Local legend Ivan McLelland may be a better goalie than golfer, but that didn鈥檛 stop him from getting out to the golf course to enjoy some time with his friends to celebrate his 90th birthday Monday (March 15).

McLelland is best known for back-stopping the Penticton Vees senior men鈥檚 team to a World Hockey Championship in 1955, bringing Canada its 16th world championship title. He鈥檚 since remained a very active and esteemed member of the community in Penticton.

As he celebrated his 90th birthday Monday at Skaha Meadows Golf Course with a group of friends, McLelland took the opportunity to look back on his time in Penticton.

鈥淨uite frankly, after all these years I鈥檓 pretty darn grateful for the role I鈥檝e played here in Penticton,鈥� McLelland said.

McLellan is grateful for his time between the posts, but he said there has been so much more to his life in Penticton than just hockey. McLelland married his wife Faye who is from Penticton. She passed away from dementia in 2009, prompting McLelland to get involved with fundraising for the Alzheimer鈥檚 Society of B.C.

After finishing his hockey career, McLelland started working with youth hockey before becoming involved with local charities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 never work for me,鈥� McLelland said. 鈥淸Charity work] has always been something I鈥檝e enjoyed doing.鈥�

These days McLelland isn鈥檛 able to do much charity work due to COVID-19 but still keeps himself busy with golf, long walks, snowshoeing and spending time with friends.

McLelland has lived almost his entire life in Penticton since moving here in 1951 from South Porcupine, Ont. to play for the Vees.

鈥淚 married a Penticton lady [where we had a] wonderful time here in Penticton,鈥� McLelland said.

Penticton has changed a lot during his time here, so much so that it would be hard to identify all the changes, he said. But he believes the city has changed for the best.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 positive, I don鈥檛 look at it as any negativity at all. I think the growth is natural and the city is, in my view, as pretty of a place as you鈥檇 ever want to be.鈥�

Monday at Skaha Meadows was a special day for McLelland as he took the day to look back on a life well-lived. Despite it being his birthday, he said his friends still weren鈥檛 nice enough to let him win the nine-hole round of golf.

鈥淭hey never let me win, they pick on me!鈥� McLelland said through a laugh. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all younger than me, of course, they鈥檙e heartless when it comes to the game of golf. They have no sympathy for an older man at all.鈥�

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