Andy McCallum, a true gentleman and hockey icon in Powell River, will have his jersey retired prior to the Powell River Regals versus Fort St. John Flyers game Saturday, March 24.
Historic ceremonies such as these often raise discussion of timing, qualification and popularity but in McCallum’s case there’s simply one rhetorical question. What took so long?
McCallum epitomizes everything that is Regal. The word itself means “magnificent, splendid” and to know him is to understand that he brought that to the Regals.
They were always a talented and dedicated group of players but when McCallum arrived he raised their self esteem with his touch of professional etiquette.
The group went from “Slap Shot” Chiefs to the Maple Leafs under his direction and soon they were setting senior standards throughout Canada.
McCallum was born on May 12, 1929 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and played much of his minor hockey in Brandon, Manitoba. “I never dreamed that I’d be anything in hockey,” he said.
From Brandon he attended a camp in Providence, Rhode Island, for the Reds but at 18 years of age joined Medicine Hat Tigers in 1947 where he impressed them enough to become their captain and earned most valuable player status.
His professional career took him back to Providence of the American Hockey League for two years and Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Hockey League for three.
He played for Sydney Millionaires for one year in 1953 before he joined Windsor Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1954 to 1957.
His last stop before coming to Powell River was Kelowna, where he played for the Packers and made hockey history.
The Packers first won the Western Canada championships by beating Winnipeg Maroons, then the Allan Cup, over the Belleville McFarlands. Then in 1958 they made history representing Canada as the first western sports team allowed to play behind the Iron Curtain.
While there they compiled a 2-1 record against Sweden, lost 4-3 to Russian Red Army, tied 1-1 against Wings of Soviet and tied 2-2 with Moscow Dynamos.
Coach Jack O’Reilly, who was quoted as saying of McCallum, “I wish I had 15 McCallums on my team,” guaranteed victories in the last two games.
Indeed, McCallum and his teammates beat Soviet Juniors 4-3 and Moscow Selects 5-1 and secured their induction into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
McCallum came to Powell River as a playing coach from 1960 to 1968, but after a career-ending injury in a game against the Shmyr Flyers, McCallum became an executive member for the team.
In 1971 he was awarded BC Amateur Hockey Association’s outstanding player award for skillful play, sportsmanship and developing minor hockey while with the Regals.
McCallum’s storied hockey past includes faceoffs against the great Jean Beliveau (defencemen took them in their own end back in the day), shooting on Hall of Famer Jacques Plante and playing for the notorious Eddie Shore, but his impact on the Regals gives an immense sense of pride.
“When he came here from pretty high calibre professional ranks, he came to a little rag-tag papermaking town,” McCallum’s good friend Al Jamieson recalled. “When he went to the dressing room of players working here from all over there were guys in blue jeans and shorts and he gave them a program. ‘On the road you dress properly because you play for Powell River,’ and he set a standard that, I think, is still apparent in the Regals hockey association.”
There is no question that as a builder, a coach and a player, McCallum richly deserves his place in Hap Parker Arena.
“Our final move was to Powell River,” he said, “and Powell River has been so good to myself and my family and it worked out so well. I’m very, very honoured to have this done. It’s unbelievable. I feel very humble about it all.”
