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Ian Talbot: On Thin Ice

The first time I played organized hockey was when we were living in Innisfail, Alberta, just south of Red Deer. I was around six or seven years old. The games were on Saturday mornings and I could never sleep on Friday night because I was just too anxious. I’d get to the game and I’d be just ­exhausted.

By Jessica Werb /

Ian Talbot

The first time I played organized hockey was when we were living in Innisfail, Alberta, just south of Red Deer. I was around six or seven years old. The games were on Saturday mornings and I could never sleep on Friday night because I was just too anxious. I’d get to the game and I’d be just ­exhausted.

I wasn’t the best player by any means and I realized early on I probably wasn’t destined to make it to the NHL, but I still loved it. I liked the camaraderie. Half the reason I still play hockey is because I enjoy the kibitzing with the guys before and after the games. That’s as much fun as the hockey itself.

For the past seven or eight years, I’ve played in the Greater Vancouver Hockey League with the Panthers. It’s not about business; the guys I play hockey with aren’t going to rush out and buy my stocks. In fact, they abuse me thoroughly about being in the exploration game. Most of them aren’t market players, so they just read the David Baines articles and heap all that abuse in my direction.

The worst thing you can do on the team is forget when it’s your turn to bring the beer. You can let somebody get past you and score a couple of goals and all is forgiven. But don’t drop the ball when it’s your beer night. It’s happened on occasion and those poor guys are still living it down, and that was two or three seasons ago.

Ian Talbot is the president and CEO of Arcus Development Group Inc.