Knowledge, as we would all assume, is passed down from generation to generation. From father to son and from brother to brother.
In the case of the Finnson family out of Riverton, Man., there’ s been plenty of“ passing stuff down,” especially hockey stuff. Knowledge from dad to sons, equipment and attitude from brother to brother.
Perhaps the most striking example of that comes right from the mouth of Larry Finnson’ s youngest son, Nicholas.
“ I’ m a defenseman,” he said bluntly.“ Because my dad was a defenseman and my brother is a defenseman.”
Like so many families in Manitoba, the Finnsons live and breathe hockey. Thanks to their grandfather’ s and father’ s roots in Riverton, the boys have been regaled with hockey stories all their lives and are proud that they know all the local lore the surrounds Riverton’ s greatest son – Reggie Leach, The Riverton Rifle.
“ We grew up on stories about Reggie Leach,” said oldest brother Kristjon“ Especially the fights and the tough brand of hockey the guys from Riverton played.”
While the Rifle is the legend, one of the most important elements of being a Riverton family is your Icelandic heritage. The boys know those stories, too-- the stories about how hard it was for the people who emigrated from Iceland to Manitoba. But they also know about the glory that followed when the Falcons from Manitoba, a hockey team made up almost entirely of players with Icelandic heritage, won the first Olympic hockey gold medal in 1920.
Not surprisingly, Nick and Kristjon also get fired up with a bit of TV fiction.
“ We both watch Vikings,” quipped Nick.“ And we both like Ragnar Lothbrok the best.”
We grew up on stories about Reggie Leach, specially the fights and the tough brand of hockey the guys from Riverton played
NICK FINNSON
2016- 17 ROSTER DEADLINE EDITION GAME ON 63