ECD - Ice Hockey in Deilinghofen

For those who may be interested, and I know it may be elsewhere:-

http://www.kaffeestuebchen.eu/pastoerchen/ECD.htm

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.kaffeestuebchen.eu/pastoerchen/ECD.htm&ei=uBaXSZr5K9SzjAeP_fXkAQ&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=5&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522zum%2Bfelsenmeer%2Bgasthof%2Bdeilinghofen%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG (that lot means translated into English!?!?!?)

Views of the rink before demolition seem to be included.

Paul.

Thank you Paul. I was posted in Fort Prince of Wales the SSM Bty. 64-68. The arena was a big part of our memories. I last saw it in 84 (only from the outside) when it was disused by the British Forces. I well remember the excitement of game night. A radio relay detachment from 4 Sigs Sqn RC Sigs would set up over by the men's mess hall generally and relay the game to the Canadian Radio Station in Fort Victoria in Werl for broadcasting to all the Canadian Soldiers. The caliber of hockey was outstanding and many soldiers were posted to major units in 4 CIBG just for their hockey talent. If memory serves me right the two major teams to beat were fielded by the RCHA in Deilinghofen and the RCASC in Soest. And yes many a young German lad from Deilinghofen, Hemer and Iserlohn learned to play the game there. I know of one lad doing his 2 years military service who was posted to the Honour Guard Battalion of the Bundeswehr in Bonn that was composed of athletes who could practise their skills in between parades, because of his prowess in playing hockey. I met him by accident in 72 at a BP gas station on the autobahn where he was working while in university after doing his army service. He immediately remembered me and we had a good time catching up on times past. It was about 8 PM dark out and he says, " Hey I remember you. You were posted in Deilinghofen". Man.... that was a shock. My poor wife started thinking I knew every one in Germany. She asked if there was any where I could go in Germany and not meet some one I knew. Didn't seem to appear so. I wasn't married on my first tour.

Not a problem, I found it whilst looking for something else and thought that it might be interesting to those who were there when the rink was in operation.

I know that there are numerous stories around about the rink at the time of the handover between the Canadians and the British (as well as about furniture etc), but let memories suffice in this case.

Paul.