Meet Tunzie:
Favourite Golfer: Hideki Matsuyama. He consistently puts up good scores and helps me win money online.
Favourite Golf Ball: Nike One Platinum. The ball Tiger was using while he dominated the PGA and every cocktail waitress he could get his hands on.
Favourite Hockey Player Growing Up: Patrick Roy
Favourite Player Today: Don’t have one. There are so many talented players I enjoy watching these days.
Favourite Movie: Dazed and Confused
Favourite Band: Soundgarden. I was hooked after discovering their Badmotorfinger and Superunknown albums as a youngster, and saw them for the first time in 1996 (13 years old) at the Palace of Auburn Hills. I’m a huge fan of Chris Cornell and have seen him in concert about 15 times over the years. Sadly, he died hours after the last Soundgarden concert I attended in 2017.
Highlight from High School: Every weekend was a party and a highlight in itself.
If there was something you could do for the Tomcats, what would it be?
I would move the ice machine to the stage area of the Kapusta so the boys wouldn’t have to haul full buckets from the basement.
Favourite Tomcat: There are so many great people that I’ve met over the years since becoming a member of the Club. I appreciate all the players that make me work hard and don’t hit me in the face.
Favourite Tomcat Moment: Winning my first (and still only) Stanley’s Cup, and getting covered in beer as I drank from it. Just knowing that I had a spare set of clothes and dry underwear waiting for me on the stage was just as sweet as the win.
Meet Oggie:
Favourite Golfer / Athlete: I thought I knew who my idol was, that was until the day I saw The Falcon play for the first time. The Falcon was a wonder to watch on that floor, the way he moved from side to side was like watching Fred Astaire dance. In the 1983 NHL Entry draft the Buffalo Sabres made a fourth round (#74 overall) for Daren Puppa, they should have picked The Falcon!
Favourite Golf ball (if you are a golfer) if not a golfer, your favourite sporting memory: There are too many great golf balls out there to pick a favourite. So, on to my favourite sporting memory.
Now some of you may or may not know that The Matador and I have a history before our time as members of the Tomcats.
During my development years I spent a season learning form The Matador and a crew of wise gentlemen who showed me only the best examples of how to play the game both on and off the ice. My time under their tutelage helped develop me into the man I am today. And one of the defining moments was in Belle River, at the old Arena. A battle was being fought on the ice between two rivals, fighting for a place in hockey history. It was game 3 in the third round of the all-Ontario playoffs. When the horn sounded on the end of the second period, no one could have expected what was to happen next.
As the teams made their way to their respective dressing rooms words were exchanged, as is customary in sport. Well, one particular gentlemen to exception to this custom. The gentlemen whom was tasked with running the clock for the game, stepped out of his office and began to shout unpleasant and rather distasteful things at us, group of well brought up young men. As his verbal bombardment continued, it was suggested that he have a seat and take a deep breath and before saying anything else to consider what he would accomplish by using foul language towards a group of young men. Well it seems that the gentlemen did not take kindly to being given directions, so instead of taking a deep breath and calming the situation, he made the rather poor choice to take several steps forward towards us. It was at this moment, The Matador and the rest of the coaching staff came to the aid of their flock. Like a wild mother goose protecting her nest from prey, or golfers, The Matador and crew swooped in and ensured the safety of their young. Needless to say that poor gentlemen made a regretful life choice that day and I am sure the imprints of “100% fine Italian leather” are still etched into his forehead.
Favourite hockey player growing up: While growing up Ron Tugnutt was everything I wanted to be.
Favourite present day hockey player: I’d have to say that presently Jaromír Jágr would have to be my favourite player. If anyone embodies the values of what being a Tomcat is, it is him.
Favourite band(s): Hands down it has to be Ghost Crossing, though an honourable mention has to go out the Ukrainian Bandura Chorus. Also, the Stefan Jaworiwsky solo album is on my all-time party playlist!
Favourite movie(s): I shouldn’t have to say it. But I will the 1977 American sports comedy film directed by George Roy Hill, written by Nancy Dowd and starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean. Slapshot.
A highlight from High School: Using The Matador’s expired drivers licence to get a lap dance at one of southwestern Ontario’s finest gentlemen’s clubs at the tender age of just 16. The lovely lady even requested Stairway to Heaven so that we could enjoy our time together just a bit longer. It’s a good thing I remembered his middle name Charbel.
If you could do one thing for the Tomcats, what would you do: Go back to school, become a doctor and discover a cure to end all sickness in the world, just so the Tomcats could be together again.
Your favourite Tomcat: It has to be the man who brought me into this world, the Tomcats world that is. My favorite bruder in law Hollywood. But seriously, how can you pick a favourite with gems like: Uncle Sparky, Doc, Lovey, Snowpants, Razor, Soupy, Kamikaze, The Danish, Sheep Dog, Tunzie, Chico, Beep, Hurricane, Bulldog, Stevo, Jingles, The Rake, Chevy, Skippy, Rocky, Killer, Cribzie, The Turk, Sunny and so many more!
Your Favourite Tomcat Moment: The 2013 Christmas bash at Rock Bottoms. There was a lot happening that night, but nothing put a cherry on top like Lovey laying pipe in the bathroom.
One thing you would like other Tomcats to know about you: Simply that I miss you all, greatly. Hoping to make an appearance in the 2022 season. Tomcats Forever!