Mike Buckna

Mike Mathew Buckna, born in Trail September 5, 1913, was an exceptional athlete, excelling in track and field, as well as hockey, where he made his major impact. Mike got his start in the junior ranks, then as a rookie senior with the Trail Smoke Eaters, who became the B.C. Champions of 1932-33.

In 1935, Mike went to Prague, Czechoslovakia where he took a job as player/coach with Prague's Lawn Tennis Club. While there, he met Aloisie (Lola) Frolikova. Lola was an exceptional tennis player and a natural talent and won several major European tournaments. Mike and Lola were married in Prague, on March 26, 1938.

In 1939, Mike and Lola returned to Trail where he went to work at Cominco. Of course he was also working in the family business, the Montana Hotel.

Mike was given a tryout with the Chicago Blackhawks, but when offered a contract decided against a life on the road and returned to Trail. In 1946, the family returned to Prague where Mike was given the opportunity to coach the Czechoslovakian National Hockey team and was the coordinator of the entire Czech hockey system. He taught the kind of hockey played in Trail - conditioning and passing. He pioneered hockey clinics, coached senior and junior teams and started minor hockey for several thousand youngsters throughout the country. The result: a world hockey power.

Mike coached the Czech Olympic Team in the 1948 Olympics. The team only lost one game in those Olympics and that was to Canada. Mike's team won a silver medal. He also led the Czech National Team to three European titles and one world championship, in 1947.

Shortly after the Olympics, the Russians occupied Czechoslovakia and Mike and his family had to return to Trail. He regained employment with Cominco and continued to play hockey for the Trail Smoke Eaters.

After his retirement from playing, Mike coached the Rossland Warriors and the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters. Mike was actively involved with hockey, both in Trail and Czechoslovakia, for almost fifty years.

Mike and Lola later bought the Montana Hotel and continued to operate it until their retirement in 1974. Lola passed away November 29, 1976.

Mike made several visits to Czechoslovakia, as a guest of the government, to attend world hockey tournaments. In 1978, as the guest of the Czechoslovakian Hockey Federation, Mike was introduced as the "Father of Czechoslovakian Hockey."

In 1989, Mike received a major honour in his life. He was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. Mike continued to live in Trail throughout his retirement until his death on January 6, 1996.