Leaf hockey fans did know much about that bearded scorekeeper, but there was really a lot more to Jim Kienholz than a person in charge of keeping track of goals and penalties
By The Nelson Daily Sports
A lot of people didn’t know that bearded scorekeeper who scored Leaf games from senior to the present day Nelson Leafs Hockey Club.
But those behind the hockey, for that matter soccer, golf, card and stamp collecting and most recently hiking and fishing, scenes that person was James Forest Kienholz.
Jim, as friends and family knew him, died August 24 in a plane crash on Arrow Lakes near Nakusp.
The floatplane Kienholz was a passenger, belonging to a family friend, crashed into the water and flipped.
The calm, glassy water, fooled the pilot into thinking he had more time before time before his pontoons would touch down.
The reason for the detour was Jim, en route to Fortress Lake in Alberta for a fishing trip, didn’t have a licence.
Jim, 64, was waiting for his birthday earlier this week when he would have turned 65 to purchase a licence.
The pilot didn’t want Jim to get into trouble so he was going to land near Nakusp to purchase one.
MacLeans magazine became so interested in the life and times of Jim Kienholz, the national publication featured the former Nelson Savoy goalkeeper in its obituary back page.
Read the entire story at http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/14/james-forrest-kienholz/ or by purchasing the September 14, 2011 edition.
Jim Kienholz, former goalie Gerry Koehle as well as two longtime Leaf fans will be honoured during a moment of silence before Saturday’s KIJHL home opener for the Leafs at the NDCC Arena.
Game time is 7 p.m.
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