Born January 14th, 1939 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland Jack Dryburgh took to the ice almost as soon as he could walk, first skating aged three and playing hockey by the time he was nine years old. Such an early start for a British youngster was plain to see in his later years as he was widely regarded as one of the smoothest skaters and stickhandlers of his generation.
He graduated through the ‘midget’ team at his local rink and on into the junior ranks of the Fife Flyers and after a spell with the Murrayfield Royals, he moved south to England in October 1956 to play senior hockey in the British League with the Nottingham Panthers. However an aircraft fitter by trade, he was unable to find suitable employment in the Midlands and so returned to Scotland and the Royals.
In 1957/58 he was the top points scorer in the North British League, as his team went undefeated through the season. The 1959 season again saw him try his luck south of the border and after signing for the Southampton Vikings he enjoyed a memorable debut, netting four goals. He went on to finish the season as the Vikings leading scorer. Once again, for the 1960/61 campaign, he returned to Murrayfield, but rejoined the Vikings for the second half of the season.
A short move to the Brighton Tigers the following season saw Dryburgh start the first of four years with the Sussex side, arguably the best four years of his playing career. In 131 games for the Tigers, he amassed an impressive haul of 467 points, made up of 205 goals and 262 assists. When the Brighton rink closed, he played for Liege in the Belgian League and also made sporadic appearances for Fife Flyers, Perth Panthers as well as the homeless Brighton Tigers.
Jack Dryburgh played for the GB team, which finished second, despite going undefeated in the 1961 Pool B World Championship tournament in Switzerland, his one appearance at that level.
In the late sixties, he was responsible for getting ice hockey off the ground at the sports most northerly British outpost (to date), Aviemore. For many years Dryburgh was rink manager in the Highlands holiday resort. He also had a spell as team manager of the Solihull Barons, including their successful 1987/88 campaign, when they won the Southern League and the play-offs.
Jack Dryburgh returned to his native Kirkcaldy, where he was rink manager for many years and also stepped in to help the Fife Flyers on occasions, acting as bench coach. He also became a member of the BIHA Council, representing the Scottish Rink Managers Association.
In his playing heyday, widely regarded as one of the smoothest skating playmakers seen in British ice hockey, Jack Dryburgh continued to serve the sport he loved, long after hanging up his own skates.
Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris - April 1991.
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