1955 - 2000

Copied from The Kingston Whig Standard, By Patrick Kennedy, Staff Writer

"If You Had A Team Full OF Mike Breggs, that would be one fun team to be on" noted Ron Leyenhorst on his oldtimers league teammate who died on the ice during a game Tuesday night at Cataraqui Arena.

Bregg, a 44 year-old married father of two, collapsed in the late stages of a Kingston Leftovers League game between his Wanna-Bee's and Primetime Marketing. "He virtually collapsed" said league convenor Terry Wright, who officiated the game." Guys started giving him CPR, Someone called911, and then the paramedics took over, but you could see it was too late.

"Its a terrible loss for his family and the Kingston hockey community" added Wright "Mike really loved the sport and devoted many hours to it. He coached many minor hockey teams over the years, and from talking with different guys who'd played with him was a tremendous teammate. He always seemed to have lots of fun. With about three minutes remaining in the game, Bregg crumpled to the ice "We were on a rush and I went around Mike saw him fall" said forward Joe Forsythe. I just assumed he'd tripped. After the play we saw him lying on the ice, face down and still. Whatever it was we knew it was serious.

Bregg owned and operated K-R Copy in the Cataraqui Town Centre the past seven years. The K-R stands for the initials of his and wife Nancy's daughter and son, Kendall 19, and Ryan 16. The eldest of five children born and raised in Ottawa, Bregg moved to Kingston with Nancy 22 years ago.

Once the kids started in athletics, he immersed himself in the sporting community, coaching several minor hockey and softball teams and countless touch football games. A tireless volunteer, he was District K chairman of the discipline committee for the Ottawa district Minor Hockey Association at the time of his death. Last summer, he coached a junior ladies softball team. As a coach he stressed team unity. “He was always telling his players to “Do it as a team.” his widow recalled last night from their Hillside Drive home filled with family and friends.” That’s the premise he followed as a player and also what he tried to instill in the young players he coached. "We were dependent on each other and we were each others best friend and confidante" she added.

Mike Bregg had plenty to smile about during his last few hours. Earkier Tuesday night he was behind the bench for his son's midget team's victory. Then in his final time on skates defenceman Bregg coming off a rare two-goal game. Tallied again "when he left Ryan's game, he was one happy camper" said Nancy “He gave all the parents a big goodbye wave and went off to play his game.”