Members of the all-conquering Murrayfield Racers ice hockey team who dominated the Northern League during its 16-year existence from 1966-’82 got together at the capital rink to plan a League re-union at the same venue on Friday, 22 March.
They are, left to right: Willie Kerr, Denis Clair, Scott Neil, Derek Reilly and Dean Edmiston some of whom also shared in eight Racers triumphs in the prestigious Icy Smith Cup.
As well as former Racers goaltender Willie Clark, now 93-years-old and skipper Gordon Inglis, former GB rep Terry Matthews is expected to attend leading a group from Whitley Bay. Others are expected to travel from the now defunct Durham team and Ayr as well as East coast sides Fife Flyers and Dundee Rockets.
Derek Reilly, now 76, spent his entire career with Murrayfield playing 882 games and was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. He played for team GB at three world championships.
Anther likely attendee will be Freddie Wood who, in the Racers first recorded match against Ayr Bruins, scored seven goals in an 8-1 victory!
Organiser Denis Clair joked: “The re-union will include one opposition player I got to know when we had a fight on the ice all those years ago. We’ve been friends ever since and I look forward to seeing him!”
The Northern League was won in its first three years by Paisley Mohawks but subsequently Racers won seven times with a couple of successes each for Whitley Bay, Fife and Dundee.
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