The Vandermeers

PEORIA - Joe Vandermeer grew up working in his father's sawmill. But the Peoria Rivermen defenseman is also part of another production line, one that has made the Vandermeer family minor-league hockey's version of the Sutters.

"People compare our situation to the Sutters all the time, and ironically, they live right near us and are friends with our parents,'' said Vandermeer, raised in Caroline, a blip 400 persons strong on the Alberta, Canada, radar screen. "There's six of us, and we're all playing hockey.'' Vandermeer, 26, is the second-oldest. There is Pete, 28, now playing for Philadelphia in the American Hockey League. Dan, 25, will play in the ECHL for Long Beach this season. Jim, 23, is with the Flyers in the NHL. The babies, Bill, 19, and Ted, 17, are in junior hockey with Medicine Hat and Red Deer, respectively, in the rugged WHL.

"I am the runt of the litter, but I held my own,'' the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Joe Vandermeer said with a laugh. "Danny and I fought a lot, especially when he was picking on Jim. The two youngest ones, according to mom (Maureen), are the worst yet. She said they are pretty tough characters.'' Runs in the family. Vandermeer's great uncle, Pete, was Prince of Wales saddle bronc champion in his day. When told he would be presented with a decorative belt buckle by a royal figure, old Pete said he much preferred a box of cigars.

Joe Vandermeer graduated in a high school class of 20 students and was raised in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, working the family's cattle ranch when he wasn't working his father's sawmill. The Vandermeer brothers played baseball, pounded on each other, and wore out the family car as parents Maureen and Bob shuttled six boys wherever they had to go. But oh, those home games.

"We had this huge rec room, and played hockey in it,'' Vandermeer said. "The youngest kid always had to play in the net, and he pretty much got abused. The games didn't end until someone started crying.'' Vandermeer played four seasons in the ECHL for Richmond, skating alongside brothers Dan and Pete there in 1999-2000. He moved on to expansion Lexington and piled up 42 assists, with nine goals, in 67 games last season. Like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, pretty much everyone in hockey has played somewhere, some time, with a Vandermeer.

"Pete played with Jason Christie at (ECHL) Columbus,'' Vandermeer said. "And I played against him there. I got traded to Augusta last season and ended up playing against my brothers with Richmond. There were more elbows flying in those corners. . . .

"But I knew this year where I wanted to play. Peoria has always had a strong team. It's hell coming to Carver Arena to play if you're an opposing player. Those fans here are awesome. I want to be with a team that can win a championship, and I think this is the place to chase one.'' Vandermeer was on the 1998-99 Richmond team that ran the ECHL championship series to Game 7 in Mississippi. That game went into double-overtime, and a weak penalty call set up a clinching power-play goal that killed off Richmond.

"We were up 3-1 in that series and 3-1 in the third period of that game,'' Vandermeer said. "We had a two-on-none from our red line in OT and didn't get a shot on the net.

"Throughout my career I've always seemed to end up one step shy. But I believe I can play at the next level. And I believe I can help this team win a championship.''