Dimock however speaks with a little more authority than the average Joe. He represented the country in hockey, playing on Team Canada during the 1949 World Championships.
He was part of the team that walloped Denmark in a record lopsided victory that still stands. But his story started in a bustling smelting town in British Columbia called Trail. Though it’s been nearly 65 years since he donned his skates in Europe he still remembers it like it was yesterday.
“Trail was an isolated community,” said Dimock. “The beauty of it was, because there was a smelter, there were opportunities for employment and playing hockey.”
Dimock’s father, originally from Windsor, was coach of the Trail Smoke Eaters. He was also coach to his son when he began playing hockey.
“It started on the rink in our backyard and I found I was good at centre or left wing. We were kids then and didn’t have a care in the world.”
But even kids in Trail knew how important it was when the Second World War started. It was one of the nation’s largest lead producers. Dimock and a few friends were set on joining the air force, but he chose education at the last minute. In 1942, he enrolled in the University of Alberta in the chemical engineering program.
While education came first, hockey most definitely came second.
“We played interuniversity hockey outdoors since the army had taken over the arena,” he said. “The last two years, I played in the newly formed Western Intercollegiate League, which included Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.”
Upon graduating, he faced a difficult decision: go back to Trail and work there or seek new opportunities elsewhere. Though his older and younger brother headed back to trail, he went east to Montreal. There he worked for Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL) at a chemical plant.
And there, he once again found hockey.
“I played with the local hockey league and someone had a tie-in with Frank Carlin, the coach for the Montreal Royals. There were three of us that went and practised with that team.”
Dimock couldn’t get time off work for that year, but in 1948-49 he was able to attend the Royals practices more regularly. He was quickly picked up by a senior hockey team in Verdun, Que. But the night they were playing in Ottawa was one he’ll never forget.
“A coach from Sudbury was charged with putting together Canada’s team for the world championships,” said Dimock. “He asked if any wanted to try out. I did and was picked.”
He quit his job and sailed for Europe. And while they felt like stars in places like England, Scotland and Sweden, there was little mention of their exploits back home.
“We won exhibition games over there, but it wasn’t news back in Canada.”
The championship games were in Stockholm. There were 10 national teams playing but Canada’s first game against Denmark is still remembered in hockey stats as hockey’s most lopsided victory.
“It was a wallop. We won against them 47-0.”
Despite an impressive start, Dimock and his team fell to Czechoslovakia 3-2 and tied Sweden 1-1 for a silver medal. The U.S. took the bronze.
After the championships, he took some time to travel, visiting Bern and Davos in Switzerland, Paris, France and playing hockey games in Czechoslovakia, England and Scotland.
The team played over 60 games in the four months while they were in Europe, more than they would play in an entire year of hockey back home.
Upon returning to Canada, he worked in St. John’s then the Canso Chemical Plant in Pictou County. The fame of the 1949 series is all but a footnote in the hockey history books.
He married, had two sons and now has several grandchildren. Later in life, he hung up his skates for the rocks and brooms of curling. Looking back at age 90, he still can’t believe his luck.
“This is a case of being in the right place at the right time. I don’t regret a single moment.”
On Twitter: @NGNewsJohn
Dimock however speaks with a little more authority than the average Joe. He represented the country in hockey, playing on Team Canada during the 1949 World Championships.
He was part of the team that walloped Denmark in a record lopsided victory that still stands. But his story started in a bustling smelting town in British Columbia called Trail. Though it’s been nearly 65 years since he donned his skates in Europe he still remembers it like it was yesterday.
“Trail was an isolated community,” said Dimock. “The beauty of it was, because there was a smelter, there were opportunities for employment and playing hockey.”
Dimock’s father, originally from Windsor, was coach of the Trail Smoke Eaters. He was also coach to his son when he began playing hockey.
“It started on the rink in our backyard and I found I was good at centre or left wing. We were kids then and didn’t have a care in the world.”
But even kids in Trail knew how important it was when the Second World War started. It was one of the nation’s largest lead producers. Dimock and a few friends were set on joining the air force, but he chose education at the last minute. In 1942, he enrolled in the University of Alberta in the chemical engineering program.
While education came first, hockey most definitely came second.
“We played interuniversity hockey outdoors since the army had taken over the arena,” he said. “The last two years, I played in the newly formed Western Intercollegiate League, which included Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.”
Upon graduating, he faced a difficult decision: go back to Trail and work there or seek new opportunities elsewhere. Though his older and younger brother headed back to trail, he went east to Montreal. There he worked for Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL) at a chemical plant.
And there, he once again found hockey.
“I played with the local hockey league and someone had a tie-in with Frank Carlin, the coach for the Montreal Royals. There were three of us that went and practised with that team.”
Dimock couldn’t get time off work for that year, but in 1948-49 he was able to attend the Royals practices more regularly. He was quickly picked up by a senior hockey team in Verdun, Que. But the night they were playing in Ottawa was one he’ll never forget.
“A coach from Sudbury was charged with putting together Canada’s team for the world championships,” said Dimock. “He asked if any wanted to try out. I did and was picked.”
He quit his job and sailed for Europe. And while they felt like stars in places like England, Scotland and Sweden, there was little mention of their exploits back home.
“We won exhibition games over there, but it wasn’t news back in Canada.”
The championship games were in Stockholm. There were 10 national teams playing but Canada’s first game against Denmark is still remembered in hockey stats as hockey’s most lopsided victory.
“It was a wallop. We won against them 47-0.”
Despite an impressive start, Dimock and his team fell to Czechoslovakia 3-2 and tied Sweden 1-1 for a silver medal. The U.S. took the bronze.
After the championships, he took some time to travel, visiting Bern and Davos in Switzerland, Paris, France and playing hockey games in Czechoslovakia, England and Scotland.
The team played over 60 games in the four months while they were in Europe, more than they would play in an entire year of hockey back home.
Upon returning to Canada, he worked in St. John’s then the Canso Chemical Plant in Pictou County. The fame of the 1949 series is all but a footnote in the hockey history books.
He married, had two sons and now has several grandchildren. Later in life, he hung up his skates for the rocks and brooms of curling. Looking back at age 90, he still can’t believe his luck.
“This is a case of being in the right place at the right time. I don’t regret a single moment.”
On Twitter: @NGNewsJohn
