On March 15, 5he Bob Hall Hockey Club celebrated the man who founded the tradition at West Hartford’s Veterans Memorial Rink in 1968.

Current and former players gather to honor Dr. Bob Hall and celebrate his lasting impact on the league. Courtesy photo

By Steve Roux

Members of the local hockey community gathered March 15 at Veterans Memorial Skating Rink to honor Dr. Bob Hall and the tradition he started nearly six decades ago.

Since 1968, Hall organized a regular “no ref pickup hockey” game at the rink, where players relied on sportsmanship rather than referees to keep the competition fair. The format was simple but enduring. Players showed up each winter ready for competitive hockey built on mutual respect.

Over the years, generations of skaters joined the group, lacing up every October through March. What began as a small gathering of players grew into a tradition that continued for 57 years.

When Hall finally hung up his skates last spring, many of the players who had been part of the league through the years made it clear the tradition would not end.

Steve Roux congratulates Dr. Bob Hall as his son, Dr. Steve Hall, looks on. Courtesy photo

Instead, they chose to honor the man who started it all. A new logo was introduced, and Hall’s jersey, fittingly Number 0, was retired as a tribute to his “others first” philosophy. Commemorative sweaters bearing the design will be worn for as long as the league continues.

Men’s league hockey is only one part of Hall’s legacy.

Professionally, he served as team dentist for the Hartford Whalers and later the Hartford Wolf Pack, caring for the smiles and the occasional dental emergency of professional players.

Hall also helped build the international dental internship program at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, mentoring young clinicians in both technical skill and the humility that defined his own career.

For those who shared the ice with him over the years, the March 15 gathering was more than a celebration of hockey. It was a chance to recognize a man whose leadership, generosity, and love of the game created a community that lasted for decades.

And thanks to the players who continue to lace up each winter, the tradition Dr. Bob Hall started in 1968 will carry on.

The team’s new sweaters feature a special tribute to Dr. Hall. Courtesy photo

Rink Renovation

The skate blades of the Bob Hall Hockey club members will be among the last ones to touch the ice at Veterans before a large-scale renovation of the rink begins. The facility will be closed beginning March 30 and is scheduled to reopen on Aug. 1, 2026.

The project is a $4 million investment, financed through bonds as part of the Town of West Hartford’s Capital Improvement Program. Upgrades will include the installation of a new state-of-the-art refrigeration system with all new piping and concrete flooring, new dasher boards, and new glass and netting. Updates will als be made to the lobby flooring, locker rooms, and the perimeter areas.

Ronni Newton, We-Ha.com, contributed to this report.

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