Local legend Ivan McLelland may be a better goalie than golfer, but that didn含羞草研究社檛 stop him from getting out to the golf course to enjoy some time with his friends to celebrate his 90th birthday Monday (March 15).

McLelland is best known for back-stopping the Penticton Vees senior men含羞草研究社檚 team to a World Hockey Championship in 1955, bringing Canada its 16th world championship title. He含羞草研究社檚 since remained a very active and esteemed member of the community in Penticton.

As he celebrated his 90th birthday Monday at Skaha Meadows Golf Course with a group of friends, McLelland took the opportunity to look back on his time in Penticton.

含羞草研究社淨uite frankly, after all these years I含羞草研究社檓 pretty darn grateful for the role I含羞草研究社檝e played here in Penticton,含羞草研究社� McLelland said.

McLellan is grateful for his time between the posts, but he said there has been so much more to his life in Penticton than just hockey. McLelland married his wife Faye who is from Penticton. She passed away from dementia in 2009, prompting McLelland to get involved with fundraising for the Alzheimer含羞草研究社檚 Society of B.C.

After finishing his hockey career, McLelland started working with youth hockey before becoming involved with local charities. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 never work for me,含羞草研究社� McLelland said. 含羞草研究社淸Charity work] has always been something I含羞草研究社檝e enjoyed doing.含羞草研究社�

These days McLelland isn含羞草研究社檛 able to do much charity work due to COVID-19 but still keeps himself busy with golf, long walks, snowshoeing and spending time with friends.

McLelland has lived almost his entire life in Penticton since moving here in 1951 from South Porcupine, Ont. to play for the Vees.

含羞草研究社淚 married a Penticton lady [where we had a] wonderful time here in Penticton,含羞草研究社� McLelland said.

Penticton has changed a lot during his time here, so much so that it would be hard to identify all the changes, he said. But he believes the city has changed for the best.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 positive, I don含羞草研究社檛 look at it as any negativity at all. I think the growth is natural and the city is, in my view, as pretty of a place as you含羞草研究社檇 ever want to be.含羞草研究社�

Monday at Skaha Meadows was a special day for McLelland as he took the day to look back on a life well-lived. Despite it being his birthday, he said his friends still weren含羞草研究社檛 nice enough to let him win the nine-hole round of golf.

含羞草研究社淭hey never let me win, they pick on me!含羞草研究社� McLelland said through a laugh. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e all younger than me, of course, they含羞草研究社檙e heartless when it comes to the game of golf. They have no sympathy for an older man at all.含羞草研究社�

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