The Genesis of Tucker Hockey
A Four-Part Mini-Series
Part 2: Leaving the Family Nest
Published on October 6, 2021
In the Summer of 1978, Rex Tucker graduated from Island View Academy of Little Bay Islands, Newfoundland. He was one of three students in his graduation class! At the time, Island View Academy was a modest and small rural grade school consisting of: 4 classrooms and 4 dedicated teachers who covered the instruction of Grades K to 11. The school enrollment was less than 100 students, and the school did not have a gymnasium or even a library. Rex’s school library was a set of Britannia Encyclopaedia A – Z books stored in the classroom.
Rex studied 6 subjects (Earth Science, Economics, English, Geography, History, and Mathematics). However, during the academic year his school exams and tests at Island View Academy did not count towards his final grade. Rather only his marks from the Newfoundland Provincial Final Exams counted; 100 % towards his full school year’s work. Nevertheless, Rex did well accumulating an 87 % average during his June final exams.
Rex had his full life ahead of him. There were so many choices open to him and the decisions were hard to make. Rex’s father, his grandfather and prior generations had made their living from the ocean. One thing Rex knew for sure; he did not want to be involved in the fishery. Sea sickness was not kind to him! Rex knew he wanted a job in sports, preferably hockey. With many curiosities about life away from his small fishing village, he decided to leave home with strong dreams and ambitions.
Rex left home at the age of 17 to attend Memorial University of Newfoundland located in the provincial capital city of St. John’s. This was a big change and a real cultural shock for Rex! A shy young man, dropped off in front of Doyle House, Paton College residence, arriving in the big city which was so different from his little island fishing village home. It was such a big adjustment academically and socially in his new found world! At the tender age of 18, he experienced his first skate on an artificial ice surface at St. John’s Prince of Whales Arena. It was quite a difference for a dedicated rural shinny hockey player used to the crisp natural outdoor ice which offers a faster and harder surface.
Rex soon realized his goal of playing competitive university varsity hockey quickly became unattainable. The lack of experience with organized hockey caught up to Rex as he skated with players who had been exposed to artificial ice and good coaching from minor hockey associations elsewhere in the larger Newfoundland towns of Corner Brook, Gander and Grand Falls etc. Rex settled for playing intramural residence hockey and focused on graduating with a business degree.
Rex graduated in the Spring of 1983 with one goal achieved, his Bachelor of Commerce Co – Op Program Degree and one goal still unfulfilled. As he grew older his life’s dream to be involved in hockey remained the same, only the plans now were now evolving and changing.
After receiving his degree, Rex was recruited by TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (Now named TC Energy) and he moved to Canada’s largest city, Toronto. Rex had a taste of life in Toronto the previous summer working as a Co-op student with TCPL. He felt this first rate company’s full time position offer provided excellent opportunities to work in a large corporate environment, to elevate his business knowledge and skills, to learn more about life in the big city and to ultimately use the work experience as a stepping stone towards his main goal – a career in the sports world. For the next 8 years, Rex worked at Commerce Court West, downtown Toronto – King & Bay Street. He worked in various company departments such as budgeting & forecasting, financial planning and information systems administration.
Even though he was in a 57-story office building, wearing a suit to work on a daily basis, sitting in front of a computer, experiencing a lovely view of Toronto from his high rise office setting and fulfilling the role of being a young executive within a good job and climbing the corporate ladder; Rex’s heart was still directing him towards his love of hockey.
Rex feed his passion for the game by playing on the TCPL recreational company hockey team and sharing Maple Leafs season tickets at the Gardens with some of his co – workers. Said Rex, “Though my childhood dream of making the NHL was long shattered, I still aspired to be more deeply involved with hockey. I resolved to somehow combine my business education and knowledge within the game of hockey.”
At the early age of 28 years old, Rex experienced his own mid life crisis. Something people often experience in their late 30’s or 40’s! After experiencing several unsuccessful heartfelt personal relationships in a row, Rex realized at this sad time in his life that he made a bad career choice as well. Yes, he had stayed too long with TCPL. Rex was truly one unhappy camper! He felt trapped in his corporate business career. However, to “make a change” seemed so scary and such a daunting task at the time.
Rex did a tremendous amount of soul searching and reflection on his past. He identified many life experiences which had made him the happiest and gave him the most joy in his young life. This brought a profound clearness, and surreal mindset back towards his first love – HOCKEY! Rex spent the better part of his last 2 years, still working in the corporate world, but all the while trying to “figure out” how to pursue his goal of obtaining a hockey job. He worked diligently on pursuing and discovering what he felt was his true calling in life and his desire for future happiness. This driven focus for change would eventually lead Rex to relocate out west to Calgary and to start a new adventure!
If you missed Part 1, you can read it HERE!
Check out Part 3 HERE!