Submitted by Jarris Neufeld (MEI Class of 1997)
It’s the start of another long week – the Monday morning coffee, Monday morning meeting, 5 long days before the weekend… how will you ever get past the dreaded Monday. This Monday conundrum was a problem for Dave Batten and Voth Brothers Construction. The day took too long and didn’t feel like it kicked off the week properly. They came up with the solution to break the Monday up……HOCKEY. In 1986 Monday Noon Hockey was born, and every Monday starting after the long weekend in September and going until the weekend before May long, Monday Noon Hockey is a staple.
This is the 35th year that this game has been going on and for the most part been filled with alumni from MEI. Voths, Reimers, Redekops, Neufelds, and Wiebes are some of the families who have been playing for years. The game is now well into the second generation and it has started to dip its toe into the third. Doug Reimer, son James Reimer (1996), and grandson Levi Reimer (2020) play on the same line when the teams work out. Historical participation in these games is deeply intertwined with MEI history. Many battles have been played out on the ice and hugged off of it. Dads, sons, brothers, cousins, and friends have all been a part of this game and its legacy and it is the stuff of legends.
Speaking of legends, the story goes that the old phone in Abby Chan’s classroom was used to call the MEI office to “excuse” a student for the afternoon……..at the rink the dad of this player would ask, “How did you get out of school?”……..the only answer was with a wink in the eye and a crisp pass for a tap in goal, “Dad you called and excused me, now let’s go get lunch after we play.”
Monday, Monday, Monday – could be the longest day of the week – but for the all the guys who take part in Monday Noon Hockey, Monday morning can’t come soon enough.
Back L-R: Brad Willems (has coached MEI girls’ volleyball when his daughter played), Stephan Ferrario (1999), Darren Barkman (2001), Josh Reimer (2000), Nathan Reimer (1997), Ryan Wiebe (1997), Tanner Redekop (2007), Rob Redekop (1977), Greg Neufeld (2002)
Front L-R: Jarris Neufeld (1997), Marty Peters (2001), Travis Oddy (coach MEI Hockey Academy), Scott Ericson (2002)
Not pictured, but have played for years: James Reimer (1996), Doug Reimer (MEI Board member 1993-1999), Pete Reimer (father to Nathan and Josh, wife Marianne is Class of 1976), Luc Gosselin (1994), Derek Wiebe (2000), Norm Wiebe (1973), Ryan Redekop (2003), James Redekop (1978), Trevor McBratney (2000), Travis Redekop (2005), Mike Funk (2004) and many others.
