ve already lost four of the group.”
Former Waterloo Warrior Ian Young (BA ’70) notes that, “nowadays there is more water and diet cokes drank than beer … we hate to admit it, but we are getting older!” Young, who is an investment advisor at RBC Dominion Securities Inc., as well as owner of the Whitby Dunlop OHA hockey team, played hockey with the Oshawa Generals in the Boston Bruins chain, and is the author of four books on goaltending. A severe eye injury kept him from pursuing his dream of becoming an NHL goalie.
“Most of us stay in touch because we genuinely like each other, and enjoy who we are now, as well as who we were then,” says Jon McGill (BA ’72, MA ’73), who started his teaching career in London, England in 1973. McGill still works as a teacher trainer, principal trainer, and professional recruiter for an organization that operates five public schools in poor neighborhoods in Baltimore. “I grew to love this work, which was heavily influenced by what I learned at UW with some great professors!”
In fact, their time as Arts students was, and still is, at the center of the RHL experience. Brian Jones (BA ’71, MA ’75, PhD ’79), who spent the last 30 years working in forensic psychiatry, and concluded his career as Chief of Forensics at the Mental Health Centre in Penetanguishene, reflects on their core learning: “You learn how to use the research tools available to you, how to integrate your ideas, and how to communicate effectively.”
The labour market has changed in the last 50 years, but employers still demand strong communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills. “It’s critically important to have a sound base of critical thinkers out there, and I believe that good liberal arts programs can produce that capability,” says Brian Gordon (BA ’70), who had a 33-year career in the Ontario public service. “My political science degree ingrained in me the importance of thinking independently and basing that thinking on thorough analysis of the issue at hand, and then being able to effectively communicate the results of that analysis.”
In the years since they first roamed the University campus as young adults with big dreams, there have been many changes: new buildings, larger classes, more courses and programs, and more students. At the 50th reunion, some of the RHL participated in a tour of old and new Arts spaces.
The Road Hockey League enjoy lunch together at Grad House on campus.
Jim Chomey came to the 50th game-ready.
Left to right: Orest Romashyna, Lee Fitzpatrick, and Ron Boudreau
Left to right: Roy Wuertele, Max Slivka, and Brian Gordon.
The jerseys may be a little threadbare now, but they're still worn with pride.
“We were not influenced by the hockey pros,” says Max Slivka (BA ’71, MA ’74). “We were just looking to have fun, enjoy team sport, and a challenging/stimulating activity. And it all began in the coffee shop.”
Since the beginning, the group has had a lasting friendship with Issy MacKay (retired Arts staff), who has attended most of their gatherings over the years (along with her husband, chemistry professor Don MacKay, until his passing). “There’s a lot of history, deep friendships, and a sense of loyalty [to the group],” says Gordon. “I don’t think anyone wants to stop getting together, to stop the sense of RHL’s identity and unity.”
Even though “some have moved on, some have retired, and some are just tired,” mused Fitzpatrick, “we are still committed to meeting regularly to catch up on life. We continue to enjoy the reunions, the reflections, and the laughter.”
Looking around the room at the Grad House, the 50-year bond that these men have created is obvious – loyalty, trust, respect, fun, and the love of the game are constants in this remarkable enduring friendship.
The original RHL roster:
- Ron Boudreau, BA ’70, MA ’73
- Jim Chomey, BA ’71
- Brian Eby, BA ’71 *
- Frank Edwards
- Lee Fitzpatrick, BA ’70
- Augie Fleras, BA ’70, MA ’71 (McMaster), PhD ’80 (Victoria, NZ)
- Larry Fox, BA ‘70
- Brian Gordon, BA ’70
- Bryan Grupp, BA ’71, MA ’73
- Harvey Hacker
- John Hall, BA ’73
- Pat Howe, BA ’71
- Greg Johnston, BA ’69 *
- Brian Jones, BA ’71, MA ’75, PhD ’79
- David Kardish, BA ’72, MA ’73
- Ken Laidlaw, BA ’71 *
- Jon McGill, BA ’72, MA ’73
- Peter Olinski, BA ’70 *
- Steve Papamarko, BA ’71
- Orest Romashyna, BA ’70
- Lorne Silver, BA ’70, MA ’71
- Max Slivka, BA ’71, MA ’74
- Jim Vincze, BA ’70, MA ’73
- Jim Weber, BES ’71
- Paul Whitney (friend)
- Dennis Wing, BA ’71
- Roy Wuertele (retired staff)
- Ian Young, BA ’70
*Members who have passed away.
Plan your reunion too!
If you and your Arts classmates would like to plan your own reunion, or arrange a meet-up at Alumni Weekend in June, Patti Cook, Senior Alumni Officer, would welcome the opportunity to help make it happen.
Contact Patti at patti.cook@uwaterloo.ca or 519 888-4567 ext. 37705.
