Volunteer scorekeeper celebrates 2,000th game with Portland Winterhawks: 'I've enjoyed every minute of it'
· Yahoo Sports
For 50 years, the Winterhawks have been playing hockey in Portland, and Bob Schroeder has seen it all.
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"This is the 50th season that I've been keeping score," said Schroeder. "I've enjoyed every minute of it."
The 86-year-old has worked more than 2,000 games as a volunteer scorekeeper for WHL games in Portland. He's been part of Winterhawks games since the team arrived in the Rose City in 1976.
"I've always been at the scorer's table. I love it," he declared.
Schroeder says he's only missed a few games over the years: "I never get tired of going to the games, as many as I've seen. "You never know what's gonna go on, one game to the next. One game they'll look like world beaters — the next game, they don't."
He's witnessed three WHL championships, two Memorial Cups and a long list of memories. It keeps him coming back.
"People that have come in that I've gotten to know, I've made some great friends," he said.
The Winterhawks and the WHL presented him with the league's Distinguished Service award for his contributions. He was recognized on the ice at Veterans Memorial Coliseum with his wife, Pat.
"It's nice to be recognized and thanked for showing up and doing the job. I'm thankful," said Schroeder. "I'm very happy that my wife gets to go on the ice with me because she has gone on this journey with me."
The Grant high school graduate discovered the sport when his sons started playing, now he's a great grandfather and is still passionate about the game. Schroeder wants to keep doing the job as long as he can.
"I'm just going to keep going. One or two years, or not, a lot depends how I feel," he said with a smile. "I'm not a kid anymore."