Two months ago, he was giving the neighbourhood kids on Retta Street some pointers on their snapshot.
Now, those kids are showing their appreciation with a plethora of birthday cards and well wishes for Steve Wochy, the oldest living former NHLer who turned 100 on Christmas Day.
“It’s a terrific, beautiful neighbourhood,” he says. “They treat me good, especially now with the way I am. They look after me.”
Originally from Fort William, Ont. (now Thunder Bay), Wochy moved to the Sault in 1955 following a hockey stint that saw him play 54 games for the Detroit Red Wings.
Even though nearly 70 years have passed since his days at the professional level, Wochy’s passion for the game has never foundered, which is made obvious when he interacts with the young hockey players that live on his street.
“Look at all these hockey stars,” he says to the kids. “It’s a lot of work, so you gotta keep at it.”
Since Christmas, Wochy’s friends, family, and neighbours have been stopping by regularly to wish him a happy birthday.
His neighbour Martin Van Boerdonk helped arrange all of his birthday festivities, and Wochy is incredibly appreciative of the love he’s received.
“I got lots of cards from the whole neighbourhood,” he says. “I can’t believe it. They’ve been really good to me. Lots of great kids around here.”
Wochy still lives by himself, but people come by to check on him regularly.
He strives to find ways to remain active like watering his flowers, taking out the garbage, and even walking several blocks to the grocery store and back.
Some recent health challenges, along with a snowy winter, have kept him from maintaining that day-to-day routine, but he remains positive.
“As you get older, it gets worse,” Wochy said regarding his health. “It’s tough, but you just have to keep moving.”