Recognize anyone from this 1984 Eston team?

By Joan Janzen

The Eston Red Ribbons were the first Eston hockey team to represent the town of Eston in an international tournament in Reno, Nevada. The Grass to Grain history book published a 1984 photo of the team, which began as a 30+ recreation team. The team competed throughout southwestern Saskatchewan, as well as in Alberta, playing up to 60 games per year.

The Red Ribbons was the first team to hit the ice when the newly constructed complex opened. They were also the first team in Eston to have a bus, which was suitably named “The Big Red Ribbon”. The converted school bus was equipped with a bathroom, space for equipment and card tables, which were used for their legendary smear games. A popular souvenir was a button that proclaimed, “I rode the Big Red Ribbon.” There may be locals who still have one of those buttons in their possession.

The Eston Red Ribbons - 1984. Back row (l-r): Jack McLeod, Rick Morrice, Les Thome, Stewart Hunter, Brian Proudlove, Gerald Sinclair, Russell Houston, Gary Johnson, Peter Paul, Brian Reimer, David Hartsook, Garry Stevenson, Sheldon Hood. Front row (l-r): Clint Mathers, Morris Andrews, Bob Holmes, Tom Martin, Lawrence King, Ross Thompson, Blythe Irvine, Floyd Neilson, Gene Lonnberg, Bill Hartnell. Those in the dark sweaters travelled to Reno, Nevada to play in an invitational tournament. Photo: Grass to Grain - Volume 2