Older hockey players give a special broadcast of their own

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. (FOX 9) – Older hockey players presented a touching tribute to a man in the Golden Valley who died nearly two weeks ago.

All in all, Bob Dolan of the Golden Valley put the skates in every opportunity.

“He loved hockey as much or more than anyone else I’ve known. He was seven days a week if he found ice,” said Bruce Johnson, Dolan’s longtime friend and hockey buddy.

So it is fitting that he received the last broadcast in a way he would appreciate.

“It was an emotional experience for me, and I think it was an emotional experience for all of us.” said Johnson.

For decades, Dolan played with a group of older hockey players at the Bloomington Ice Arena on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. But family members say as he prepared to skate with the group at Blake a couple of Sundays ago, the 74-year-old suffered from cerebral arteries and died at the hospital the next day.

“Appropriately, Bob’s last experience on the ice was the last goal made. Coincidence or something else at work. I can’t answer, but many of us think there was more to it than just coincidence,” he said. Johnson.

Dozens of Dolan’s teammates created the arc with hockey sticks as his family walked through with his ashes to pay their respects to the 64-year-old man.

Dolan’s family asked all the people he had played hockey with for years to wear their jerseys and bring their rackets to his funeral at St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Golden Valley last Tuesday.

50 to 60 of them created an arc through which his family walked through his ashes after worship as a tribute to the man with whom they shared so much time on the ice.

“It was absolutely amazing. My dad always talked about his hockey buddies and all the leagues he’s played in. Seeing them all in person and the love and enjoyment they had to greet was quite amazing and touching,” Dolan’s said. son Joe.

Dolan’s teammates say hockey gave him a lot of joy over the years, and they’re grateful that their great gestures meant as much to Dolan’s loved ones as they did to them.

“A great tribute to a great man and an awesome hockey family,” Johnson said.