Wally Oughtred, along with his late brother Gord, are the founding fathers of the Erindale Hockey Association.

     Not even in the wildest of their dreams could Wally and his brother have imagined that the seedling they planted in an outdoor ice rink after the end of the Second World War would one day grow into the largest of Mississauga’s eight minor hockey associations. Yet on a cold winter day in 1996, in the friendlier comforts of the Erin Mills Twin Rink Arena, the Erindale Hockey Association celebrated its 50^th birthday. Over the years, the well-structured association provided organized hockey to thousands of eager youngsters. It all started in 1946 after the guns of the Second World War fell silent and the brothers were able to return home to the huge fruit orchard their family owned, which occupied a sizeable chunk of land stretching from Dundas Street all the way to the QEW. In the war, both Wally and Gord served with the Royal Canadian Air Force — and played hockey with the RCAF. So it seemed natural that they turned their attention to the game they loved and found a dozen men in their Erindale neighbourhood with similar interests.

     Thanks to that intermediate team playing friendly games — well, as friendly as a hockey game between consenting adults engaged in unarmed combat with similar men from Port Credit, Cooksville, Dixie and Streetsville ever gets — the Erindale Hockey Association was born. “We called ourselves the Erindale Millionaires,” recalled Wally Oughtred. “ We had no money, but we called ourselves that anyway.” Wally Oughtred also brought back from the war a hockey sweater of the Allen Cup winner Royal Canadian Air Force and the sweater inspired the new organization to adopt the colours of the RCAF hockey team. Erindale teams still the sport the familiar red, white and blue uniforms. Above and beyond Erindale, it was Wally Oughtred’s work as a pioneer with the fledgling Toronto Township Hockey League that has left a legacy for future generations. He and his brother also created an Intermediate Men’s Division within the Toronto Township Hockey League. For two decades in the 1950s and 1960s, the Oughtreds provided trophies for the leading scorers for every minor and senior division in the Toronto Township Hockey League.

     Wally Oughtred was recognized for his considerable contribution to hockey as one of the 25 Most Influential People in Mississauga Sports during the 25^th anniversary of the Mississauga Sports Dinner in 1999.