Super senior Gord Cowan says staying active is key to his longevity

A trip to Ohio is going to be very special for one Calgarian next month. Gord Cowan is going into the Toledo Hockey Hall of Fame.

It’s pretty tough to keep up with super senior Gord Cowan.

He skates twice a week, swims, plays pickleball three days a week and takes a fitness class every morning.

Cowan, who turns 93 in a couple of weeks, says being active is important for him.

“If I were just sitting around, my muscles would get so soft, and I’d be weak,” he said.

“The next thing you know, I’d be in a wheelchair or at least with a walker.”

He’s an inspiration

As you can imagine, Cowan is an inspiration to many.

His granddaughter, Johanna Posthuma, says she’s always looked up to her grandpa.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Posthuma.

“Just trying to keep up with him is a feat in itself. He’s an absolute machine. Every single day, he is active.”

Helped coach the Dinos

Cowan’s favourite sport has always been hockey, and he still has some pretty good moves on the ice.

He helped coach the U of C Dinos from 1969 to 1981.

He says were great times.

“Coaching at the university was really important to me and satisfying,” he said.

“I liked working with the younger people. I spent about 12 years there working with George Kingston.”

Players respected him

Cowan coached hundreds of Dinos over the years, and some of the alumni were at the Westhills Recreation Centre when Cowan went for one of his skates.

They were there to give him a jacket.

Dinos alumnus Rob Labelle says it shows a sign of respect for the man who taught them so much.

“Every player that played for Gord loved him,” said Labelle.

“He was just such a great motivator, teacher and he was an awesome athlete. He influenced us in more than just hockey. In life, in career and in friendships.”

Toledo Hockey Hall of Fame

The jacket symbolizes Cowan’s time with the U of C Dinos and his time in the International Hockey League.

Cowan played professionally for eight seasons in the 1950s and ’60s.

Most of those years were spent in Toledo, Ohio.

Next month, Cowan is going to be inducted into the Toledo Hockey Hall of Fame, and most of his family will be there with him.

Cowan says he wishes his wife, who passed away, could be there as well.

“It’ll be really something, but at the same time I’ll think about the fact of how much my wife would’ve enjoyed it, too, because she really enjoyed it when we were there,” he said.

The induction ceremonies will take place later this month.