Full Bodied Hockey With a Strong Aroma!

The origin of the Cuppa Joe Grinders is not well documented. Some historians say that the idea was originally conceived in the SFU Pub. Others argue that given the condition of the participants while at SFU Pub it is highly unlikely that any good ideas were generated, let alone remembered.

But there is a hazy recollection of Sunday night hockey having taken place while current members of the team did attend SFU. This could have been a legitimate precursor to the more regular Wednesday night rental of the ice some years later. Avid hockey fans all, but only a precious few had played hockey before. The majority were fairly new to the rink at that time and quite content to shuffling along on their ankles for an hour with the promise of cold beer and a cheap shot comments afterwards in the dressing room. These outings, organized around a tightly knit group, were open for any drop-in with $10 to spare and unfortunately drew some questionable characters.

After many a midnight spent in the emptying halls of 8-Rinks a decision was made to finally form this hapless but high-spirited bunch into a bonafide team and enter into competitive hockey. The first formation was a team called “Baked Alaska”.

Sitting in a dressing room 6 beers after a 10:45 practice, the name Baked Alaska seemed like a great idea for a team name. A few weeks later Bob and Gord had to stand up and announce the team name in front of the testosterone-charged league meeting. A representative from each team in the division would stand and call out their team name to the league coordinators. Warriors! - Red Devils! - Outlaws! - Baked Alaska……….. pardon?

Baked Alaska! It may have been met with looks of dubious concern and smirks, but it set the tone for what is now the Grinders - we’re out here to have fun.

So for two years, Baked Alaska it was. The name was eventually tossed out. You may assume for a more machismo moniker, but you would assume wrong. The next name was equally ludicrous, Smokin’ Salmon. Not much of an improvement, but at least we had a logo. The jerseys with the silk-screened reclined salmon puffin’ a home-rolled smoke were still a part of the tradition in the 2001/2002 season as back-up jerseys.

It only took two seasons of being smoked as salmon, until it was necessary to bring the team up to a new level, in quality, organization and style. The driving force behind all iterations of the current team was (is) an entrepreneurial spirit that goes by the name of Gord Schmidt. Gord owns the name Cuppa Joe, as it applies to his custom roasting house and coffee shops that provide Greater Vancouver the best damn coffee to be had. Supported by Bob Bradley, Gord started creating the Cuppa Joe Grinders. All brothers, cousins, friends, co-workers and close acquaintances were called and asked to join the team. Skill level was not a concern. The only conditions that applied were that we are out there to try our hardest and have fun. No egos. No superstars. No assholes.

Its worked like a charm. We’ve got the best collection of personalities that could ever be formed. We’re playing competitive hockey (for our skill level), and we’re having a blast. On paper, its been mentioned, that we’re the best team in the league: We have great looking Home jerseys, great looking Away jerseys, the best designed website in beer-league hockey, committed sponsorship of Cuppa Joe Coffee, Western Concepts, and Associated Labels, and great rapport between the players. We’re just not that good at hockey.

Oh well.