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My Biography - Hockey
"Crash"
Start |
Military | Salvation
| Hockey | Youth
Leader | Calgary |
SAIT | Wedding |
Wife's Testimony
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" (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 (Center/RW) and compliments
of an anonymous SAIT Flames fan...
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.
But time marches on, and can't stay in the past. All this while with the bad attitude i had as a Christian who felt ripped off not having a wife, God works thru it. I met another lady Christian, who lived in Edmonton, Alberta, about 3 hours southwest of Grand Centre/Cold Lake where I lived. But that was short lived, as she didn't want to move away from her family and Edmonton.
Meantime, our little church had a major split, with half following our pastor, and the other half questioning his leadership. The Marshall's and myself would challenge some of the things coming out of our pastors teaching, and were sorta branded black sheep. But soon others like Paul Duriez left. We wanted to fellowship and cried to the Lord for a bible believing, spirit filled church. Strangely enough, I started going to a little church in Pierceland, Saskatchewan - called Victory Chapel.
There was only about 20 of us, but it was lively and the people were 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 12 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.
