Without a doubt, the Over-30 league’s best all around total Dekhockey player who has ever played in the league. Hands down! Historically, one of the top three players who has ever played in the Over-30 league, for both active and former players. Doug has always been the league’s best conditioned player, as he could routinely play the entire game if needed. He has all the skills necessary to dominate the competition, mesmerizing stick handling prowess, pinpoint laser shooting skills, uncanny passing abilities, mental toughness and the will to compete, legendary endurance and physical conditioning, and one of the game’s most creative minds. Doug epitomized playing the game for the sake of playing the game; everything else became secondary. Unfortunately, Doug recently retired from the sport due to physical issues. The Over-30 league and the game itself will surely miss the “Bushwacker wizard.”
Doug is clearly one the fastest thinkers, along with being cool, calm and collected when he possesses the ball. “You’re dammed if you do and you’re dammed if you don’t” in terms of covering Doug while he’s on the dek. He’s either going to stick handle around you… or find the open man for a pin-point pass. What made Doug stand out is that he was always willing to try something new on the rink, always trying to elevate his game to the next level, rather than remaining stationary and limiting his skills. What made Doug unique was that he could play any position, whether it be center, wing, defense or even goalie, and play each position better than his opponent (well maybe not goalie).
Known for his ability to score from anywhere on the rink and always draw the extra defensive coverage that would free up a team mate for a prime scoring chance, Doug was perhaps best known as that one player who could somehow stickhandle out of a phone booth. If you blinked, he was already by you.
Doug’s legacy in the Dekhockey world is well known. A long-time player of the legendary Peabody Warriors team up at Hockeytown. He has won multiple Dekhockey tournament championships throughout the US and Canada, was a member of the US Men’s National team that competed in Europe, has won multiple tournament MVP awards not only as a forward but as a defenseman
Ultimately, it wasn’t any one player or team that was able to slow down Doug. It was Father Time. The living legend, number 16, simply was forced into retirement much too soon. The joy of watching Doug perform on the rink will indeed be missed!
Rumors & Facts:
- No one could figure out if Doug was imitating cousin Luke or cousin Butch when he swung his arms up and down after scoring a goal when he performed his trademark Bushwacker signature move
- The originator and inventor of the “rat play” from behind the net, making it look like he was running behind the net, drawing the goalie and the defenseman to the other side of the net, only to drop a pass behind him on the short side to a wide open team mate for an easy tap in goal
- A nutrition fanatic, Doug had an unusual pre-game and post-game routine of drinking coca-cola and circus peanuts for that extra burst of energy
- The most versatile and complete Dekhockey player we have ever seen, who could play center, wing or defense and dominate that position along the way
His 33 goals – 30 assists – 63 points accumulated in the Winter 1996 season with the Bushwackers was the second best ever scoring totals in an Over-30 season
|
