Lumberjacks seek former Flamingos for Scugog Arena's 50th anniversary celebration

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

SCUGOG: As Scugog Arena prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, this season, the Port Perry Lumberjacks are hoping to reconnect with the players who were among the first to lace up their skates in the building, more than five decades ago.

The organization is searching for former members of the Port Perry Flamingos, the club's original name from 1972 to 1980, when the team was named after the famed Flamingo Pastries bakery and its legendary butter tarts.

The call-out is part of the Lumberjacks' plans to recognize the history of junior hockey, at Scugog Arena, during the facility's golden anniversary celebrations.

"We're excited to celebrate 50 years of the Scugog Arena and the incredible hockey memories which have been made within its walls," said General Manager Tom Parish. "The players who wore the Flamingos jersey, in those early years, helped establish junior hockey in Port Perry, and we'd love the opportunity to welcome them back and recognize their place in the arena's history."

The Port Perry franchise began play in 1972, before Scugog Arena, located closer to the downtown, opened its doors, making the Flamingos among the first teams to call the facility home when Scugog Arena opened in the autumn of 1976.

While the Lumberjacks have maintained relationships with many alumni, from more recent generations, tracking down players from the franchise's earliest years has proven more difficult.

Director of Hockey Operations, Brad Bricknell said, the organization is counting on the community to help reconnect with those pioneers of Port Perry junior hockey.

"We know there are former players, family members, billet families and longtime fans who still have connections to those early Flamingos teams," Mr. Bricknell said. "We're asking everyone to help spread the word. We'd love to bring those alumni back to Scugog Arena, share some memories, and recognize the role they played in the arena's history."

The Flamingos carried one of the most distinctive names in Ontario junior hockey, drawing inspiration from Flamingo Pastries, a beloved Port Perry bakery, famous for its butter tarts and longstanding community involvement. The team competed under the Flamingos name until 1980 before adopting new identities in the years which followed, eventually becoming today's Port Perry Lumberjacks.

Throughout the 2026-27 season, the Lumberjacks plan to celebrate the rich history of junior hockey, played at Scugog Arena, while recognizing the players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters who have contributed to the facility's legacy over the past five decades.

Former Port Perry Flamingos players, coaches, staff members, or anyone with information about alumni from the 1972-80 era is encouraged to contact the Port Perry Lumberjacks, through the team's social media channels.