The Kimberley Dynamiters had a very good hockey team in the 1960s and early 70s. They were fortunate to have John Stone as their one and only trainer. Stoney was a guy who really really cared about the Dynamiter players, and was always available in case a skirmish broke out with the opposing team, (especially if it was near the Nitro bench).

Stoney did a multitude of duties for the Kimberley Dynamiters, among them sharpening skates, and if you do not think hockey players are downright picky about their skates, you do not know hockey players. John dealt with cuts ( back in those days that would be holding a towel to the cut until the Doctor arrived with the needle and thread).

Then there was the matter of doing laundry, spesifically towels and socks and more towels . Stoney was fortunate in that his Uncle Phil McKim owned King Coin Laundry in Kimberley. Hubcap McKim (which is certainly a cool name), was Phil's son.

I have just called Stoney , actually he called me , and he told me that most practice hockey nights, he would not get out of the rink until 11 pm. John Shotgun Stone became the Trainer of the Kimberley Dynamiters in 1962- 1963. Ten years later in 72-73 Shotgun Stone retired from his position as trainer. A decade is enough time washing laundry for a hockey club, he said with a chuckle.

Being a trainer in the WIHL took a huge commitment of time, practicing after work on most nights, two games on the weekend - one game at the Kimberley Civic Centre and one on the road in Nelson, Trail, Rossland, Cranbrook, and the toughest rink to play at Spokane Coliseum, especially if it was Saturday night.

The Dynamiter players were really great at packing their own gear helping out John Stone, get the team bus packed and the American beer hidden away in the bus heading to the Canadian border. Many TVs came up on the Dynamiter bus at 3 am.

We had a hard rock defenseman play here one year, Paul Sinclair, who was kind enough to bring me a copy of The Mamas and The Papas the day it came out in the US He bought it in Spokane before the Dynamiters played.

I had the first record in Canada of California Dreamin. I lent it to Sully and possibly never got it back. John Shotgun Stone (his Senior baseball nickname) also was known as Long -John Stone because he had a real gift of stretching for throws in the dirt, turning bad throws into outs.

John made a great target at first base, being 6 feet 3. If you got a fastball up in the strikezone, Stoney would mash it a long way, usually over the right - centre fence.

Johnny began playing baseball for the Kimberley Hobos at age 18 way back in 1952. Long John retired from ball at 48 years old. Before I go on further, one of the jokes around the Dynamiter dressing room, was how many times Steener (the coach), fired Shotgun Stone as the Nitro trainer. Stoney says at least seven, Bill once told me joking it was at least 12 times. No kidding. John Stone liked to verbally joust with the opposing teams, the referees, and especially get into it with heckling fans in enemy rinks. Leo Nimsick, the WIHL President, suspended Stoney for one game way back when.

The regular fans who sat behind the Dynamiter bench in Trail, Nelson, and Spokane would be liquored up and ready to do battle with Shotgun Stone when the Nitros hit town. The thing about Stoney was if you got him riled up . look out, this dude could take it to the next level if the need arose.

Probably one of the toughest of the Kimberley Dynamiters (Those long arms) woe to the boozed up weekend warrior who thought he could punch out the Dynamiter trainer. Not happening dude.

The Dynamiter players loved Stoney as one of their own, which he was. Stone saw more of the hockey players during the hockey season, than John saw his own family. Senior Hockey was like that here. Full time.

Long John Stone was a big fan favorite at the Kimberley Civic Centre. If there were any altercations around the Dynamiter bench, Shotgun would always be in the middle of it. He was more of a player than a trainer, if you catch my drift.

I was pretty proud of John Stone in 1969, when we played a benefit hockey game for the Canadian Cancer Society in Kimberley just before Christmas. It was minus 30 C that night. This would be the last game of the Nitro Line (Peacosh McTeer Lilley) Don Laurient, Don White and I put the thing together and we invited Shotgun John Stone to play and to be a part of this event.

So Stoney played on the third line with us and did really well, was not on the ice for any goals against, and acquitted himself very well. It was great to see John out there on the last night of his Nitro pals.

Stoney is a great buddy with Walter Mex Peacosh. We had a great night, won the game and had a big party at the Kimbrook. Regarding drinking, John Stone has been a tea totaller for 30 years, (August 1982) Alcohol just was not working for him anymore so he just quit and never went back. These days Stoney is semi retired, but works out at the Casino of the Rockies in security, and spends time in the winter in Sedona Arizona, and Bahamas as well.

Stoney is 77 and going strong, works out at the gym regularly. He and wife Shirley Ann like to get away to their timeshare. They have two boys, Paul in Burnaby, and David in Penticton. Stoney also has a daughter, Shannon. I have never met Shannon, but being Stoneys kid , she must be a fun person.

Sadly two step sons Kelly, and Bart passed away some time ago in separate accidents. John gave a very moving speech at his friend Bill Steenson's Memorial in Kimberley July 16th 2011. Billy coached and of course played defense on the Kimberley Dynamiters during Stoney's time as their Trainer. John Stone took a Dynamiter loss as hard as Steenson, and was pretty elated when the Nitros won.

It was quite effortless for me to write this, because Shotgun Stone and I have been good friends for 45 years. He is a true friend, and a heckuva guy, everbody loves Stoney, who has a rich legacy in sports in Kimberley BC