OLD ICE HOCKEY GAMES

The advert on top cropped up in the Tele in January 1972.

Two Sunday games taking place up at Kingsway Ice Rink, one featuring a cup match - Dundee Rockets v Paisley Mohawks - and the other a league game - Dundee Meteors v Murrayfield Raiders.

It wasn't only local ice hockey teams Kingsway Ice Rink hosted, from time to time International games took place too. The photo above is one such encounter, a match in the early/mid 80's involving Great Britain v Canada.

It'll be interesting to find out if anyone has the results for any of the matches mentioned.

Incidentally, former 80's Dundee Rockets player, Rob (Bob) Breskal, has dropped some comments recently on some of the older Rockets/Ice Rink posts on Retro and says if anyone wants to get in touch with him, you can contact him at - robno103@hotmail.co.uk

INSIDE KINGSWAY ICE RINK

The top image is a wee reminder of how the entrance area to Kingsway Ice Rink looked - complete with curling stone and skater inlays.

The other image is a wee reminder of how the skaters at Kingsway Ice Rink looked - complete with mid 70's fashions.

You can tell it's 1974/75 by the high-waister jerseys that were all the rage at the time.

I've even spotted someone in the centre of the crowd wearing a "6 bander" - the cuffs went right up to your elbows and the waistband reached your chest. Classic!!

2 ICE RINK ADS - 1972 / 81

Some of you may have spotted the old Kingsway Ice Rink in yesterday's aerial shot from the 60's...well here's 2 ads from the other retro decades.

The top ad will be very familiar to a lot of you because the same one cropped up on a weekly basis in the Tele throughout the 70's - the one here being from 1972.

The ad below it was a one-off and is dated 1981.

DUNDEE ROCKETS - MID 80'S

Also in May 2009, I posted the only picture I had of the Dundee Rockets, dating from the early 80's, which was a poor quality monochrome image.

Well here is a proper one of the team from the mid 80's, in full colour and autographed!

Thanks to Stuart Betty.

KINGSWAY ICE RINK - 1989

The previous picture of the old Ice Rink I put up last year (May 2009), didn't have the main entrance in the image. So to make up for it, here is a cracker of the doorway taken on 3rd March 1989.
Photo by Neale Elder

DUNDEE ROCKETS - EARLY 80'S

Not a brilliant quality shot but it's the only picture I have of the Dundee Rockets from the period I went to see them play.
Ex Craigie High School pupil, Jim Pennycook, is 2nd from the right in the centre row.

DUNDEE ROCKETS PROGRAMME - 1983

Yes the Dundee Rockets were one of the best teams in the UK in the 1980's when I went to see them play, and they ended up winning a variety of titles during this period.
One of the other reasons I used to watch them was because my old Craigie High School classmate, Jim Pennycook, played for them. I remember him being one of the top players for CHS hockey team, and he then went on to become a bit of a star for Dundee. Last I heard he was coaching down South.
As regards the above match against the Panthers, well from what I can make out from my scribblings inside the programme, the Rockets appeared to have won 5-0. Goals by R Wood - A Leblanc - R Halpin and 2 by C Brinster.

THE ICE RINK - KINGSWAY

My first visit to the Ice Rink, ironically, didn't involve any ice! It was for a 5-a-side football tournament that took place in the mid 70's. Both Dundee and Dundee United were in with those participating, however, I'm afraid I can't recall any details as to the outcome of the event. The place was filled to capacity though and there was a great atmosphere.
I did manage to venture up later to catch some ice hockey games in the early 80's. The Dundee Rockets were a top notch team back then and they won numerous championships, so it was a great time to go see them play.
The Ice Rink also occasionally put on a variety of other functions such as live gigs, discos ( called Dice-cos, featuring the sounds of Vital Spark), and obviously you could go skating, try curling, then visit their restaurant.
I never did get around to sampling the skating sessions mind you.
In the above photo, the main entrance to the rink is just out of shot to the left. The Ice Rink finally closed down around 1993.
Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.