B.C. historian finds hyperlink between Evil Knievel and Kootenay hockey groups

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A Nelson-based historian has uncovered a curious hyperlink between American stunt legend Evel Knievel and two Kootenay-based hockey groups.

In keeping with a publish by Greg Nesteroff on his Kütne Reader weblog, 19-year-old Robert Knievel joined his hometown Butte Bombers in Montana as a participant and assistant coach within the fall of 1958.

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The Bombers have been in a loosely-affiliated league that included the Creston Canucks, Path Rockets, Salt Lake Metropolis Icelanders, Seattle People and Nice Falls People.

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Nesteroff referred to a 2011 e-book Evel: The Excessive-Flying Lifetime of Evel Knievel, which acknowledged the startup cash for the workforce got here from Knievel’s father and grandfather and that the workforce was based mostly on the Butte Civic Middle.

The primary recreation of the season was performed in Butte in opposition to the Creston Canucks in entrance of 1,000 individuals and resulted in an 8-6 Bombers comeback victory. Knievel scored two targets, and had an help and a battle.

In January 1959, Butte performed the Path Rockets at residence twice, defeating them each occasions 7-4 and 6-5. The Rockets fashioned in 1955 and starred centre Leo Mailey, who died in 2021.

“Each video games have been marred by unsportsmanlike behaviour towards the on-ice officers. Within the first recreation, Rockets coach McCabe hit a referee. Within the rematch, Knievel did the identical after receiving a significant penalty. He later publicly apologized,” Nesteroff reported.

At the beginning of the 1959-1960 season Knievel (then 20) was appointed president of the workforce that he additionally performed for.

In that season, the Butte Bombers opened at residence in opposition to the Path Rockets and misplaced 7-6, with a hat trick from the Rockets’ Vern Aikin.

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Nesteroff wrote that the spotlight of the Butte Bombers existence was a Feb. 7, 1960 recreation performed in opposition to the Czechoslovakian nationwide workforce as they ready for the 1960 Winter Olympics in California. The Bombers have been defeated 22-3 in entrance of two,000 followers.

The 1960 Winter Olympics hockey gold was gained by the U.S. with Canada taking silver and Russia taking bronze. The Czechoslovakians have been in a bunch with the U.S. and Australia. They misplaced to the U.S. however defeated the Aussies 18-1 and ended fourth within the nine-team event.

A decade later, in June 1970, Knievel jumped 12 vehicles contained in the recently-opened Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.

Knievel was a global movie star recognized for his wild bounce makes an attempt that usually resulted in failure and damaged bones and for a deal he struck with Ideally suited Toys that used his likeness to promote hundreds of thousands of {dollars} of toys to children within the 70s. He died in 2007 aged 69.

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