SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS!

London Dolphins underwater hockey is proud to be recognized by CUGA as club of the month. Please take the time to read this article and learn about the rich history of one of Ontario’s oldest and most established clubs. Read on and enjoy!

In an interview conducted with this feature in mind, Paul Stewardson, longtime player and founder of the Dolphins shares his story about the early beginnings and best memories of the club.

CUGA: How long have you been playing UWH?
Paul: I started playing in 1977 as a lifeguard in Peterborough.

CUGA: Why did you start the Dolphins?
Paul: When I moved into town I wanted a place to play.

CUGA: When and where did the Dolphins start playing?
Paul: The club started playing in 1983, at the Robarts School for the Deaf.

CUGA: How did you form the Dolphins?
Paul: It was actually pretty easy to get things going. I approached a number of dive shops and SCUBA clubs in town about meeting their members to discuss the idea. They were intrigued and enthusiastic about it and allowed me time to make a brief presentation to their members. I showed them a puck and stick, told them how the game was played and invited them to an in-pool demonstration. Presto! We had a club.

CUGA: What are some of your best memories of the Dolphins through the years?
Paul: I really enjoyed watching things grow and develop in the mid 80’s. There was such a strong intra-provincial rivalry back then. To go to Nationals, you had to win Provincials and the games between the Soo, London, McMaster and York among other teams were insanely intense. The second place team was allowed to play as an exhibition squad. In 1987, London had that honour. The Soo had taken our 2 best defenders for the tournament and we still placed an “unofficial” 3rd. What I liked about the good old days was the club strength and unity. That strong sense of teamwork made the sport even more addictive.

CUGA would like to thank Paul for taking the time to inform the UWH community of the strong history of the sport in Ontario. We recognize you as a pioneer and leader in the sport we all love so much.

The Dolphins has been the home of many high-level players over the years including representatives of the Elite Open, Elite Women’s, Open Master’s, Women’s Master’s and U19 Open teams at World Championships. The London squad makes an effort to send players, if not teams to most of the tournaments in North America every year. 

London hosts a successful tournament every October around Halloween which in recent years has featured pumpkin carving contests and other party games as well as a memorable costume party. The level of play in both A and B divisions is always top-notch, and a fun time is guaranteed for all!

In recent years the junior branch of the Dolphins has been growing with the help of coaches Pat Roberson and Michal Siczek, among other members. We always enjoy helping and motivating the future of our sport.

We’d love to see you out at the tournament or any of our club nights when you’re passing through town. New players are encouraged to contact a team member so that we can arrange for a ride and spare gear. See you on the bottom!

Jeff Stanhope Captain London Dolphins