Individual News
20th of July 2008
On a Sunday evening this week 20 years ago, the first ever game of ice hockey took place in Basingstoke.
The date was July 17 1988 and over 1,000 fans packed into the Playground as the arena was known then to witness for this sport from North America
Back then, the team playing in the English Division One had just two Canadians Don Yewchin was the hockey co-ordinator at the rink and doubled up as the team's scoring machine, while Gary Douville was the player/coach and the lynchpin of the defence.
It had been Yewchin's job to set everything at Basingstoke up from scratch and talking from his family home now in Vancouver Island he admitted he did not really know what he was letting himself in for.
The 25-year-old at the time had spent a number of years in Britain mostly playing Bournemouth, before taking the helm in Basingstoke.
Yewchin said: "I got a call from Andy Bourne at Crossland Leisure who were running the rink asking if I would like to set up a hockey programme. It was a great challenge and a big one at that, but it was very exciting getting ready for that first ever game. If I was asked if I would do again, I would as it was a great experience."
"I loved hockey coming from Canada and I was sure the people of the town would as well. Getting that first game on was about showing everyone what ice hockey was all about. It proved to be a great success."
The opening game saw the Basingstoke Beavers as the team were called then in their pre Bison days beat the Bournemouth Sharks 27-2 in pre-season challenge.
Yewchin said: "I don't remember a lot about the first game, just that it was a great success the people of Basingstoke turned out and it was a great atmosphere.
"It was the people that made it and I would have been disappointed if the club had still not been going 20 years on. I am happy to have played my part in the club's history.
Talking about the first season Yewchin added: "It was the rivalry with Bracknell I most remember. We were the new kids on the block and they did not like that. The noise at those games was unreal it just got louder ever game as there must have been 2,000 fans watching then. I think it took us to the second season to beat them and then after that I don't think we lost to them again while I was at the club."
He added: "For sure we were helped by the fact that the Southampton rink had to close. It was sad for Southampton, but helepd Basingstoke no end in theit early years."
Yewchin spent two more seasons in Basingstoke, by which time the team had won promotion into the Heineken division one, scoring over 300 goals in the process.
He still plays the game today for the Nanaimo Seamen which is north of Victoria on Vancouver Island and he still finding the back of the net.
He said: "This team grew out of guys whose daughters played soccer and basketball, which I suppose is ironic being daughters when you think about it. It is old timer hockey, but I still enjoy it."
His fellow import in the first season Douville, also came from British Columbia and the fresh faced 20-year-old spent many hours on the ice coaching the young players at the club.
His lasting memory of the first game against Bournemouth was his first goal for the club and speaking from home just outside Vancouver he said: "I just went for this big shot which hit the top corner. That was lucky as Don (Yewchin) was standing right next to the post, if I had missed the net I would have hit him in the face which would not have gone down well."
He too re-calls the noise in the rink and added: "I think for the first few games we had player introduction as the team came out, but after about three games you just could not hear them anymore so we gave up on that idea."
Douville remembered a night when he was in awe of his fellow import and said: "Our best game in the first season was against the champions that year the Humberside Seahawks (Hull Stingrays today). We lost 9-8 and Don scored all bar one of the goals. We were leading 5-3 when referee Dave Cloutman was hit in the head with the puck, he returned to give a goal that wasn't. Our protests cost us a couple of penalties, they scored twice to lead 6-5 and went onto win the match."
Douville still gets out on the ice and when I caught up with him had just return from a training session with players getting in shape for the pro leagues in Europe and North America.
He said: "I still enjoy getting out on the ice. I saw Don at a tournament last year and he still has all the moves and still puts the puck in the net."
Douville having been a player returned to Basingstoke to coach the team in February 1994 and guided them to the play-offs in the Heineken Premier League the top flight of the game at the time the following year.
He said: "Nothing beats playing and Basingstoke was a great place to play, but I also enjoying returning as a coach and to see how the young players in that first season Andy Pickles, Stuart Heasman and Anthony Page had progressed was great thrill."
From the small beginnings the Beavers, then became the Bison and are now gearing up for the 20th anniversary season, as another chapter will be written into the history of the club.
