GARY BUCKMAN - AN INTRODUCTION
Blackburn Hawks’ new coach, Gary Buckman, started skating in 1965 at the Richmond Ice Rink. Upon leaving school he and his brother signed schoolboy forms for Chelsea Football Club and they stayed there for four and a half years before moving to Norwich. Eighteen months later they gradually lost interest in sports and drifted away from both football and skating.

Around his mid twenties Gary went to watch an ice hockey match at Richmond and finished up being persuaded to take part in a fans’ match as a netminder. He was hooked and finished up playing in the old Heineken League until 1986 before going on to play the odd ED1 game for Peterborough.

His time spent dedicated to the sport cost him a marriage and in 1999 he moved to the North West. His new girlfriend spotted his old kit bag containing Gary‘s netminding equipment and upon discovering what was inside promptly signed Gary up to the Blackburn rec hockey team. His first training session caused much merriment as he dragged out his ancient equipment and his new team mates gave him the nickname “Old School.”

Ten years later and Gary’s ability to work an audience once more came to the fore. During his first session skating with the Hawks he forgot to remove his skate guards and fell on his backside!