Richer in talent and experience in the past, the senior game was high in caliber and provided good, textbook hockey. Players were strong in the fundamentals, had more to gain, took the game more seriously, and provided better entertainment for fans.

Glory Days Gone For Senior Hockey by Mike Mooney, Vancouver Sun

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

July 25, 2023

Prior to the Western International Hockey League playing its last game forever, Vancouver Sun reporter Mike Mooney wrote the above article before the sun finally set on a league that played a part in Canadian hockey history, as well as hockey internationally.

Mooney talked to a number of people in Trail who compared and contrasted the way the league and game were like in its day and the way it was in 1983.

“We were damn serious when we played,” [Charlie]Goodwin said.”When there were 4,000 people in the building, it was a matter of pride. We wanted to perform and put on a good show. We worked our asses off.

“You might have known players from other teams from playing together in junior or something, but it was all business on the ice.”

And better business at the gate.

Glory Days Gone For Senior Hockey by Mike Mooney, Vancouver Sun

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers @ https://discover.clarivate.com/ProQuest_BCHistoricalNewspapers,