The Boubere Hall of Fame
Kevin Crosbie
Jim "Porky" Lester
Dave Maynard -- #
Perpetual nominees and honorable mentions for The Boubere Hall of Fame
Larry M
John C
"Jacque LaRoque"
M Dankowski
The other Dankowski brother
The other other Dankowski brother
Pat "Reckless Abandon" C
Kent A
Dave M
Giff
Vig
Ken B
Jim K
Annual Awards
The Boubere of the Year
The Most Offensive Player
The Norman Miller Award
The First Blood Award
The High and Wide Award
The High and Not-so Wide Award
A Farewell to a Boubere – James “Porky” Lester
What is it with goalies?
Why do they have to leave the game early?
If your team is down a goal, yank the goalie. Down two, get him to the bench even sooner! Through the years, Boubere Hockey has never been much on supporting this view. We always believed we were better off playing what we brought. But yet today, another Boubere goalie has left the game early.
On this, the 5th day of April, 2016, James “Porky” Lester, departed from the game early. His game was not over, but the ultimate coach above decided he needed a strong presence on another bench. Those of us that remain are not happy. We want Porky on our bench. St. Peter could have waited longer. We already gave him a goalie. Is Kevin struggling? Did he really need Porky to step in for him this early?
Porky has been a part of this group for many, many years. He would sometimes pretend his loyalty was with other team colors, but we knew better. My first introduction to Porky’s goal tending style came with the pain of his goal stick, across the back of my legs, at the old UConn rink. But days later, at Nasin’s Pond, he would tell me how I could be much more effective without getting whacked.
Porky was an instrumental negotiator in the safe return of Kathy Ireland, after her kidnapping from the Trolley Pub. I’m pretty sure he did it more to hold over Chuck’s head, rather than arriving at a safe outcome for the damsel in distress.
One of his greatest desires was to play long enough to share the ice with his kids, Jimmy and Amanda. We’re not sure he thought that through. By doing so he doomed them to be a part of the Boubere legacy forever. But he accomplished that dream. It was touching to watch him try to hide the overwhelming pride he felt being on the ice with them. It’s the way he was. He would scream at the kids about some bone-head play. Then seconds later, after one of them scored, he could be heard to mutter, “That’s my kid!”
He was a husband that truly loved his wife, Lisa. The two were peas in a pod. The sense of humor they shared was a perfect match. They seemed inseparable at times. They looked incomplete when they were apart. You just always expected to see both of them together.
The stories are too numerous to recant them all here. We all have our favorites, which we will cherish forever.
Porky played hockey much as he lived life. He was always smiling. If he didn’t have that familiar smirk on his face, you had to only wait a minute and it would be back. Porky was a fierce competitor but never lost track of the real reason we played together. Life went on regardless of the final score. The goal was always to have fun and spend time together. Friends, family, teammates, co-workers. He held us all in the highest place. Porky made sure that you knew you were important to him. As he will always be important to us.
As a team, we mourn.
As a family, we mourn.
As individuals, we mourn.
But through it all we celebrate. We were all so incredibly lucky to have had our lives touched by this man, husband, father, brother, coach, teammate, friend and yes, goalie. He was a little strange, as goalies will be. But he was our goalie.
Porky, you will be missed. You have touched us all in special ways. Ways that will never be forgotten, always looked back upon in fondness, respect and love. Keep your skates sharp and your reflexes quick until we meet again. As only heartbroken teammates can understand, “Goodbye Pork”.
Go Boubere!
Joe Y.
A Farewell to a Boubere – Kevin Crosbie
| 2008 USPHC Flat Kevin leaving flight |
| deck after successful landing |
| 2008 USPHC Flat Kevin at the Chronicle's |
| Twin Cities Bureau |
Boubere Hockey mourns for a dear friend. Saturday, April 21, 2012 Kevin Crosby made his final shift change and we said our final goodbye. He was the driving force in making Boubere Hockey a cohesive group. His quick wit, and often sharp humor, kept the group laughing and enjoying each others company. He was our scheduling guru, keeping track
of game night beer lists, broomball tournaments, road trips, banquets, the website and so much more.
As are most of this group, Kevin was what can only be described as a mediocre hockey player. But in his minds eye he was just a fraction of a step behind Gordie Howe as one of the best ever. He may not have possessed the talent to excel on the ice but his love for the game was unmatched.
Also unequaled was the love, compassion and true devotion he showed for his family and friends. Kevin was one of the most generous people I have ever had the privilege to know. He reminded me of the title of a book written about NFL great Gayle Sayers, “My family is first, my friends are second and I am third”.
He has on numerous occasions given someone the jersey off his back, with no thought of repayment or refund. He could always be counted on to produce the "emergency 30 pack" when needed for an extended after-game parking lot social. One fault I did find with Kevin was his skill at math. When he checked the cooler he could only count to the always "there are only three left!" It was his patented ploy to keep anyone who was thinking of departing early around so we could be together for a few more precious minutes. And it worked most of the time.
We will all miss Kevin, for obvious and personal reasons. I have been honored to know Kevin for 22 years. I will miss the pond ice time with him, his shout of "Go Boubere", his call of "to quick" for the last goal. The list could go on and on. I regret that we never made the time to go sailing together, as he asked me to several times. I guess what I am trying to say is simply I will miss. This world has lost a loving husband, a caring father and a great friend. There can be no replacement. Kevin was definitely one of a kind, made from a mold I believe he struck for himself. As the final horn prepares to sound I find myself praying that someone will call out "Next goal wins!" So we can play just one more shift.
Kevin, your family, your friends and your teammates loved you dearly. We have been blessed by having you in our lives and will strive to keep your spirit with us always.
Goodbye my friend!
Joe
GO BOUBERE!
A Farewell to a Boubere – Dave Maynard
Boubere Dave Maynard passed away September 2011. Dave was the definition of "a good guy" and we will always remember that smile, and the best Boubere sense of humor.
You wanted to be his friend.
And we were lucky enough to be just that.
Two Dave stories:
Best Boubere goal memory: The Bouberes were even much worse than they are now. Playing in the UConn league. Dave's son Matt was a kid, watching the game from our bench. Dave drove to the net and top shelfed a rebound for probably our only goal of the season and Matt was screaming with joy and dancing on the bench and Dave made a beeline direct to him for a big hug.
Same league different game, Dave is center and I am right wing. First shift I block a shot and get three crushed fingers. Drive myself to ER. Long wait. Get treated for fingers but told I can't drive myself home from hospital. By then Trolley is closed. (Hospital doesn't tell me there are Bouberes waiting for me in waiting room).
Eventually, fireman Dave brings patient to ER in the ambulance. Sees me, says "What are you still doing here?" "They won't let me drive home" Pause... Dave says "Get in the ambulance" and I got driven home.
Kevin C.