Playing Coach, Right Wing

Craig was born in Scotland in 1942 at the height of the Blitz. Fortunately for him, his home near Twatt, in the Orkney Islands, was an area so isolated and remote that it was not deemed worthy of bombing by the German High Command - since it already looked pretty much like a moonscape.

At a young age Craig enjoyed playing Hurley on the frozen moors with the other laddies from nearby farms. But as the oldest of nine, Craig was earmarked to continue in his family's fine, 12 generation-old tradition, of being a shepherd. Fate had other plans for Craig however as he was caught once too often chasing the female sheep around the fields.

So, at 12, he was sent off to stay with his long lost relatives in York Factory, Manitoba. It was there on the mouth of the historic Hayes River in the bitter winds off Hudson Bay, that Craig first took up the real game of hockey. Since no one had actually lived in York Factory for many years, Craig grew up playing with himself. Although, on odd occasions a curious Inuit or stray polar bear would wander by and join in the fun.

But hockey didn't come naturally to Craig. By age fourteen, he was already 6'8" and had developed an awkwardness that he still has not been able to shake. Basketball seemed a more natural fit and so he decided to pursue an education in bagpipes, kilt-weaving and basketball in the warmer climes of Norwood. After enjoying a fabulous career in local basketball mens leagues, Craig emulated his basketball hero, Michael Jordan, and retired from basketball to try his hand at hockey – with similar success. Craig began to enjoy hockey better than his haggis and scones in the morning. Craig knew he wanted to stay in hockey, but also knew he couldn’t make it on talent and skill alone. He was also too wimpy to be a fighter and too lazy to be a digger. So he took advantage of his abundant time on the bench to study the game and learned to coach.

Then finally, in 2003, in the 12th round of the draft, Craig was picked by the talent-deep Red Army. At first it appeared that Craig wouldn't make the big team, but his coaching savvy and a little cash for the owner, allowed him to hang on. Soon, he was using his coaching skills and 3-foot reach advantage over his naturally smaller Norwood-born team mates to grab and hold on to a spot as playing Coach and Centre on the 3rd line. So now, Craig is a fixture with Red Army, and at his height, also lends a hand changing fixtures in the arena without a ladder.

In Gaelic, Craig’s native tongue: "Ach!howcanyeconstantlyletthoseslowassedclodsskatearoundyelikethatyedafttwit?!” English translation: C'mon lads! Lets score one for Bonnie Prince Charlie!"