Local legend Ivan McLelland may be a better goalkeeper than golfer, but that didn’t stop him from going to the golf course to hang out with friends and celebrate his 90th birthday on Monday (March 15th).
McLelland is best known for holding the Penticton Vees men’s team back to a world ice hockey championship in 1955, earning Canada its 16th world title. He has since been a very active and respected member of the Penticton community.
When he celebrated his 90th birthday with a group of friends on Monday at Skaha Meadows Golf Course, McLelland took the opportunity to look back on his time in Penticton.
“In all honesty, after all these years, I’m so damn grateful for the role I played here in Penticton,” said McLelland.
McLellan is grateful for his time between posts, but said his Penticton life was so much more than hockey. McLelland married his Penticton wife, Faye. She died of dementia in 2009 and prompted McLelland to join the BC Alzheimer’s Society
After finishing his hockey career, McLelland began working in youth hockey before getting involved with local charities. “It’s never work for me,” said McLelland. “[Charity work] has always been something I loved to do. “
These days, McLelland can’t do a lot of charity work due to COVID-19 but is still preoccupied with golf, long walks, snowshoeing, and spending time with friends.
McLelland has lived in Penticton most of his life since moving here from South Porcupine, Ont in 1951. play for the vees.
“I married a Penticton woman [where we had a] What a wonderful time here in Penticton, ”said McLelland.
Penticton has changed a lot during his time here, so it would be difficult to identify any changes, he said. But he believes the city has changed for the best.
“I think it’s positive, I don’t see it as negativity at all. I think the growth is natural and I think the city is as pretty as you would ever want it to be. “
Monday at Skaha Meadows was a special day for McLelland as he took the day to look back on a life well lived. Despite his birthday, he said his friends still weren’t nice enough to win the nine-hole round of golf.
“They never let me win, they choose me!” McLelland said through a laugh. “They’re all younger than me, of course, they’re heartless when it comes to golf. You have no compassion for an older man at all. “
READ MORE: Penticton’s McLelland has been recognized for his selfless deeds
READ MORE: Penticton Vees go one on one for the championship weekend
ice Hockey
Get local stories you won’t find anywhere else straight to your inbox.
Login here
