BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Every week at the Bethlehem’s Steel Ice Center they hit the ice to play hockey for what is called Lunchtime Skate.
They are proving that age is just a number.
“It’s a great skate,” said Dick Johnson.
Johnson is in his early 80s and suiting up to play defense.
“I started when I left home for school in 1957. I started skating on the Fox River of Illinois and I fell in love with it,” said Johnson.
He is on the same team as 77-year-old Toronto-native Mario Sgroi.
“It’s great. There’s no doubt about it and we need it. It beats going to the gym,” said Sgroi.
He has been playing hockey since he was five.
“It’s hard to describe because it’s so much fun- carry the puck, make passes, you know score goals. That thing,” said Sgroi.
Bruce McIntosh is the mastermind behind Lunchtime Skate.
“A lot of us were playing in the men’s leagues and a lot of us were being squeezed out. As younger guys were coming into the league it wasn’t fun for us anymore,” said McIntosh.
It is a group of players who have bonded for years.
“We wind up going to weddings, we wind up going to funerals and now we talk about our medical stuff,” said McIntosh.
“It’s a great group of guys. You have to be out here,” said Rich Crawley.
Rich Crawley plays with the group year-round.
“I look forward to it. It’s circled on your calendar every week,” said Crawley.
Importantly it is all about having fun.
“You can’t stop. The secret is you keep playing all year long,” said Johnson.