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It is estimated that Victoria Royals scorekeeper Bill Sanderson, who was named as this year鈥檚 recipient of the WHL distinguished service award, has seen more hockey games than any person on Vancouver Island.
Sanderson began scorekeeping for the Victoria Cougars in 1975, the year Paddy Ginnell鈥檚 rambunctious crew was the WHL regular-season champion. Sanderson was scorekeeper when the 1980-81 Cougars won the WHL regular-season and playoff titles and again this year when the Royals captured the regular-season crown.
鈥淚 am so lucky to be able to do this. It beats being at home watching TV,鈥� said Sanderson, who was presented with the award by WHL commissioner Ron Robison in a pre-game ceremony Saturday night.
When Sanderson鈥檚 24 seasons with the WHL is combined with his 22 seasons of scorekeeping for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, 16 with the Junior 鈥楤鈥� VIJHL and seven with the defunct pro Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL, the math is staggering. It is estimated Sanderson has kept score for more than 2,200 hockey games.
鈥淚 keep my health by coming here because I enjoy it and am using my brain,鈥� 77-year-old Sanderson said.
鈥淚 would like to go to 80, if I can.鈥�
Part of his job entails getting the starting line-ups pre-game and distributing the scoresheets post-game, so the amiable Sanderson is remembered well by every home and visiting coach to come through the old and new memorial arenas on Blanshard Street. 鈥淭hey have all been great guys,鈥� he said.
It has become a family affair, with daughter Shannon his official assistant scorer in the 12 seasons of Salmon Kings/Royals hockey.
Sanderson has also kept the scoresheets laser-accurate for the Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association for 37 seasons.
A career highlight for Sanderson was his role as spotter for the track and field announcing team during the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games. He was also the horseman鈥檚 bookkeeper for the Sandown Park thoroughbred meets from 1974 to 1991.
Asked what makes a good scorekeeper, Sanderson responded: 鈥淐oncentration, concentration, concentration. You try not to miss one little thing. If you do, you work at it that much harder the next time.鈥�
