EKBERG, Victor John

[1] Some sources, including online Olympic records, give his birth place as Canada however that is unlikely. His father Victor Tasman Ekberg was born at Strahan, Tasmania, in 1893 and died in Victoria in 1978. His mother Blanche was born Victoria in 1899 and died in Victoria in 1986. (Tasmanian Names Index and email from Trevor L Kestle 22 Nov 2017). The couple married in Melbourne in 1921 (Vic BDM Reg No 1750).

[2] Herald-Sun newspaper obituary, Melbourne, 2021.

[3] An Ode to Vic Ekberg by Scott Davidson. With the news of the passing of Vic Ekberg and the fact we as the Victorian Hockey Community cannot gather and pay our respects, this is my short Ode to Vic Ekberg. A big man, with a short temper but a big heart. I thank Bob Blackburn and Paul Rice for the historical support. Please pass this on through our community of hockey friends, we need to respect those that built the foundations under our great game.

Victor John Ekberg, born June 16th 1932, died July 27th 2020.

Husband to Judy, Father to Karina, John and Robyn.

Vic started his hockey career with the Tigers Ice Hockey Club in 1950 then moving to the Pirates to finish his career. He was big and he was strong, playing defence with nice hands and goal scoring ability a very rare combination. His success at Club and State level had him selected in 1960 to play for the Australian Olympic Ice Hockey Team competing at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, the highlight of his playing career.

Vic represented Victoria many times as a Player, then a Coach and Manager. In 1982 he was elected President of V.I.H.A. and with his strong guidance had all the Victorian Interstate Teams win National Championships. Vic understood the future of the game resided in the quality of its youth development, he initiated the V.I.H.A. Ice Hockey Development Council along with Elgin Luke, Charley Grandy and Bob Blackburn.

In 1981 when the St Moritz Ice Rink was pending closure, Vic took on rebuilding and managing the rink and turned it into a hub of young hockey talent.

It was in 1981 that I first met Vic, someone I grew to call The Chief. I along with two other very young men, had arrived from Winnipeg Canada on a summer adventure, aimed at playing and teaching hockey as far away from home as we could go. Vic adopted us all and as long as we were prepared to teach and pass on our knowledge and win games for the Mighty Saints, he did everything he could to help us stay and enjoy our new home.

I returned to Australia again in 1982 and with the support of Vic became part of the Australian Junior Development program, taking a team away to Romania in 1983 then Italy in 1984 and competing myself for Australia in 1987. I also went into business with Vic and his son John, producing team wear for all of the non-traditional Australian Sports. I was proud to be welcomed into the Ekberg family. Over 35 years we have shared Christmases, Weddings, Children, Renovations and Funerals, we care and watch over each other the best we can.

Vic was a builder by trade and by nature. He saw flaws in everything and was constantly looking at ways to improve structure and processes. He was a good teacher, an honourable and much too generous a man. His word was everything. He was relentless and tireless and over time he wore out most of the people that he worked with, myself and John included.

Vic fell in love with hockey and for many years it consumed him, he gave the game everything. In reality he gave the game and those associated with it far too much. He struggled with finding life and family balance, he just couldn't relax, there was always something that could be fixed, improved, always something that needed doing. His mind never stopped working, in the end he just exhausted himself.

Chief, thank you for all the support, you are the reason I became an Australian and you always showed interest in what my life became. I hope you can finally rest. Somehow I think you will have already found another way to make things on the other side run just a little better.

Some of Vic's ashes and a plaque in honour of his service to Victorian Hockey will be placed on the Blue Line, under the Ice at the Olympic Ice Skating Centre. I look forward to raising a cold beer in his honour when we can safely take to the ice once again.