Windsor Sports Community Mourns the Loss of Borden Hildenbrand at Age 90
The Windsor sports community is grieving the loss of Borden Hildenbrand, a cherished figure who dedicated decades to local athletics. Hildenbrand passed away on Sunday at the age of 90 after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy that touched multiple generations of sports enthusiasts.
A Lifetime Connected to Local Sports
From hockey to football and baseball, Borden Hildenbrand's life was deeply intertwined with Windsor's sporting culture. For fans of the Windsor Spitfires, he was a familiar and constant presence, having spent parts of five decades working in the penalty box for the team. His service spanned both the historic Windsor Arena and the modern WFCU Centre, making him a bridge between different eras of local hockey.
"He loved the game and loved working the penalty box, especially when his grandson, Steve Hildenbrand, played for Windsor from 2000 to 2002," said Doug Freeman, who currently serves as scorekeeper for Spitfire home games and began working with Hildenbrand in 1987. "He was so happy and proud that he was able to watch him play."
The Complex Duties of a Penalty Box Veteran
Hildenbrand was with the Spitfires from the beginning when the team returned to junior A hockey, but his responsibilities were far more extensive in those early days. He didn't just operate the score clock; he served as scorekeeper, announced goals and penalties, and often had to make the challenging catch of paper fluttering down from the radio booth in the rafters. These papers contained the three-star selections from each game that he needed to announce to the crowd.
The cozy confines of the aging Windsor Arena's penalty box created unique challenges. In 1991, Hildenbrand was ejected from a game by referee David Cassidy in a memorable incident that highlighted the peculiarities of the old facility.
"I started playing hockey when I was 12 and I'm 48 now and I've never seen, in my 36 years in the game, the timekeeper tossed," then Spitfires head coach and general manager Wayne Maxner told The Star at the time.
Technical Challenges and Unusual Incidents
The problem stemmed from the arena's technical limitations. When a penalty was called in the final minute of a period, the main scoreboard clock couldn't be used to time intermissions because it would run the penalties out. Instead, an auxiliary scoreboard at the north end of the arena was used to time the intermissions.
"The teams come out for the start of the period and Cassidy looks at the main scoreboard and sees that it is all set for the beginning of the period," Freeman explained. "However, there is still time left in the intermission on the other clock. Borden kept trying to tell Cassidy that the intermission wasn't over. Anyway, Cassidy ended up throwing Borden out of the game because of that."
A few years later, Hildenbrand would suffer an eight-stitch gash to his leg during another memorable incident. This occurred during a game between the Spitfires and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds when Sault players Brad Baber and Matt O'Dette jumped to the Windsor side of the penalty box. They were met by the Spitfires' Ed Jovanovski and D.J. Smith, who were ranked among the league's top ten in penalty minutes at the time. The Sault's Joe Van Volsen also cleared the glass to join the melee, resulting in Hildenbrand's injury.
A Lasting Legacy in Windsor Sports
Borden Hildenbrand's passing marks the end of an era for Windsor sports. His dedication to the Spitfires and his involvement across multiple sports made him a true fixture in the community. Those who worked alongside him remember not just his technical contributions, but his passion for the games and his pride in watching his grandson play for the team he served for so many years.
As the Windsor sports community reflects on his life and contributions, Hildenbrand will be remembered as more than just a penalty box attendant. He was a witness to decades of local sports history, a dedicated volunteer, and a beloved figure whose absence will be deeply felt by players, coaches, and fans alike.
