Discover Sixty-Five - March 2024

Rhys Andrews:
“stay active, feel
young.” ~ Karma Halleran
D65: Are you a Kootenay Kid?
RA: Yes, pretty much. My parents discovered
the West Kootenay and fell in
love with it, moving here from the coast
when I was one. I have been here ever
since baring time away for school and
work in my early career. I grew up in
Castlegar and have a strong connection
to all the West Kootenay communities.
I am so thankful they discovered
this region. It was and is a wonderful
place to be a kid, and was just as wonderful
to raise my own children here.
D65: Did you play sports as a kid?
RA: I love many sports... I was the kind
of kid if you bounced the ball I would
chase it... all my friends were like that.
My parents were active and supported
me in the organized sports I joined. And
though all my friends played at least
one organized sport, we spent many
more hours after school and entire
weekends playing all the time - road
hockey, baseball, softball - rounders,
500 up, basketball - 21, one on one,
football, yards. It didn’t really matter
what we played, we just needed a ball,
a field or road and the kids from the
neighbourhood.
D65: What is your favourite sport?
RA: Hockey is one of them. I love soccer
too and many other sports and recreation
activities. If hiking in the forest
and mountains counts as a sport then
that would be my favourite.
D65: What did your hockey career
look like?
RA: It’s a stretch to say I have or had
a hockey career and my hockey pals
would agree. :) Like so many local kids
I played for fun and loved to get on the
ice and chase the puck and I still do.
Whether organized, playing shinny
on a pond, or road hockey, my friends
and I loved playing the game. Coaching
the game with friends as our kids
grew up through the system was very
rewarding as well. I just loved getting to
know the kids, teaching them a sport,
and being part of their team. It was a
blast. We still share stories of the fun
we shared with the kids and parents.
Hockey has allowed me to meet some
great people.
D65: What was/is your career?
RA: I studied Forestry and worked in
the industry for a short while. I was
lucky to have been employed by Selkirk
College to teach forestry and take on
different administrative roles for them.
It allowed me and my family to stay in
this community I love so much.
Kootenay Glacier Kings Gold Medal Winners 2022, 60+
Back row L to R - Fred Paton, Mark Kucher, Rhys Andrews, Glen McRae,
Larry Bomak, Al Ceccon
Front L to R - Andrew Kyle, Danny Abenante, Michael Grace, Brent Petrick,
Doug Yee (goalie), Glen Campbell, Robert (Boo) Wasylkiw, Dale Donaldson
4 March 2024 Discover Sixty-Five
D65: Are you retired?
RA: I retired from Selkirk in 2022 and
now I am finding time for other things,
I still seem to be really busy.
D65: Registration for the
55+Games opens March 1st - are
you participating again this year?
RA: This will be my third year – I’ve
participated in two games - 2022
and 2023 playing hockey.
D65: What is that experience like?
RA: It is a great experience – meeting
new players from around the region.
As a team game the camaraderie is
the highlight for me. The Kootenay
Glacier Kings (the team name for our
region, of which there are different age
teams, currently a 55+, 60+ and we are
trying to ice a 65+ for the Salmon Arm
Games). The Kootenay Glacier Kings
have been representing the region at
the games for a long time and there are
guys on our teams that have competed
at the games for many years. We do go
through some effort to organize practice
games (often between the two age
divisions). We take it seriously... participating
with the intention of winning,
which we have done occasionally,
bringing home Gold and Silver once or
twice and qualifying for the Nationals.
Most of the GKG guys still play some
type of organized or drop in hockey.
I have to say there is something pretty
special about hitting the road with
your team. Anticipating the battle
of competing against other teams
representing their zones for the
top prize. I think it keeps ones spirit
young, and helps us focus on staying
active and in comfortable shape for
the sport we are playing.
We never know what the competition
will be like, the games are short
so we have to come ready to play.
Everyone seems to enjoy themselves.
If anyone is considering signing up
for any of these games... I say do it.
You won’t regret it. For those thinking
about the games in the sports
they love I’d say why not give it a
whirl! Stay active, feel young.