Dave McLaren’s lifelong commitment to sports is as far more than a figurehead

McLaren congratulates Sweaburg Storm head coach Matt Walker following the title game. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

At the recent South Oxford Softball League U11 Girls championship tournament, the Hickson Sports and Recreation treasurer was among a posse of volunteers making it happen through a brutally hot three-day event. Beyond hosting and scheduling, community members gave up their time preparing and maintaining the diamond, manning the refreshment booth and little touches like announcing players’ names and greeting them with walk-up songs as they approached home plate.

“My goal is to make it fun for kids to come to the park,” said McLaren.

He was at the diamond from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and back again for Sunday’s championship round from 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.

“It was a long weekend,” said McLaren, 73 years of age as of Aug. 19. “But you do it because you love it and want to give back.”

Born in Woodstock he was raised in Hickson and played fastball competitively until 46 after growing up as a southpaw in a long-standing lefty-righty ORSA-winning pitching duo featuring Don Oliver. McLaren enjoyed minor hockey in Woodstock, joining the Junior C Woodstock Navy Vets full-time as a 15-year-old.

“There was no Gameboys or X-boxes around and we didn’t have a lot of money, so we went out and played the games,” said McLaren, remembering ball with friends, street hockey, or throwing and catching a ball off a wall if no one else was available. “It was just one of those things.”

It was a different time he admitted, recalling taking his hockey bag to the corner of Hickson’s main drag (Oxford Road 8) and 59 Highway if his dad had to work later than practice began, and hitchhiking to the arena as a 10, 11 or 12-year-old.

“You wouldn’t do that now.”

McLaren played two seasons with the Vets, nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ while winning an all-Ontario championship in 1968-69.

“I’m not sure why,” said McLaren, insisting he wasn’t a fighter, although he did amass 185 penalty minutes along with 35 points during his second season in the OHL. “It’s kind of stuck.”

McLaren began playing Junior A with London in the 1969-70 season, two seasons with the Knights before being traded to the Kitchener Rangers for his third. At the time, players had to be either fighters or a magician with the puck.

“I was neither,” he laughed, “but rather a stay-at-home defenceman who thought the game well, was strong positionally and moved the puck quickly out of his own zone. I prided myself on that first pass.”

McLaren played a year with the New Jersey Devils, then of the East Coast Hockey League, before returning home and playing senior hockey. Laughing, he remembered Vic Shelton, whose signature move was throwing a fish on the ice during games at the Perry Street Arena, and the time fans dressed up eight pig’s heads sourced from Rudy’s Meat Market as opposing Cambridge Hornets fans.

“It was absolutely hilarious.”

McLaren began coaching, including fastball in his home community where he had one prerequisite.

“I don’t care if we lose every game, just not to Innerkip,” he laughed of an old rivalry, similar to that between Junior C squads in Woodstock and Ingersoll. “Back in the day, oh man!”

As a hockey bench boss, McLaren helped three Tavistock Minor Hockey teams win OMHA titles, a senior division crown with that same centre, and a senior title alongside Brad Wilkins in Tillsonburg. McLaren’s sons Jack and Rob also played hockey, joining the Navy Vets before suiting up for the Junior B Stratford Cullitons and eventually, the Thorold Black Hawks as they attended Brock University. Both won Sutherland Cups in Stratford and eventually a second together with the Black Hawks, both as defencemen.

“Seems to be a McLaren thing,” Dave laughed.

Four grandchildren all play sports, two lacrosse in Toronto, two fastball in Innerkip where Dave has learned to embrace them in an Eagles’ uniform. All also lace up their skates, one forward among three defenders.

“They love the game,” said McLaren. “Makes grandpa proud, let’s put it that way.”

He concurrently ran a sporting goods store in Woodstock for two decades in partnership with Don Jones, beginning as Cupolo Sports, progressing through Double D Sports to Collegiate Sports, Sports Experts and finally Intersport.

Just to check off another couple of boxes, McLaren has offered a one-week hockey school in Woodstock that in 2025, is celebrating its 39th year. He was also a baseball umpire for 52 years. In short, sports is a huge part of his life.

“Love it, it’s my passion, my passion,” he said. “I don’t know what I’d do without it,” McLaren continued, noting how supportive his wife Kim has been through his ongoing athletic journey.

“Her understanding of my passion for sports has meant everything.”

Admittedly, there are times he feels like banging his head on a brick wall.

“But there are a lot of really good kids out there that make it a lot of fun.”

As a member of Hickson Sports and Recreation, McLaren honours his father, who started minor ball in the community 63 years earlier. He has been responsible for scheduling umpires, booth staff and a T-ball program resuscitated following COVID, initially with free registration, now ‘raised’ to $10 which includes a T-shirt and hat.

As well as behind-the-scenes work, McLaren took his turn selling 50/50 tickets at the South Oxford tournament, handing out pennants to the championship Sweaburg Storm as well as less-glamorous duties including cleaning out the deep-fryer.

“When you slow down, you die,” he summed up. “So, keep on going, as long as you can, anyway.”

And in closing, he passed along the thought that if a child wants to kick a soccer ball, needs a ball hockey goalie, or wishes to play catch, it’s up to an older generation member to do so.

“No matter what it is, do your best job as an adult to keep them in the game,” he concluded, noting that kids playing games are not finding trouble on the street. “That’s the key in this day and age for sure.”