John Offidani - Forward

Sault Greyhounds

1953-54

John Offidani played a key role in the deciding game of the 1953-54 hockey season when the Sudbury Wolves battled the Sault Greyhounds for the right to represent the now-defunct Northern Ontario Hockey Association Senior ‘A’ League at the Allan Cup championship. Game seven of the series was played in the Sault Memorial Gardens. The teams battled through 60 minutes of intense hockey to a 1-1 stalemate, with Yacker Flynn connecting for a goal late in the third frame for a 1-0 Wolves advantage, only to have Offidani force the contest into an extra session with a Sault scoring play in the final minute of period three. Offidani played from 1959 to 1961 for the Sault Thunderbirds of the Eastern Professional Hockey League alongside future NHLers like Pat Stapleton, Roy Edwards and Dennis DeJordy. Offidani went into business in Sault Ste. Marie after his career ended. He was named Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 1989. More recently, Offidani has served on the Community Theatre Centre Board of Directors and the Sault Ste. Marie Fences Review Committee.