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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, January 30, 2013 · 18 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com Paddling icon remembered for more than medal win John Wood never hesitated to help a fellow paddler. "John was so much more than just a guy who went "He'd talk to anyone," said Jim Reardon, who knew to the Olympics and got a medal," van Koeverden said. Wood since they were teenagers and trained with him "He was a guy who embraced that lifestyle and that at McMaster University leading up to the 1972 Olympics eagerness to be on the water regardless of the weather. in Munich. "If John was paddling by, he'd offer tips or He had a lifetime commitment to sport and health and words of encouragement, and he'd do that for any- fitness." body." At a 1976 Olympics where Canada was shut out in But you would have to get up pretty early in the gold, Wood delivered the top finish by the host country, morning to benefit from the advice of the Olympic sil- one of the five silvers earned by Canadian athletes in ver medallist. The Oakville resident would arrive at the Montreal. It was also the first Olympic medal for a Burloak Canoe Club, paddle for as many as 10 kilome- Canadian canoeist in 24 years. tres and be hauling his canoe out of the water as many "It taught the athletes in canoe and kayak in North of the athletes -- most of them half his age -- were America that it was possible to win an Olympic medal arriving for their early-morning workouts. Then it was against the Soviets and the other Eastern Bloc counoff to work for Wood, who built a tries," said Mac Hickox, Wood's successful career as a stockbroker "John was so much more than coach from 1973 through 1976. "It and was the president of the 20/20 just a guy who went to the was a breakthrough moment." Group. The Canadian Olympic Olympics and got a medal. He Wood died by suicide last Committee called Wood "a trailWednesday. The family said that by was a guy who embraced that blazer in the sport of canoeing. acknowledging the cause of death lifestyle and that eagerness to John's passion as a paddler not only of the 62-year-old, they hope it be on the water, regardless of fuelled his own success, but also led might encourage others suffering the weather. He had a lifetime him to serve as an example to othfrom mental illness to seek help. ers in his sport." commitment to sport and "We're all very devastated," said Wood, a member of both the Reardon, the past commodore of health and fitness." Mississauga and Oakville Sports Burloak, where Wood had served as Hall of Fame, finished seventh in a director. "John was a cheerful, Four-time Olympic medal-winning the C-2 in Montreal and the followupbeat kind of guy. This was a paddler Adam van Koeverden ing year won a silver medal in the shock to us all." same event with Greg Smith at the Wood competed at three Olympics, winning his sil- world championships. ver in the C-1 500-metre (canoe singles) in Montreal in Though he retired from paddling shortly after, 1976, a medal Reardon said he earned "by dogged Wood found himself climbing atop the podium again determination." after earning a bronze medal in sailing at the Pan Dean Oldershaw also trained alongside Wood prior American Games in Puerto Rico in 1979. to the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, though as a kayaker, he "He was a very talented athlete," Reardon said. "He said he fortunately never had to race against him. was a good runner, a good swimmer. I think he would "I thought I was a hard worker but when we would have excelled at whatever he did." train I'd see his back most of the time when we were Hickox, who maintained a lifelong friendship with running or cross-country skiing," Oldershaw said. "He Wood, said Wood's tremendous work ethic extended was an inspiration to be around and I know he made from his canoeing days into other walks of life, includme train harder." ing golf, sailing, business and a multitude of other Wood was a member of the Mississauga Canoe Club pursuits. during his competitive career but joined the Burloak "That was such a characteristic of John," Hickox Canoe Club after settling in Oakville. Oldershaw cred- said. "He had such a sense of determination, almost to ited Wood with being a role model for younger athletes the point of being able to block everything out." who helped pave the way for other Canadian Olympians "It was my honour to have known him and not just such as Larry Cain and Steve Giles. (Wood was doing on race day," said Oldershaw. colour commentary for CBC when Cain won gold and "He was a down-to-earth guy," Reardon said. "He silver at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984). was a friend to everybody." Forty years after he first competed at the Olympics, Wood is survived by his wife Debbie, sons Jason, Wood's influence was still being felt. Adam van Michael and Alan, and daughter Jenny. Koeverden, a four-time Olympic medallist in kayak A celebration of Wood's life will be held Saturday at who, like Wood, has competed at three Summer the Mississauga Canoe Club (31 Front St., Mississauga) Games, called Wood "a builder of Canadian sport" who from 2-5 p.m. not only accomplished a lot as an athlete but also was willing to share his time, expertise and stories with -- Herb Garbutt, Oakville Beaver; Chris Clay, young competitors. Mississauga News; and Daniel Girard, Toronto Star METROLAND MEDIA GROUP FILE PHOTO FONDLY REMEMBERED: Longtime Oakville resident and former Olympic canoeing medallist John Wood died last week at the age of 62. Plenty at stake for Blades in final month Less than a month remains in the Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season, and the playoff picture still remains a muddy one for the Oakville Blades. If the season were to end today, they would finish sixth in the South West Conference standings and would almost certainly be without home-ice advantage for any of their playoff series. Yet, the Blades -- who have three or more games in hand on all the teams ahead of them in the standings -- could also conceivably finish first in the conference with a strong finish and enjoy home-ice advantage all the way to the OJHL final. Oakville improved to 28-11-4 on the campaign with a 7-3 win over the Hamilton Red Wings last Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. The Blades' 60 points this season rank fourth in the South Division, six points behind the division-leading North York Rangers. Oakville, however, has played five less games than North York. See Key, page 19