John Tavella always 'on the mark' with super performances from 'great hockey player and friend'

John Tavella gave a "super performance" in two games as the Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies opened their fourth season in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League, playing in the new Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena in the Chapleau Recreation Centre. John gave many of those performances in his hockey career.

John, a 1976 draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , had set an Ontario Hockey League record for most points by a rookie in the 1975-76 season while playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with 64 goals and 67 assists. His record was broken by an up and coming hockey star by the name of Wayne Gretzky.

The OHL also named John Rookie of the Year in the 1975-76 season. In 1976 he was also drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, then of the World Hockey Association. In the 1974-75 season, John played for the Windsor Spitfites then of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

From Wawa, where he played minor hockey, after being drafted by the Canadiens, he chose not to join one of the club's farm teams, and returned home, and married the love of his life Debbie.

That's where he was in the 1977-78 season  when the Huskies needed to strengthen their lineup. Doug Prusky had succeeded me as coach, and I was the manager. Michael 'Pat' Swanson, another great player, who was also our "chief scout", told us about John.

I phoned him and then drove over to Wawa to meet with John and Debbie. He agreed to join us and played part of the 1977-78 season.

John joined the Huskies full time for the 78-79 season, making the commute from Wawa with his friend John Simon, who had also played for the Sault Greyhounds.

Fast forward to opening weekend for the Huskies as they inaugurated the Moore Arena in the recreation centre which had been officially opened in June 1978.

Playing the first of two exhibition games against the Valley East Crusaders the newest entry in the NIHL, John had the distinction of scoring the first goal in the new arena at 17:10 of the first period, assisted by Pat Swanson.

He notched another goal in the Huskies 6-4 win  and then in the second game added two more in the home team's  5-4 victory.

The Chapleau Sentinel described it as a "super performance".

Just for the history record, veteran referee Jim Hong handled both games, keeping them both under control, and handing out only minor penalties.

I came to know John well over the season, and he often ate at my place, usually with most of the team there for a pre-game meal. Often we would have lasagna, and John, a good boy from an Italian- Canadian family once complimented me on it. I took it as high praise coming from him, and have to admit I have told folks over the years how great my lasagna is -- based on John's comment.

No question that John was a hockey star wherever he played, but more importantly, he was a "star" as a friend to everyone who knew him.

After learning that John had died at age 59 in Wawa, on October 21, I posted the news on Facebook. Let me share some of the comments about John as hockey player and friend, all from Chapleau people who knew him:

"Great hockey player and friend"; Great hockey player and wonderful man and father"; "Outstanding hockey player and family friend";  "Awesome hockey player with friendly and outgoing personality",  "Great sports person on and off  the ice. Gentleman hockey player.."and so it went with over 50 comments when last I looked. 

Mark Dillon, a pretty good player in his own right in Chapleau minor hockey  in the 1980s was in touch: "It was sure exciting to watch John play for the Chapleau Huskies".

Mark also shared the following anecdote in which John shot the puck "on the mark". LOL

"One moment I clearly remember was during a warmup. He stayed on the ice for  a bit messing around with a puck and you stood at the door nearest the home dressing room looking at him as if to come off the ice and he let a little slapper go towards you from the other blue line and you had to dodge the puck as his shot was on the mark and passed through the open door. Great times growing up in Chapleau."

One of my former students from Chapleau High School once told  me "I did hockey". That's true to a great extent as I reflect on it all these past couple of days. And, I'm so glad I did, having had the privilege of meeting players, and making friends with people like John Tavella during those years. 

I extend my most sincere sympathy to Debbie and John's family and all his friends. May  he rest in peace. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

John Tavella scores first goal in Moore Arena as Chapleau Intermediate 'A" Huskies down Valley East Crusaders in 1978

UPDATE: John Tavella died at age 59 on October 21, 2015.

The Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies inaugurated the Moore Arena at the Chapleau Recreation Centre,  on October 7 and 8, 1978 winning two exhibition games against the Valley East Crusaders.

With a crowd of more than 500 fans on hand for each game, the Huskies were "equal to the task" according to the Chapleau Sentinel, winning both games 6-4 and 5-4 respectively.

Doug Prusky, who had been a star with both the Chapleau Junior "B" and Intermediate "A" Huskies until an injury forced his retirement was entering his second year as coach of the Huskies. I was the manager.

David McAdam and Glen Cappellani shared goaltending duties.

John Tavella of Wawa, now playing for the Chapleau team, who had set an Ontario Hockey Association record for most points by a rookie when he played for the Sault Greyhounds, earned the honour of scoring the first goal in the Moore Arena at the 17:10 mark of the first period. Pat Swanson assisted.

The Sentinel reported that in the first game, Tavella and Jamie Doyle came through with "super performances culminating their efforts with two goals each.

RON LARCHER and the donkey

Entering their fourth year in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League, the Huskies, were playing the newest entry. The Crusaders were the 1977-78 Sudbury Intermediate League champions.

The first period ended in a 1-1 tie.

Doyle scored his first of the night in the second with assists going to Richard Lacroix and Bill Scheer. The Crusaders again tied the match but Ron Larcher scored on an unassisted effort, and the period ended 3-2 for the locals.

Ron Larcher, Bill Scheer on attack

But the Crusaders roared to the attack in the third pulling ahead by one goal.

Richard Lacroix, who had returned to the lineup after an absence started the comeback when he "put home one of his blasts" assisted by Larcher and Jacques Sylvestre. Fans were delighted to see Lacroix back with the Huskies. He had been the team's leading scorer and Rookie of the year during its first year of operation in 1975-76. Tavella scored his second of the night.

With six minutes left Doyle scored his second of the night assisted by Bill Scheer and Dave McMillan, which turned out to be the winning goal.

Veteran referee Jim Hong kept the game well under control handing out only minor penalties to both clubs.

Tavella was again the big marksman in the second game as he scored twice and earned one assist.

In the second game, Larcher opened the scoring for the Huskies after the Crusaders had taken the lead. Ted Swanson, who never missed a game in the team's four year history, assisted on Larcher's goal.

McMillan put the Huskies ahead with assists to Ted Zajac and Ted Swanson.

Although the Crusaders came back again, John Simon, also from Wawa, who had also played for the Sault Greyhounds, scored his first goal in a Chapleau uniform assisted by Tavella and Pat Swanson to give the locals a 3-2 edge at the end of the second period. Simon's son Chris played in the National Hockey League.

The Huskies in Summerfest bed race

In the third, the Crusaders tied the game, but Tavella put the Huskies back in front assisted by McMillan and then scored the winner assisted by Simon and George Card.

Barbara (Bowland) Groves advised that she sold the first ticket for the hockey game in the new Moore Arena. Barbara was the cashier and canteen manager until 1986, commenting "lots of hockey games." Thanks Barbara.

As an aside, while chatting with Graham Bertrand, co-chair of the Chapleau High School 90th anniversary reunion committee, he reminded me that the recreation centre had been officially opened on June 29, 1978, 34 years to the day of the beginning of the reunion.

BILL SCHEER, PAT SWANSON and GRAHAM!

in !978, Graham was the trainer for the Huskies, as well as serving as chair of Taste of the North the winter carnival and as a member of the Chapleau Recreation Centre. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Photos courtesy of JOHN THERIAULT