by Garrett Fodor
Over the weekend, fifty years’ worth of Essex 73’s players, staff, and families – past and present – came together to celebrate the legacy of the local hockey club and all it provides to the community and its young athletes.
Celebrating the local Junior “C” hockey club’s 50th anniversary, the 73’s organized a weekend of festivities. It began with a pair of alumni games and a tribute to the inductees, featuring youth players skating in the inductees’ jerseys.
From there, it shifted to a meet and greet barbecue, before another alumni game, featuring players from the 2000s to present, and then proceeded to the introduction ceremony and debut of the “Wall of Honour,” which celebrated 61 people who have shaped the 73’s history to this point.
Included in this was founding members of the 73’s, players, board members, and staff, among others. Reflecting back on 50-years, it includes seven Schmalz Cup (all Ontario) championships, along with 21 league Championships. One of the inductees was Norm Kerr, a member of the inaugural team, who would later go on to win an All-Ontario Championship with the 73’s.
“It’s very humbling to be a local guy and come back to be recognized in the inaugural class is a special moment,” Kerr described, reflecting on his tenure and the history of the 73’s. “To have my wife, son, and daughter with me, is incredibly special. I don’t think any of us ever envisioned the success the organization would have. We were a bunch of 16-year-old kids that were playing a game that we loved, competing as hard as we possibly could. We really didn’t have any concept of it 50-years later. But it’s especially gratifying to be able to come back and be part of a celebration like this.”
Following winning the All-Ontario Championship, Kerr noted the team was heavily scouted, with the deep playoff run and his performance earned him a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. Following his playing career there, Kerr joined the coaching ranks, coaching for 15-years across various levels, ending in Oakville, coaching Minor Midget ‘AAA.’
Kerr said that having an opportunity to reconnect with teammates he has not seen in over 20-years was a truly special opportunity and he is grateful to Joe Garon and the rest of the Board who helped organize the event and create the “Wall of Honour,” along with the 50th anniversary celebration.
“It’s hard to top winning game seven at home in the Ontario finals, but the teammates that I had – seeing them all again – that’s as big of a highlight as playing with these guys, because I’ve kept up some lifelong friendships with a lot of them,” Kerr recounted. “I mean, any 73’s player, when you wear that jersey, you feel a certain amount of pride representing the town and representing the history of this organization. So, whether or not you’re a current 73 or an old-timer like me, it’s always great reminiscing with anybody that’s associated with the Essex 73’s.”
The weekend concluded on the golf course, with a 73’s alumni golf tournament, before players went their respective ways, once again.
“I’m honoured to be selected by the selection committee and Joe, and anybody that’s involved in the selection committee has done a tremendous job,” Kerr continued. “The communication has been first class. I can tell already, just by being here, that the event is a big success. And our hats are off to all of them who’ve organized this. It’s great to see the 73’s from different generations come together.”
To current players, Kerr offered some words of wisdom. “Believe in your teammates, stay humble, work hard, and never give up. Represent the 73’s the way they’ve always been represented, with a lot of class and a lot of pride.”