23 September 1966 to 15 July 2023
One of Canberra’s foundation ice hockey players and officials, Paul Hardinge, passed away Saturday (15 July), aged 56. Paul first tied up skate laces as an eager 14-year-old at the newly opened Phillip ice rink when his parents became involved helping then ACTIHA president John Slater establish an ice hockey association. Slater (an Australian ‘Legend of Ice’ who played for Victoria in the 1950s and 60s) was one of the local sport’s senior organisers, and was a prolific networker, co-opting volunteers – including Paul’s mother Pauline. Paul and many of his friends eagerly attended the traditional Sunday morning development sessions where not only were ice hockey players made, but lifetime friendships too – with teenage contemporaries such as Steven Lee (Senators), Scott Marshall (former IHACT referee-in-chief/Knights/Senators), Steve Ball (Senators/Belco Butchers) and Jerry Maatouk (Knights/Senators/Devils).
By 1982 three ACTIHA clubs were established, and Paul joined the Canberra Central Cougars. He was a quick learner on the ice, assisted by extra skating through casual work at the rink, and was recruited to play for the Canberra Colts and then the Tange Trophy (u/17) and Brown Trophy (then u/21) teams throughout his teenaged years.
Paul also played with the Canberra Knights in the NSW Super League throughout the mid/late-1980s and against visiting international teams such as the Burnaby Beavers and a Japanese all-star team. In the local leagues, Paul progressed through U/17 and u/21 divisions and then into the Snr B (no-body check) and Snr A (body check) competitions. Like so many young Canberra ice hockey players, his second home had become Phillip ice rink! He and his mates were often on the ice five or six times each week for practices, games and the traditional Friday night disco.
Paul’s work commitments as an electrician saw him move from the Knights and join the Canberra Senators, a recreation team established in 1989 whose members were predominantly aged 35 and over. Paul was not the only member well under the age ‘threshold’, but as oldtimers hockey grew over time, exceptions were made for some players who played in the right spirit – and Paul was certainly one of those — to participate in tournaments to ensure teams had sufficient skaters.
Paul by now married to Mel and with a small but growing family moved interstate for work for a few years but remained in contact with the Senators. Upon his return, he became an on-ice official, bringing his playing experience into game-sense as a linesman and referee.
Paul always played hockey with a great sense of joy: for him it was competitive but also great fun. He developed long-standing friendships with teammates and opposition alike. Oldtimers ice Hockey Australia Network (OiHAN) tournaments for Paul were a chance to swap stories with players from the 1980s Super League seasons and various national tournaments. Even though none of his four sons took up ice hockey in Canberra, he contributed back to the local association through his officiating to which Ice Hockey ACT is immensely appreciative.
Paul leaves behind his wife Mel, and four sons — Michael, Tim, Nick, and James — as well as daughter-in-law Gia, a large community of friends in Canberra, and in Bacchus Marsh where he and Mel were leaseholders of the Royal Hotel (since 2020). Paul will be remembered as a founding member of the ACT Ice Hockey Association (now known as IHACT) and will be deeply missed by the Canberra Senators.
