As I watched Ralph Gordon survey the exploits of the Rama Hammond Kings Junior A Lacrosse Club at the MASK recently, I couldn’t help but drift back in time a couple of decades.
In some ways, the years have not been kind to Ralph who like many former athletes, is now dealing with the wear and tear his body suffered during his younger days.
But there he was standing beside the glass at the rink, cane in hand, carefully watching the play and focusing clearly on the exploits of his goaltender son Derrick.
Ralph and the rest of the Gordon family returned to the Orillia area not long ago.
Being out of sight, it’s easy to be sometimes forgotten, but there’s no way Ralph’s contributions to local lacrosse will vanish from memory.
Ralph and I share an interesting connection, as our mothers shared beds side by side in the maternity ward at Orillia’s Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital when we were born. I’m told little Ralphy kicked up quite a racket at bottle-feeding time.
Of course, I was always on my best behavior.
From there, it was quite a separation period, before we both landed in the newspaper business in the late 1970s.
I was a rookie reporter, while Ralph was up before dawn most days to handle the duties as the sports editor.
But those who followed lacrosse in the 1980s remember Gordon as the acrobatic goaltender with the Orillia Lions Junior B Lacrosse Club.
He played on teams with stellar players like Terry Bullen, Bob Holder, Brian Balkwill, Dan Shilling and Ted Boynton.
The team challenged for several Founders Cup titles and won one crown within the friendly confines of the Orillia Community Centre.
Last year, Ralph returned to his roots by becoming general manager of the Rama Hammond Kings.
While the road to victory for the Rama Kings has been a bumpy one the past two seasons, Ralph, the rest of the executive and the coaching staff, have put in countless hours to bring winning lacrosse back to the region.
Ralph has also had a chance watch his son rise through the lacrosse ranks and embrace the same game he fell in love with as a child in Orillia, growing up on Colborne Street.
The fact Derrick strapped on the pads and followed in his goaltending footprints must be making papa feel extra proud.
On May 25, when I watched the Kings lose 4-2 to the Kitchener Waterloo Braves, my heart went out to Derrick, as he gave up two goals in the final 20 minutes of play.
But, as his dad no doubt has repeated to him on many a car ride between the house and the rink, you learn more from losing than you do from winning.
Every minute spent between the pipes makes Derrick a more confident and knowledgeable goaltender.
His dad knows that all too well.
For the city’s long-term lacrosse fans, watching Derrick Gordon carry on the family netminding tradition is a pleasure.
