A memorial for Tony Shmyr of Burnaby will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26 in New Westminster.
Shmyr, a member of the famous Shmyr hockey family, passed away from cancer on Sept. 25.
He was the founder of the Shmyr Flyers, a local senior men’s hockey team without a home rink that was renowned for its fiestiness and prowess in B.C. for more than a decade.
The Flyers won the Coy Cup as senior AA provincial champions in 1971/72.
Tony formed the Flyers hockey team, a team made up mostly of ex-professional players, in the mid-1960s.
Former NHL and World Hockey League players who played with the Flyers were Barry Wilcox, Jack Michie, Bobby Schmautz, Alton White, Buddy Gulka, Gerry Sillers and Paul and John Shmyr, among others.
At one time, his brothers Romie, Mike, Peter, John and Paul all made up one line on the Flyers.
Tony was born in Cudworth, Sask. in July of 1932. He was the eldest of six hockey-playing brothers and two sisters.
He leaves behind sons Brian, Grant and Larry, his common-law wife Mary and stepchildren Debbie, Gina and Steve.
Tony’s main accomplishments in life were hockey, construction, family and strong, lasting relationships with friends.
Former Shmyr Flyers are inviting the public to the Royal Towers Hotel Pub in New Westminster (Sixth Street and Royal Avenue) on Saturday, Oct. 26 at noon to give a toast and reminisce on the memory of Tony Shmyr.
tberridge@burnabynow.com