Courtesy of the Basingstoke Gazette
The date was July 17 1988 and over 1,000 fans packed into the Playground as the arena was known then to witness for this sport from North America
Back then, the team playing in the English Division One had just two Canadians Don Yewchin was the hockey co-ordinator at the rink and doubled up as the team's scoring machine, while Gary Douville was the player/coach and the lynchpin of the defence.
It had been Yewchin's job to set everything at Basingstoke up from scratch and talking from his family home now in Vancouver Island he admitted he did not really know what he was letting himself in for.
The 25-year-old at the time had spent a number of years in Britain mostly playing Bournemouth, before taking the helm in Basingstoke.
Yewchin said: "I got a call from Andy Bourne at Crossland Leisure who were running the rink asking if I would like to set up a hockey programme. It was a great challenge and a big one at that, but it was very exciting getting ready for that first ever game. If I was asked if I would do again, I would as it was a great experience."
"I loved hockey coming from Canada and I was sure the people of the town would as well. Getting that first game on was about showing everyone what ice hockey was all about. It proved to be a great success."
The opening game saw the Basingstoke Beavers as the team were called then in their pre Bison days beat the Bournemouth Sharks 27-2 in pre-season challenge.
Yewchin said: "I don't remember a lot about the first game, just that it was a great success the people of Basingstoke turned out and it was a great atmosphere.
"It was the people that made it and I would have been disappointed if the club had still not been going 20 years on. I am happy to have played my part in the club's history.
Talking about the first season Yewchin added: "It was the rivalry with Bracknell I most remember. We were the new kids on the block and they did not like that. The noise at those games was unreal it just got louder ever game as there must have been 2,000 fans watching then. I think it took us to the second season to beat them and then after that I don't think we lost to them again while I was at the club."
He added: "For sure we were helped by the fact that the Southampton rink had to close. It was sad for Southampton, but helepd Basingstoke no end in theit early years."
Yewchin spent two more seasons in Basingstoke, by which time the team had won promotion into the Heineken division one, scoring over 300 goals in the process.
He still plays the game today for the Nanaimo Seamen which is north of Victoria on Vancouver Island and he still finding the back of the net.
He said: "This team grew out of guys whose daughters played soccer and basketball, which I suppose is ironic being daughters when you think about it. It is old timer hockey, but I still enjoy it."
His fellow import in the first season Douville, also came from British Columbia and the fresh faced 20-year-old spent many hours on the ice coaching the young players at the club.
His lasting memory of the first game against Bournemouth was his first goal for the club and speaking from home just outside Vancouver he said: "I just went for this big shot which hit the top corner. That was lucky as Don (Yewchin) was standing right next to the post, if I had missed the net I would have hit him in the face which would not have gone down well."
He too re-calls the noise in the rink and added: "I think for the first few games we had player introduction as the team came out, but after about three games you just could not hear them anymore so we gave up on that idea."
Douville remembered a night when he was in awe of his fellow import and said: "Our best game in the first season was against the champions that year the Humberside Seahawks (Hull Stingrays today). We lost 9-8 and Don scored all bar one of the goals. We were leading 5-3 when referee Dave Cloutman was hit in the head with the puck, he returned to give a goal that wasn't. Our protests cost us a couple of penalties, they scored twice to lead 6-5 and went onto win the match."
Douville still gets out on the ice and when I caught up with him had just return from a training session with players getting in shape for the pro leagues in Europe and North America.
He said: "I still enjoy getting out on the ice. I saw Don at a tournament last year and he still has all the moves and still puts the puck in the net."
Douville having been a player returned to Basingstoke to coach the team in February 1994 and guided them to the play-offs in the Heineken Premier League the top flight of the game at the time the following year.
He said: "Nothing beats playing and Basingstoke was a great place to play, but I also enjoying returning as a coach and to see how the young players in that first season Andy Pickles, Stuart Heasman and Anthony Page had progressed was great thrill."
From the small beginnings the Beavers, then became the Bison and are now gearing up for the 20th anniversary season, as another chapter will be written into the history of the club.
Courtesy of the Basingstoke Gazette