Growing up in the South, John Bailey might have been the LAST person you'd expect to ever see on the ice. However, after getting a taste of hockey, he was hooked, and now the captain of Block 15 is one of the most active member's of Eugene's hockey community.
How long have you been playing hockey?
- My very first game was in Mississauga, Canada outside of Toronto in the early 80's.
How did you get started?
- Being from the South, I had never even tried on a pair of skates. I was working in Canada and one week, the guys I was with were short their "role player." Since I was a bit big, they asked if I would fill in. Keep in mind, this was Canada and a full-contact men's league. I said yes, and all was good right up until we were in the locker room and I had no idea how to dress. At this point, it dawned on them to ask if I had ever played before. When I replied with an emphatic, "NO" there was a long pause, and they asked, "But you DO know how to skate, right?" I then explained that where I was from in the U.S., the water simply never froze. They all looked at each other and decided to just put me in front of the net and told me to knock down anyone who got close to me. I was well suited for the task and had an absolute blast. Needless to say, I was pummeled and got more "face washing" and bruises that game than the rest of my years playing. I could not move the next day - but I just kept coming back from more!
What do you do with your time when you're NOT playing hockey?
- My other hobbies are weight lifting, competitive shooting sports, and drag racing Mopars, specifically an old Cuda. As a farmer, I love to tinker on anything mechanical. My education is in philosophy and classic literature.
- My very first game was in Mississauga, Canada outside of Toronto in the early 80's.
How did you get started?
- Being from the South, I had never even tried on a pair of skates. I was working in Canada and one week, the guys I was with were short their "role player." Since I was a bit big, they asked if I would fill in. Keep in mind, this was Canada and a full-contact men's league. I said yes, and all was good right up until we were in the locker room and I had no idea how to dress. At this point, it dawned on them to ask if I had ever played before. When I replied with an emphatic, "NO" there was a long pause, and they asked, "But you DO know how to skate, right?" I then explained that where I was from in the U.S., the water simply never froze. They all looked at each other and decided to just put me in front of the net and told me to knock down anyone who got close to me. I was well suited for the task and had an absolute blast. Needless to say, I was pummeled and got more "face washing" and bruises that game than the rest of my years playing. I could not move the next day - but I just kept coming back from more!
What do you do with your time when you're NOT playing hockey?
- My other hobbies are weight lifting, competitive shooting sports, and drag racing Mopars, specifically an old Cuda. As a farmer, I love to tinker on anything mechanical. My education is in philosophy and classic literature.
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