James (Jimmy) Oscar Haight
1913 – 2009
It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Jimmy Haight Sr. on April 15, 2009, at the age of 95. Jimmy died without pain and peacefully in his sleep, in Kamloops, British Columbia, where he was being cared for by his daughter, Barbara Haight-Smith, her husband Ed and their family.
Deeply mourning Jimmy’s loss is his daughter, Barbara (Ed), sister Daisy, sister-in-law Karla, longtime friend, Lorna, grandchildren, Bryan (Heather), Jeff, Laurie (Dean), Diana (Thomas), Jim (Hillary), Tracy (John) and great grandchildren, Alexis, Morgan, Mitchell, Kolten, Sierra, James and Wilson, and many nieces and nephews.
Jimmy was predeceased by his wife Nova in 1956, sisters Hazel, Kay, Belle and brother Kenny, his daughter-in-law Rose Marie in 1997, and his son Jimmy Jr. in 2001.
Jimmy Haight was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, where he came into this world weighing 13 pounds and possessing a deep passion and talent for playing hockey at a very early age, which subsequently led to an amateur hockey career.
In 1929-30 Jimmy began with the Saskatoon Wesley as a left wing defenceman, winning the Provincial Midget Championship. In 1930-31 he joined the Juvenile Wesleys, winning the championship that year. In 1930-31 went on to join the Saskatoon Wesley Juniors, where they went onto win the Saskatoon City Championship (Ross Memorial Cup), the Northern Saskatchewan Championship (Mitchner Cup) and the Championship of Saskatchewan (Corbeau Cup).
In 1934-35 Jimmy broke into the Nelson Maple Leafs. There the president of Cominco invited Jimmy to come and play for Trail over turning professional, and said they would look after him. They did! Jimmy never looked back, played for Trail and went on to become part of the greatest ambassadorship and hockey team in history, the TRAIL SMOKE EATERS #4, winning in 1937-38, the Championship of BC (the Savage Cup), the Championship of Western Canada (the Paton Cup) and the Championship of Canada (The Allan Cup). Finally, in 1938-39, as the Russian Father of hockey described them, the TRAIL SMOKE EATERS best ever pro or amateur hockey team he ever saw, won the WORLD AMATEUR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSIPS, leaving a legacy unmatched to this day.
In 1947 Jimmy moved to Rossland. He eventually retired from hockey to take up skiing, hunting, fishing and spectacular gardening. He remained with and retired from Cominco, who did take ‘good care of him’ as promised. He will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Jimmy Haight on July 25, 2009 from 12:30 – 3:30 at the Cominco Gym in Trail.
Condolences can be sent to Box 876, Rossland BC, V0G 1Y0 or 919 Heatherton Court, Kamloops BC, V1S 1P9.