"Crash"
I started to play ice
hockey up at Cold Lake for the first time and because I was used to playing road
hockey, I really didn't know how to stop and would bump into the boards,
goalie, referee, other players - anything to stop. Hence, I got branded with the
nickname of "CRASH". I have that on my hockey sweater still, I feel so honored...
This from
someone who couldn't play "for fun" with other kids...even into my adult years -
I just had to win. It took 6 to 7 years before I felt I could once again engage
in sports. While I still play hard the sting to win isn't there any more. What a
freedom!
The Cold Lake Saints
The "Cold Lake Saints"
(we had an Oilers' logo) was the name of my church "C" league hockey team I
played with. We had clean, fun games and made a lot great friends from other
churches with fond memories of them. It was such a fun game,
sometimes a few of us would stop by the sideboards and chit-chat about what went
on during the week, while the game was going on around us. I remember plowing
one guy into the boards, and saying "Lord bless ya brother!" Did we
ever laugh...
 
Tom "CRASH" McLaughlin and compliments
of an anonymous Flames fan at SAIT...
UPDATED PICTURES (Dec 2008)
- my wife made me throw out
the gear - something about a smell...
It was shocking to realize I barely fit into the sweater without any gear on...
The gloves I used to wear - couldn't afford the real ones!
It was getting to the
point where guys were saying it was safer to be on the other team because I was
running into my guys more often then the other teams.
Well at the hockey
banquet at the end of the season, the team bought me a mini trophy...it showed
two guys smashing into each other on a nice mount with the words CRASH engraved
on it below.
Then they asked for a
speech. I was really taken by the love they showed, and to remember me by
smashing into them so often, the only word that came out of my mouth was...
"Sorry..."
Ha! - everyone was laughing so hard we were in tears...
I miss those guys and
those days.
The remains of my duffle bag and Cold Lake Saints hockey.
Our sweaters were the same as the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota North
Stars.
I can see
God's grace in allowing me to play hockey again as it was an escape from what
happened next, our little house
church had a major split. The Marshall's and myself would question some of
the things coming out of our pastors teaching and decided to go a separate way.
Soon others left and the remaining group fell apart when the pastor moved to
Edmonton with another woman leaving his wife behind.
We cried
to the Lord for a bible believing, spirit filled church and I
started going to a little church in Pierceland, Saskatchewan - called Victory
Chapel.
There was only about 20
people there but it was lively and on fire for Jesus. A few military
guys were there, an ex-biker name Jerry Valee (mon frier), and some farmers went
there. I started working with the youth (all 8 of them!) and did some bible
studies and subbed for Sunday night services when needed. The Bureau's, Archambaults, Kirby's, Dahlsides', Harrisons, Swatzki's, Hilchie's, Mario and
Francois and their kids, Mrs. Kapser and the Johnson's, plus I'm sure I forgot
some names here. I miss them all.
Prayer meetings were
dynamic, things happened, prayers were answered and you could feel the power of
God there. I couldn't stand many a time, ending up lying on the floor afraid to
look up, fearing i would see God. I'm serious! Even writing this i still get
goose bumps!
We met in an old house we
converted into a church, but started to outgrow it with new members...so we
prayed for a new building. Well a church in Bonnyville was selling their old
building, and we bought it for $5,000 + $5,000 for the movers to get it 60miles
to Pierceland. Out of a church of about 25-30 people we managed to raise $10,000
in less then a year. Many members gave sacrificially like the Kirby's, and
others. I was on the church board then, and could see the donation amounts. I
humbled me a lot to see people give so freely, knowing they could have bough a
new car, or new furniture instead.
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