Sitting in the sun room of our home in Hedley, Ivan McClelland shared a deeply personal account of his relationship with Grant Warwick, player coach of the 1955 World Champion Penticton Vees. “When Grant arrived I was only 21, playing goalie for the Vees,” Ivan recalled. “I knew he had played in the NHL and could do amazing things on the ice. He had been named Rookie of the Year with the New York Rangers, played on an NHL All Star team and won numerous other awards. I was in total awe of him and didn’t speak to him, unless he spoke to me first. I also knew he had been sent down to the minors because of his troubling, free spirited lifestyle. While playing for New York, and also Montreal, he had sometimes disappeared into the city for days and no one knew where he was.”

Prior to his career in the NHL Warwick had been a gifted boxer, endowed with an exceptionally strong upper body. Ivan described him as tough minded, a player who could fight if he needed to. “In spite of his great talent, after about 11 years the people in control of hockey considered him damaged goods, washed up,” Ivan remembered. “They were glad to be rid of him, but I had seen what he could accomplish on the ice. When he became player coach of the Vees, he didn’t make speeches in the dressing room, he led by example. On the ice he dominated and in his first year with the team, he took us to the national championships, where we lost to Kitchener.”

Grant’s brothers, Billy and Dick, were also on the Vees roster. “Billy looked after Grant when he stepped outside the traces,” Ivan said. “He ensured Grant got home safely after a night of partying.”

In 1954 Grant seemed to get a hold of his life. There was no alcohol and his brilliance again became evident. That year he took the Vees to the National Championship where they defeated Sudbury. This qualified them to represent Canada in the World Hockey Championship in Germany the following year.

Canada’s hockey moguls now came to Grant and said, “You’ve got a bunch of inexperienced kids and over the hill pros. We’re going to give you 5 top NHL players, including Rocket Richard and Jean Beliveau. Also, we want you to take out Ivan McLelland and put Harry Lumley in goal.” The pressure was intense, but Grant refused.

In retrospect, it’s evident a special relationship was developing between this veteran player coach and his young goalie. Unlike many net- minders, who wax hot and cold, Ivan had proved to be consistent in temperament and play. In the dressing room he was given a seat next to Grant. Possibly Warwick drew strength from his calm demeanor.

In Germany, at the World Championship the following year, sports writers criticized Warwick relentlessly for bringing “a weak team.” Remarkably, the Vees won the first four games, against teams Ivan considered more skilled and experienced.

For Warwick the pressure became overwhelming. After the fourth game he disappeared into the night. He spent the next day, Saturday, in his room recovering from intense partying. Not physically ready to play against the Soviets on Sunday, he did only a few shifts. Even so, the Vees routed the Soviets 5-0 and were crowned World Champions.

“Later, in the bus returning to Dusseldorf,” Ivan recalled, “Grant was sitting alone at the front. The players were celebrating at the rear. No one spoke to him.”

Ivan moved up to sit beside him. “I’m sorry I let you down, ” Grant said.

“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” Ivan replied.

For Grant Warwick, it was the end of his hockey career. His life deteriorated and for about 10 years he lived on the streets of Edmonton. He remembered his goalie though. Every year at Christmas he phoned Ivan, still calling him “kid” as he always had.

Then his circumstances changed. In one Christmas call he said, “I found the Lord. I don’t go to church, but my life is totally changed. The Lord is giving me strength.” He was now helping others who were less fortunate.

In their final phone call, when Grant was about to die, Ivan said, “How are you approaching this?” Grant replied, “It’s going to be wonderful.” Then he surprised Ivan with the words, “I love you.”

“He was a good man,” Ivan said, “an imperfect hero.”