Who was a first team Allstar- Selection at left wing four straight years in the Western International Hockey League? Who never tied up his skates at all? Whose name dominated the radio waves when the Trail Smoke Eaters won the World Championships in 1961? (I know that because I listened to the games on radio along with millions of fellow Canadian ice hockey fans, when we beat Russia 5- 1.) Who had three nicknames, Pico, Chi Chi, and Mex?

If your answer is Walt Peacosh of the Kimberley Dynamiters, head to the front of the class. After doing some research, I found out that no one in the history of the W.I.H.L. ever was nominated four years consecutively to a first team position (Left Wing).

Walt had great help though - when you have Cowboy McTeer as your centre man , and a sniper named Les Lilley as your right winger. Les also played with Peacosh for the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League in 1958 -59.

Mex Peacosh was the master of head fakes and shoulder fakes, thoroughly confusing opposing defencemen with an array of baffling moves. Walter set his own rhythm out there on the ice, and the game followed suit.

After gaining the blue line with the puck, Pico would start some tic tack toe passing with Ken McTeer and Lilley. One season each player averaged almost three points per game. Really. The threesome they called The Nitro Line wreaked absolute havoc on the WIHL teams. Consider this: Dickie Vincent Of the Dynamiters ended up with 430 goals, second all time to Billy Martin of the Cranbrook Royals who clocked out with 480 goals. Vincent had to wait his turn on another line until somebody retired( Les Lilley did), then Vincent moved up to play right wing on the Nitro Line.

As you can imagine these guys were quite exciting to watch during their years in Kimberley BC. Walter Peacosh was a bit bow- legged, this is why he never tied up his skates (That is his story and he is sticking to it ).

These days Walter Mex Pico Peacosh is Mr. Fix It at the Kimbrook Apartments trading his considerable talent as a maintenance man, for baked goods, home made soups and possibly home made wine. Alice and Walt Peacosh have maintained good health.

Walt and Alice met in Flin Flon, Manitoba where Walt's dad owned a store. They have six children Ricky, David, Carrie, and Robert live here locally. Daughter Debrah lives in Calgary, while Yvonne is enjoying the sun in Arizona where she lives. The Peacoshes have eight grandchildren.

Walt Peacosh has a hockey player brother, Gene who was a big scorer in the WHA, playing pro for many years. Gene now makes his home in Cranbrook BC . The Peacosh family hailed from The Pas, Manitoba. Walt played his Junior Hockey in Flin Flon, Manitoba in the 1950s.

He mentioned to me once that opposing defencemen didn't know what he was going to do with the puck, because Walt didn't know either. An article in the Vancouver Sun recently said it best - Peacosh befuddled opponents with his ability to change speeds on the ice. The coach of The Smokies, Bobby Kromm, once said that his Smoke Eater team could be competitive in the NHL with about three additional players .Wow.

Chi- Chi has kept his wry sense of humour all these years. He is quite a guy, and one of the best ever to lace (or unlace) a pair of hockey skates on in these parts, I had the privilege of playing with him once. It was a surreal experience. If you got to see him play you know what I mean .