Q&A with Ed Whitby and the Richmond Cowboys Hockey Club!

Ed Whitby, 70, plays for the Over 50 Richmond Cowboys hockey team and will be making an appearance with his hockey club in the 2023 CARHA Hockey World Cup in Richmond, BC. It won’t be his first time competing for the CHWC, though. In 2000, Ed put his name on the list as a spare for any teams in need of participants for the CWHC in Vancouver. He competed with a team from Toronto, ON and got to experience his first world cup experience. “I got to watch the final game of the tournament and it was absolutely wonderful hockey to watch.”

The Richmond Cowboys Hockey Club was founded over 40 years ago and will be sending 3 teams to the CARHA Hockey World Cup. Sending two generations of Cowboys, they will have a team competing in the Over 30, Over 55 and Over 65 divisions. Ed credits the organizer, Doug Collins, for keeping all the players active and the club running. The club is in the works of developing an Over 65 group for some of the older players moving on from the Over 50 level. There are now three generations of family members registered with the Richmond Cowboys Hockey Club. Twice this past summer, he experienced playing hockey with friends and family across three generations. “How do you beat that? You’ve got grandpa, son, and grandson out playing hockey as a group.” He shares that the fellowship is a big part of why he still plays the game 40 years later. “It’s a social thing. It’s a camaraderie thing. Our dressing room is a wonderful place,” he added. 



The Cowboys play out of Richmond and aim to be a welcoming host for participants coming from across the world. The Cowboys have rented a hospitality suite at one of the hotels nearby to invite players to come by and visit. The group hopes to share a few beers and initiate camaraderie between teams. As a resident of Richmond, Ed recommends that participants visit Steveston during the tournament: “It is the nicest part of Richmond. It is right on the ocean, and you will see the most beautiful sunsets. There are walking trails, a commercial fishing harbor and plenty of restaurants.” His wife is a tour guide by profession and always brags about all there is to offer in Richmond and Metropolitan Vancouver. He also encourages participants to visit the Olympic speed skating oval and to catch an NHL Game at Rogers Center. The Vancouver Canucks play at home at 7pm PT on March 21st against the Vegas Golden Knights and at 7pm PT on March 23rd against the San Jose Sharks.

Ed and his teammates hope to share a wonderful experience and to compete against some international teams. “We were one of the first guys to sign up for this tournament four years ago. I’ve been keeping the guys juiced up for four years!”