Al Barnhill wrote the book on oldtimers hockey.

Literally.

Titled Old Pucksters and Their Playmates... Playing Hockey Just for Fun, Barnhill released the book last month after five years of plugging away at it.

“I’ve enjoyed playing hockey since I was seven,” said Barnhill, who bears a startling resemblance to Kris Kristofferson, beard and all. “When you look at hockey these days, so much of it is so damn competitive. I wanted to cast a positive, fun light on the game. The attitude is just to have a good time.”

Amongst all the nostalgia, Barnhill’s book has a lot of useful information for oldtimer players. It even has a chapter on the Oldtimers Harvest Jamboree Hockey Tournament, which concluded Thursday at Wesbild Centre.

This is Barnhill’s second year at the tourney, and the 70-year-old Wetaskiwin, Alta. native truly appreciates the tournament’s format and philosophy.

“What makes this so good is you come as individuals (as opposed to teams),” said Barnhill, who is semi-retired from his investment management company. “You get to meet new guys and make new friends. You don’t have the cliques forming. I’ve never really played in a tournament like it.”

Barnhill also had high praise for tournament organizer Mike Todd’s ability to host a great event. This there were 12 teams with around 180 players from all over the Pacific Northwest and Alberta.

“How they form these teams is almost magical because they’re always really even,” said Barnhill, who is donating $5 from each book ($20 retail), to the North Okanagan Neurological Association. “Nobody wants to come to a tournament and get blown out 10-2.”

This was the tournament’s 12th year, and Todd said his Anchor Inn oldtimers teammates play a big role in making it a success.

“The idea is to make it less competitive,” said Todd, adding the tournament, whose main sponsor is the All Canadian Investment Corporation, raises around $600 annually for NONA. “It’s based on youth, when you’d all get together and throw your sticks in a pile.”

Todd’s brother, Steve, doubles as the time keeper as well as the pianist for the nightly entertainment at the Army-Navy-Air Force club, which Todd says has been the hub of the tournament since it started.

With the number of wives accompanying their husbands to the tournament, Todd thought it would be a nice gesture to offer a tour to a local winery. To his surprise, most declined, opting instead to stay and watch the oldtimers in action.

“It’s amazing how many of them want to watch their husbands in slow motion,” laughed Todd.