Les Costello
Flying Fathers
Flying Fathers
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In 1963, Costello and colleague Brian McKee founded the [Flying Fathers](/wiki/Flying_Fathers "Flying Fathers"), a group of Catholic priests who played [exhibition](/wiki/Exhibition_game "Exhibition game") hockey. Originally intended as a one\-time charity event, the Fathers became a phenomenon, regularly touring North America to raise money for charity, and were still active as of 2005\.

In 1979, Costello got lost for over 24 hours on a camping trip and subsequently had several toes amputated due to [frostbite](/wiki/Frostbite "Frostbite"). Although his disability significantly impaired his skating ability, he continued his involvement with the team, stuffing rolled\-up socks into the toes of his skates. Costello began referring to his remaining three toes as "[The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost](/wiki/The_Father%2C_the_Son_and_the_Holy_Ghost "The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost")". The incident also attracted international media attention, including coverage in *[People](/wiki/People_magazine "People magazine")* magazine and on the television show *[Real People](/wiki/Real_People_%28TV_program%29 "Real People (TV program)")*.

As a result of the media coverage, [Francis Ford Coppola](/wiki/Francis_Ford_Coppola "Francis Ford Coppola") offered the Fathers a movie option. He brought [Wayne Gretzky](/wiki/Wayne_Gretzky "Wayne Gretzky") to Hollywood to audition for the role of Costello, but the film fell apart when Gretzky's acting ability proved unable to carry a film. (However, it was on that trip that Gretzky first met his future wife, [Janet Jones](/wiki/Janet_Jones "Janet Jones").)

For the 25th anniversary of Costello's ordination in 1982, friends and parishioners took up a collection to buy Costello a truck for use in his charity work. Instead, Costello sold the vehicle and used the money to buy furniture and food for needy families.


Who founded the Flying Fathers?