The year was 1972
It was the dawn of the disco decade; hot pants and Farrah Fawcett-style wavy hair was all the rage for the girls, while flared trousers, a shoulder-length mane and a bushy moustache adorned most fashion-conscious boys.
American Pie by Don McLean topped the U.S Billboard chart, while, in the fall, tragedy struck at the Munich Olympics when 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and murdered after eight members of Arab terrorist group Black September invaded the Olympic Village.
In the world of hockey, one of the most historic and dramatic games in the sport took place in Moscow, with Canada beating the Soviets in game eight of the Summit Series to win the series 4- 3-1; the first time the two nations had met in the pro game.
Back in B.C., in the growing, but relatively minor, municipality of Richmond, local history of its own was taking place with the spawning of its first ever junior hockey club - the Richmond Sockeyes.
For many a year, those desperate to lace up and get on the ice with a stick and puck had to head over the Fraser to Delta.
But the city craved its own team and the construction of Minoru Arena a few years prior changed all that and finally brought the good ole' game to Richmond.
"I played in the very first year of the team. It was an exciting time, Richmond had recently built Minoru Arena, it was a team for the community and it was their first junior hockey team," recalled Don Taylor, a retired school prin-copal, who's now the Sockeyes' educational advisor.
"I only started playing when I was 10 because there was no ice in Richmond!"
At just 16 years of age, Taylor was still playing soccer and broke his leg at the start of the season, before finally getting fit and recording a solid season as a Sockeye centre.
"That first year, we didn't make the playoffs, but that wasn't unusual for a first-year team," said Taylor. "There were guys in there who were great guys to go to battle with, including Dennis Minns, who sadly died just last year. He was a very clever stick handler; he could score and set up, a very clever player.
"There was an overwhelming turnout at his funeral, where the current Sockeye team were out in force, it was a fitting tribute."
Other dressing room personalities in that first year included Ron Beamen, a "robust defenseman" and Allen Lacroix, who was a "great goal scorer," added Taylor.
There was also a certain Doug Paterson, the first ever Sockeyes captain, and a player who Taylor remembers as a "real character."
Now one of five co-owners of the Sockeyes with fellow alumni and brother, Ronnie, Paterson recalled how he had, right up until age 17, travelled to Delta to play hockey.
"Richmond didn't even have a rink. When we got going, it was fun to go to Minoru and everyone was very committed and passionate," said Paterson.
"We didn't have that much talent on the team but we were 100 per cent committed to play that year, our first year, in what was called the West Coast Hockey League."
Paterson remembers how, as a new franchise, the Sockeyes had a tough time being competitive with the league's more established clubs.
"The NorWes Caps were the team to beat that year on the North Shore," said the former defenseman.
"Our owner and general manager was Bruce Allison (whose grandson, Dean Allison, plays on the team today).
"The coach was an Italian man called Bruno Pasqualotto. He was very knowledgeable about the game and was very structured as a coach.
"Mr. Allison was a very hands-on guy who phoned me every other night to talk about the team."
Paterson also recalled how, at just five feet six inches tall and weighing in at 140 pounds, he had to stick up for himself in the old school game.
"I think the players weren't as big back then?" he laughed.
"There were a lot of hard knocks and there was less emphasis on skill, more like the years when the Flyers won (the Stanley Cup in '74 and '75). We sort of semi beat each other up."
Paterson credits that first proud year as a Sockeye captain for laying the foundations for a life in the world of commerce, where he still runs a windows and doors enterprise.
"That gave me my first taste of leadership and 40 years later, I like to think that opportunity as captain gave me the skills to succeed in business."
Paterson's younger brother, Ronnie, who joined the team a few years later, didn't have to wait as long as his elder sibling to taste success.
Ronnie, also a current club co-owner, has fond memories of the team's first provincial title in 1976/77, a Mowat Cup championship run as PJHL kings that wasn't shy on drama.
"One of the first things that comes to mind was the local support," said Paterson junior of that memorable year.
"We had only lost five games all year and in the first round of the playoffs, against the Vancouver Junior Canucks, we lost the first three games.
"We managed somehow to tie it back up at 3-3 and when game seven came back to Richmond, they had to delay it to get the crowd in. Around 1,500 people were there I think and about 200 to 300 people got turned away after the fire marshall stepped in."
Paterson junior said the team was under a lot of pressure for that game seven, because it had only lost five games all season and expectations were at an all-time high.
Of course, the Sockeyes won and went on to be crowned PJHL champions before losing out to Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders for the Abbott Cup as Western Canadian champions, after winning the Doyle Cup as Alberta/B.C. Champions.
"The level of support from the community in those days was exemplary," said Paterson junior.
"The team had a real local flavour, full of local players and the crowd loved that I think.
"Lorne Williams, the owner at the time, was the inspiration behind everything, we were very fortunate to have him. He bred a committed group and that established a certain culture."
The game is different today, added Paterson, with the fans having more choice of how to spend their leisure dollar.
"We had a tremendous following back then, with sometimes more than 1,500 people coming out. Those were special days," he said, recalling players from that championship year such as Gary Medelak, Tom Frame, Ray Lorenz and Gregg Baydala.
"All of them came up through minor hockey together and that's what made the team so special that year. You don't seem to get that level of loyalty today."
The Sockeyes went on to win the Mowat Cup as B.C. champions once more in the 70s, in 1979, cementing the foundations for the next 33 years and a coveted alumni program which is the pride and joy of Paterson senior.
"I love the rich history we have here and I'm proud that I helped establish (the alumni program)," he said.
"We've managed to hand out $130,000 in scholarships over the last 10 years. I'm really thrilled to say I'm part of that.
"I've seen a lot of guys come through as players and then the alumni. Forty years is a long time and I'm excited that I've been involved."
On Nov. 8, players of Sockeyes' days gone by will gather for a special evening at Ceili's pub, before heading to Minoru to watch their team take on local rival Delta.
"This year is going to stir up a lot of memories, that's for sure," said the Sockeyes' first ever captain.
