Bob Merkley was involved with the Midland minor hockey scene for over 25 years. Over the course of those years he has coached teams to the International Silver Stick championship, instituted and organized the Midland regional Silver Stick tournament and filled almost every executive position with the Midland Minor Hockey Association, and its predecessor the Midland Little NHL. He had won the George Dudley Award twice, Midland’s highest minor hockey award and is a lifetime member of the Midland Minor Hockey Association. He was particularly proud of his involvement in the Silver Stick tournament, both locally and internationally. He is remembered as saying: “I love the international flavour of the event. It was almost unheard of for our kids to play teams from the U.S. when we began the program. I really enjoy the time spent at the tournament, here and internationally. I like seeing the kids enjoy the games.” The highlight of his work as a coach was the Midland midgets of 1976-77 who won the International Silver Stick championship and later toured Sweden.
Bob helped bring the regional Silver Stick tournament to Midland. Base Borden had hosted it for a couple of years and wanted out of its obligation. When Bob was attending a Silver Stick meeting and given a chance to bring the tournament to Midland, he didn’t hesitate. He was an international director of the Silver Stick tournament for many years, as well as continuing to organize and run the regional tournament here in Midland. Bob summed up his career by stating his beliefs in hard work and dedication. “If you work hard, you achieve. What you put into something, is what you get out of it,” he says. It’s a credo that he had lived with and shared with Midland through his service to minor sports.