Growing up in the ‘Golden Era’ of sport in the former village of Loggieville, Eddie Russell was seemingly born with a passion for sports – hockey in the winter and ball (both softball and baseball) in the summer.
From a very young age, Eddie and his younger brother Ian, also known as “The Russell Boys” spent many long days on a backyard rink honing their skating skills when they went upriver to Chatham to play competitively. From the get-go, Eddie played with an intensity that was both serious and focused on the ‘win’.
Eddie had an impressive hockey career, working his way up through the ranks as a player from 1957 – 1980, and then as an assistant coach from 1981-1994.
Throughout his entire hockey career, he was a consistent offensive force. He played in and for Chatham until 1965 when he went off to Fredericton where he played for 2 years on the UNB Red Devils squad. There, he progressed quickly, securing a spot on the first line, and held the rank of Assistant Captain for a year.
While there, he was picked up by the Fredericton Junior Red Wings for the Maritime Junior A playoffs where he scored 6 goals in the first two games and 9 in the Memorial Cup run.
Having switched universities to Mount Allison in’68, he decided to play senior hockey as the MIAA league rules required a one-year sit-out for those who changed schools. He went on to play the next 10 seasons with and against the best players of the time in the Province. His high-level skills; developed and refined on the Miramichi, were recognized as excellent in the Province, Maritimes as well as at the national level in Memorial and Hardy Cup Championship play. He and his teammates had the honor of winning the Hardy Cup in 1975 with the Moncton Bears, then lost in the Hardy Cup final the next year with the Newcastle Northmen.
The tenacity he showcased on the ice was shared on the ball diamond in the ‘off-season’. He was a consistent player, who could be found behind the plate or right field. He was fleet of foot, played good defense, and had a cannon arm.
While working for the Province, and raising his children; Lindsay and Graham, Eddie continued to play and coach hockey with the same dedication as in his youth. His impressive resume makes him a worthy inductee, posthumously, to The Miramichi Sports Wall of Fame.