In Our Community: A Coach, A Player, and a 50-Year Friendship Built at the Rink

It’s more than just hockey bringing fans to the rink in Leamington. It’s lifelong connections.

Roger Dundas and his former coach Warren Dunford first crossed paths back in the 1970s, when Dunford coached Dundas on a Pee Wee minor team.

More than 50 years later, the two remain close, regularly attending Leamington Flyers games together. It's a tradition that has grown over the past decade after reconnecting at the rink.

Dundas, now 66, still speaks highly of the man who helped shape his early years in the sport.

“Just a great guy,” Dundas told Powerplay Sports. He noted how Dunford and his family have always stayed deeply involved in sports, from local hockey to trips to Detroit Tigers games.

He feels very fortunate to have a friendship that has travelled through the decades and remembers a couple of important life lessons he learned from Dunford. "Hard work and being responsible for your actions” Dundas said.

For Dunford, now 80, the connection is just as meaningful. He remembers Dundas as “one of the fastest kids on the ice,” who was his team captain. "Just a great kid, great hockey player.”

Seeing that relationship continue decades later is what stands out most. “It’s such a nice feeling when kids can remember you and still want to be around you,” he said.

Their story is a reminder that hockey is as much about relationships as it is about the game.