John is youngest of a large hockey playing family - so large that he is nearly 30 years younger than his older brothers. In his early years, John was introduced to the grandeur and limelight of high profile hockey by playing with the University of Manitoba Battlesheep as an underage player. Veterans of the Battlesheep remember John ‘making’ the squad through the team’s failure to put a lock on the dressing room door. Shortly thereafter, in a formal ceremony followed by only a small amount of stomach-pumping, he was appointed Captain – a huge honor – as there were only 14 captains on the team.

During his stint with the ‘Sheep, John became famous for his shooting- although he was clearly not reaching the heights of Mike Teillet (or later Steve Schultz). Especially infamous was his Flutter shot, which due to its notoriety, is included in the Norwood Dictionary of Hockey Terms (Norwood University Press, 1993). This shot continues to confound goal tenders and amaze fans throughout the world to this day. As Art Watanabe of Artie’s Hockey School once said: “I’ve been watching hockey for nearly 70 years and John is one of the very few players I have ever seen that uses the end-over-end slap shot!” John is also famous for his use of the backhand shot. Some of the old-timers still talk about the day in 1983 when one his backhands was even a ‘raise’ and nearly scored.

After John’s college hockey days came to an end he kicked around in the minors picking up odd jobs and odd women here and there. John entered his ‘lost’ period, of which little is known (until the police records are unsealed in 2008). He dabbled in tennis, but due to his inability to understand the complicated scoring system, he soon returned to his first love. After that unfortunate incident, his thoughts returned to hockey.

It was obvious that John wouldn’t make any high level hockey teams based on his talent alone, so he came up with the vision of creating a new team from the ashes of the former Battlesheep. As many of the former Battlesheep objected to being burnt alive, John settled for creating a new team around the nucleus of the best and brightest of the Battlesheep, beer and a few hangers-on such as Mike Teillet. The concept was there - but the team needed a name. After falling asleep in the sun during a drinking binge, Glen Armstrong burned his arms to a bright red. He suggested the team be named ‘Red Arm’ and after several iterations with focus groups the Red Army was born, and a legend begun.

As a budding new entrepreneur, John did everything he could to perfect his management techniques - such as taking Usury 101 at U of M and loan-sharking courses on his many trips to Las Vegas. He also relied heavily on advice from Stefan 'the Steffer' Szunminsky - Red Army's Accountant. But as opposed to bilking the general public as The Steffer had strongly recommended, John stuck to shafting the fat, overpaid millionaire players of the Red Army.

As the club owner, John quickly introduced player salary and baseball caps to the team. Over time, his organizational 'skills' and 'keen' eye for talent brought the Red Army to the position of world-wide prominence that it enjoys today.

"Anyone who doesn't pay their fees within the next 3 days will get a little visit from Guido (aka Chuck), chief enforcer of my loan collection agency." John Teillet - from his corporate jet somewhere over the Caribbean Sea