Larry Lund, the 67-year-old Penticton native born September 9, 1940, who grew up and played his entire minor hockey in Penticton, during a time when everyone ate, drank and breathed hockey. He was a teenager when the Penticton V’s won the world championships in 1955.

One of Lund’s favourable memory moments was playing for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 1960-61 Memorial Cup finals playing in the Maple Leaf Gardens losing in the finals to St. Catharines. He would go on to have a successful career in the WHL, CPHL, IHL, AHL and the World Hockey Association for 459 games. In six seasons with the Houston Aeros, Larry had the opportunity to play with the legendary Gordie Howe, winning two Avco Cups, Larry finished his WHA career with 149 goals and 277 assists retiring in 1977-78. The World Hockey Association’s preliminary 1972 General Player Draft started with each team selecting 4 players each with Larry Lund being drafted 3rd by Dayton Aeros, later to be named the Houston Areos started playing on October 11, 1972, with 12 teams to rival the NHL and operating for 6 years before amalgamating with the NHL.

Lund was named 23rd of the Top 50 World Hockey Association players of all time. Lund became one of the founders (1963) of one of the largest, longest and most successful-running hockey schools (Okanagan Hockey School) in the world and under Larry’s direction, developed thousands of young players during the summer months in Penticton.

The Okanagan Hockey School, which at the start had about 30 hockey players who were looking to stay in shape for the upcoming hockey season. Now over 1500 hockey players annually attend the school here in Penticton and their satellite camps in Kelowna, Calgary. Edmonton and throughout Europe.

Larry operated OHS for more than 40 years until selling it to a group headed by Andy Oakes and former NHLers Allan Kerr and Jeff Finlay in 2004. Larry Lund has always been a driving force behind hockey in Penticton. He was the majority owner of the Penticton Knights in the1980s, winning the 1986 national junior A championship, and is presently involved in the partnership owners group with the Penticton Vees.