Sports Feature
Every July, more than a thousand hockey players aged 40 - 90-something gather in Santa Rosa, California for days of tournament, tailgating and tourism. Peanuts comic creator Charles Schulz founded the The Snoopy’s Senior World Hockey Tournament in 1975.
For this photo story, I spent five days in 2023 meeting teams and their families.
Two Santa Rosa teams face off—Flying Olafs v. Puck Hogs. Out-of-towners traveling to compete often have few fans in the audience, but some of the local teams have loyal spectators.
Brian Macdonald, 79, is the oldest player on his 55 and above team, Nashville Blues. His son Brian Jr., 58, captains the team and his daughter Lynn, 55, also plays.
Brian Macdonald, 79, plays on Nashville Blues with daughter Lynn and son Brian Jr., who captains the team. Lynn, 55, played hockey for a year when she was 10, then didn’t return to the sport until she was in her 30s.
Zita Macdonald and friends hold their breath as Brian Macdonald Jr. takes a shot at a goal. Zita met her husband Brian through his sister Lynn, who was her college roommate.
Liz Goldstein’s husband Dave Peterka plays on popular local team Zombies. She dresses her 14 year old pug Newton in a bright green Slimer costume to show team spirit and to keep him cozy at the rink.
Jean Schulz prepares to welcome guests at the “Player BBQ” on Sunday, July 14. Although Charles Schulz died in 2000, his wife Jean keeps the legacy of Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang alive as president of the Schulz Museum.
Shift Manager Dave Rosefield drives the new electric Zamboni between games. A hockey player himself, at 37, he’s still a few years too young to play in the senior tournament.
Red Baron Kevin McCool watches his elder teammates in the 60+ division warm up.
While the 60+ division of Santa Rosa Red Barons warms up, teammate Kevin McCool, who plays in the Red Barons’ 50+ division, goes upstairs to request music to amp them up. McCool worked at Snoppy’s Home Ice for more than 20 years.
Sonoma County local Tim Schroeder gears up for a game. Schroeder plays on the Flying Olafs, one of several teams named in reference to characters from Charles Schulz' Peanuts comic.
Flying Olaf's player Brian Sullivan listens to a teammate while getting ready in the locker room.
Carter Keairns, 52, is goalie for San Antonio Rampage. While most goalies today wear cage-style helmets, Keairns special-orders vintage-style masks and hand-paints them, “when the inspiration strikes.”
Jillian Rainville, 58, of Roseville, plays hockey a few times a week year-round. She also coaches a mens’ team. Although she's played her entire life, this is her first time at the Snoopy's tournament.
Parking lot camping and post-game tailgating are a beloved part of the Snoopy’s tournament. Northern California teams the Jokers and CyClones sip beers by firelight and rave about the afternoon they spent mini-golfing in the redwoods.
Former NHL pro Danny Geoffrion tells a story about moving from Montreal to New York City as a kid and learning English from classmates who “set dumpsters on fire” and other mischief. Tailgating in the parking lot is a big part of ice hockey culture at Snoopy’s and beyond.