Reusse: From boot hockey in Eveleth, Mayasich became high school legend

John Mayasich reached for a small notebook and drew a simple diagram. There were two lines marking what would be Summit Street in Eveleth, Minn., and two goal mouths, although those were far from each other on opposite sides of a narrow winter street, not on opposite ends.

"We would dig out two goals from the snowbanks along the street, and then would play boot hockey for hours,'' Mayasich said. "[Twin brother] Jimmy and I, we were doing this at 8 or 9 years old, and there were players up through high school.

"We might have 30 players — 15-on-15— some days.''

Mayasich glanced at his diagram and said: "I scored most of my goals as a hockey player on my backhand, and that's where I learned it … boot hockey in Eveleth as a kid. There was no other way to get a shot off in those games on Summit Street.

"Two or three blocks of houses on our street, we had 14 kids, maybe 17, play for what we'd now call Division I schools in college hockey … Michigan, Minnesota, Denver, Colorado College.''

Mayasich was at the dining table that overlooks the six ice sheets at the Chaska Curling Center. The city's Park and Recreation Department opened this facility in December 2015, and the appeal of sliding smooth rocks with handles down the ice has proved to be phenomenal.

Among those drawn here has been Mayasich, Iron Ranger in his soul, but now residing in a senior condo a mile from where he was sitting. The only Gophers men's player ever to have his jersey retired (No. 8 in 1998) acceded to the lobbying from his children and grandchildren to move to the Twin Cities.

He will turn 90 on May 22 and says, "I've enjoyed it so far,'' although he does plan to be back on the Range in the summer to enjoy some time at Esquagama and other lakes in the region.

"I didn't really start curling until I retired in the late '90s and we moved into our summer place,'' Mayasich said. "I'm hooked, though. I don't know what I'd be doing with my time if I didn't have this place.

"I curl with a group of seniors on Monday morning — whoever shows up — and then I'm in a league on Thursday evenings.''

Mayasich might have to miss Thursday's curling, since it will be up against the night session of the Class 2A state hockey quarterfinals.

John's love of that event is well-founded, as he played in four state tournaments — from the 1947-48 seasons through 1950-51. The Eveleth Golden Bears won them all and he scored 36 goals.