By Vincent Ball, Brantford Expositor
Sunday, June 1, 2014 8:18:45 EDT PM
At six-foot-two, James McCutcheon is a pretty intimidating sight when he puts on his goalie gear for his ball hockey team, the aptly named Vulgarians.
But, just in case his height and size aren’t enough to put a little fear in opponents, McCutcheon has added a fearsome-looking mask, which is black, white and brown with tufts of orange hair-like material sprouting out from all angles.
If nothing else, it helps McCutcheon stand out in a crowd.
“It’s done up in a zombie theme,” McCutcheon, 42, of Philadelphia, said after back stopping his team to a 9-2 victory Saturday afternoon during the eighth annual Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament at the Steve Brown Sports Complex at Lions Park.
“You have to be a little off-kilter to play goal in ball hockey and, well, this is a little off-kilter.”
McCutcheon says it’s “pretty tough” playing goal.
“It’s hot with all of this equipment on and the shots can be pretty tricky and that includes the slow rollers.”
Still, he wouldn’t give it up for anything.
He loves the game. And he and his teammates have been coming to Brantford for the annual Gretzky tournament for the past six years.
His team includes players from across the United States and Canada.
In addition to a love of street hockey, they are all fans of movie producer, director and actor Kevin Smith, who, in turn is a big fan of the Walter Gretzky tournament. Smith has played in the tournament.
Earlier this year, the tournament received provincial recognition when Festival and Events Ontario named the seventh annual tournament as one of the top 100 events of 2013. The tournament attracted more than160 teams and 2,000 participants and raised thousands of dollars for the Lung Association.
This year’s tournament, held on the weekend, attracted 135 teams and 1,500 competitors.
Teams came from across the United States and Canada.
Organizers were hoping to raise $23,000.
More than three million Canadians cope with one of five serious respiratory diseases – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. The local lung association has a fundraising goal of just over $150,000 annually.
The tournament held an official opening ceremony with several dignitaries including Brantford Mayor Chris Friel and the city’s Lord Mayor – Walter Gretzky.
Sandy Lee, of the Lung Association, organized the event. The highlight of the weekend for her was the participation of high school student Sam Loslo, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2011.
“He (Sam) loves the game but couldn’t play for a couple of years because he was sick,” Lee said.
“But he’s back playing now and the one thing about Sam is that he always has this big smile on his face.
“I saw him after his game and asked him how he did. He said they had lost but he then he said it just got him all pumped up for the next game. And he had this really big smile.”
