Bison pay tribute to founding father Don Yewchin

The Canadian is flying in with his wife Anita from their home on Vancouver Island especially for the evening, as the club bestow on him the highest honour in ice hockey before the home match against Bracknell Bees.

Yewchin admitted he never thought for one minute that he would receive this prestigious accolade.

The founding father said: “Having my number retired is something I never imagined happening. I have never done anything in life with the hope there would be any personal recognition towards me.

“I accepted the challenge in Basingstoke with one thing in mind – bringing the game of ice hockey to as many kids as possible, so they could have as much fun playing the game as I have all these years.”

He added: “I am humbled and honoured that this occasion will even take place.

“This night in my mind is a celebration that should be enjoyed by many people who together started a programme 21 years ago that is still going strong today.”

Yewchin played a big part in the early years of the club, then known as the Beavers, both on and off the ice.

The Canadian sharpshooter scored the club’s first-ever goal 10 seconds into a challenge match with Bournemouth in July 1988.

He then played in 90 league matches, scoring 12 times in one game, and chalked up a tally of 302 – making him the club’s second highest scorer behind Kevin Conway, the only other player to have had his shirt retired by the Bison.

For Yewchin, his most memorable moments in a Basingstoke shirt came in matches against their arch rivals Bracknell – so it is fitting that these teams will do battle on the Canadian’s big night.

Yewchin said: “There was nothing quite as exciting as being part of the Bracknell v Basingstoke games.”

In the early years, there was a real love-hate rivalry, as the Beavers were the new kids on the block, trying to steal the thunder from their near neighbours.

In Basingstoke’s first season, Bracknell won all six games to secure bragging rights, which left Yewchin even more determined to sting the Bees the following year. And he made it happen – scoring six times in an 11-4 victory.

He then topped that off at the end of the season by being part of Basingstoke’s first-ever win at the Hive in the play-offs.

Talking about those games, Yewchin said: “The first home win against Bracknell was special. The Bees always had our number and to beat them in front of our crowd and hear the roar and see the faces of the fans was, and is, special to me.

“The second special memory was when we beat Bracknell in their rink in the promotion play-offs to move up a division. Bracknell had such a great team and for us to accomplish that victory in their rink was extra special.”

Current Bison player/coach Steve Moria paid his own tribute to Yewchin. He said: “I think it is important to recognise the history of a club and Don was the man who put everything in place, including the junior development, and brought ice hockey to Basingstoke. He deserves this honour.”

On Saturday, Moria and his troops will be keen to make sure the night of celebration continues by carrying on their current winning ways when the action starts against the Bees at 6.30pm.

The Bison will come into the game full of confidence after a thrilling 4-3 victory in Bracknell last Sunday, after trailing 3-0.

During that game, Bees’ import Jaroslav Cesky was dismissed on a match penalty for high sticks after he accidentally caught Bison’s Joe Ciccarello in the face, causing a cut by his eye.

That means the Czech forward will miss Saturday’s clash due to suspension, but Ciccarello is fit to play.

Moria said: “It was a great win in Bracknell last Sunday, but we should never have got ourselves in that situation. On Saturday, I expect Bracknell to come out strong again, but this time we have to be ready and make sure we get the early goal.”

On Sunday (6.30pm), there is a mouth-watering trip to Slough, as five of last year’s Jets, including Moria, make their first appearances there in Bison shirts.