The Friday Dec.02, 2022 game vs Hespeler Shamrocks at Southwood Arena was the 2000th REGULAR SEASON GAME in Woodstock Navy Vets franchise history.
There was a special pre-game ceremonial puck drop featuring 3 players who played in the inaugural game back on Oct.23, 1966 a 10-2 win in Ingersoll against the Marlands in the old OHA Intercounty Junior C Hockey League..
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Don Izzard Jr
He recorded an assist and was assessed a minor penalty in that inaugural game … he played 2 seasons with the Vets … he scored the very 1st goal by the Navy Vets in an exhibition game vs St.Marys in Oct 1966 … he also served as Manager of the Vets in the mid-1970s … his father Don Izzard Sr was the head coach of the Navy Vets for those first 2 seasons … he went on to coach for over 20 years in the Woodstock Minor Hockey Association !! …
Gene McLaren
He scored 1 goal in that inaugural game … he played 3 seasons with the Vets … he led the team in scoring in the 1967-68 season and captained the 1968-69 OHA Schmalz Cup Championship team … he scored the winning goal in Game#7 of the 1969 Schmalz Cup Finals … he went on to become a Senior Hockey legend in Woodstock for over 12 years !! …
Scott Seagrist
He was assessed a minor penalty in that inaugural game … after 1 season with the Vets he moved on to play 1 ½ seasons with the Jr A Oshawa Generals and London Knights before returning to the Vets during the 1969 season to become an important part of the OHA Schmalz Cup championship team … he still holds the team record for most goals in a game when he scored 8 against the London Gems in 1969 … he led the team in scoring for the 1969-70 season … he went on to a professional career playing 2 seasons with the NHL LA Kings affiliate Springfield in the AHL as well as 1 season in Salt Lake City !! …
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