Dave Drinkill
Induction Award
Following the commencement of his hockey journey as a goalkeeper in Elmvale, Dave went on to successfully achieve exceptional executive accomplishments in Major Junior "A" hockey
Member Details:
Category: Builder
Year of Induction: 2026
Sport(s): Hockey
Nominator: Lou Belcourt
Date/Place of Birth: December 19, 1982 / Penetanguishene, Ontario
Highlights:
- 1998-99: Goalkeeper for the Elmvale Guardian Drugs Midgets, winning the All-Ontario OMHA Midget "C" Championship by defeating Harrow, Ontario.
- 1999-00: Won back-to-back OMHA Championships with the Elmvale Guardian Drugs Midgets after defeating Wellesley; received the EMHA Goalkeeper Award.
...more highlights
Narrative:
The story of Dave Drinkill is the quintessential journey of a local farm boy whose relentless love for hockey propelled him from Elmvale’s community rinks to the absolute pinnacle of Canadian Amateur Hockey execution. ...more narrative
Anecdotes:
- Bringing the Cup Home: On February 14, 2024, Dave brought the Saginaw Spirit team and the iconic Memorial Cup to the Elmvale arena for a local practice. While the team hit the ice, the Cup sat in the lobby for local youth and fans to admire. Following their historic championship win, Dave returned to the community once again on July 5, 2024, hosting a massive celebration at the Elmvale Legion where community members lined up to take photos with Dave and a precious piece of hockey history.
Galleries:
Links:
There are many wonderful pieces online celebrating Dave's life and impact. Here are just a few you might find meaningful to look through. His digital footprint runs deep, so please feel free to search further and uncover more of his incredible journey.
Dave Drinkill Interview by Trish Campbell, Springwater Sports Heritage Blog (January 2016)
Saginaw Spirt
General Manager Saginaw Spirt
Elite Prospects Dave Drinkill
Gene Pereira, Barrie Today, Dec 2019
Garber Careers: Dave Drinkill
Acknowledgements:
Springwater Sports Heritage extends its grateful thanks to Lou Belcourt for putting forward the nomination. We are deeply appreciative of Dave, his family, and his many friends who generously contributed their time and efforts to help SSH assemble his documentation materials.
