Regina Slow Shots forward Don Duperrault didn't win the Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association (CARHA) Oldest Player Award at the Estevan Strippers 34th Annual 'Spring Bust' Hockey Tournament this year, but only through a technicality.
Duperrault, 80, won the award 16 years ago making him ineligible to win it a second time. The CARHA Oldest Player Award was instead presented to 68-year-old Indian Head Saints player Marcel Magotiaux.
“Frank John (CARHA Oldest Player Award winner in 1992) would have won it every year for 10 or 15 years, so what's the fun of that,” said Rick Rohatyn, an organizer of the Strippers hockey tournament. “We honour different people. It's no fun for the same person to keep winning the same award...(so) it's a general overall award given to the oldest player who hasn't won it before.
Rohatyn said the CARHA Oldest Player Award is handed out each year to honour a player who is dedicated to playing the game they love for as long as they can. He said the award, which has been a feature of the Strippers tournament since 1991, is a CARHA hockey jersey with either their name or number stitched onto the back.
Duperrault said he has only missed one Strippers tournament since 2000 and keeps coming back because it is a fun and well-run tourney that he enjoys playing in every year. He said the Regina Slow Shots, which boasts an average age among the players 54 years young, also keep asking him to come back.
“I didn't want to come this year, I didn't want to come last year, but they were short one guy so they told me to come and I come,” said Duperrault. “I don't know about next year, but you never know. I still enjoy it. They run a very good tournament here.”
Duperrault said he began playing hockey at the age of nine or 10 and has played with many teams over the years including the Indian Head Saints, which he played for in 2000 when he won the CARHA Oldest Player Award, and the Estevan Strippers. He said over the years he usually lined up at centre, but has since moved over to the wing to give the young guys a chance to light the lamp.
“Now I don't care,” he said. “It's just don't let (the opposition) score too much on me and I'm happy.”
Carrying his bag to the rink has always been a favourite past time for Duperrault, and that hasn't changed, but whether he keeps it up for much longer is unknown. He said everyone tells him to keep playing, but the time may come when he decided to pack it in completely.
“I still keep up with some of the younger guys, but it's a long time. I have some grandkids playing hockey and baseball, so I (need) to spend time with them too.”
