Over the last 19 years of following sports in the eastern Maine region, one of the more interesting people I’ve met doesn’t bounce, hit or kick a ball. He throws a small bowling ball at candlepins – and most of the time knocks all of those pins down.

Charlie Milan III of Brewer, owner of the Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes, could give college and professional athletes, as well as some coaches, lessons on how to deal with the media.

Milan, you see, is candid but also colorful. He won’t dodge a question and won’t offer up a tired old cliche for an answer. It’s refreshing these days to deal with someone who still says what’s on his mind and also still genuinely loves what he is doing.

Milan is now in Halifax, Nova Scotia, competing in a tournament he helped start – the World Team Candlepin Bowling Tourney.

For those of us who have followed Milan’s exploits in his long bowling career – he’s 67 – it’s not surprising that he’s over in Canada seeking another title, even though his right arm is trying to tell him to slow down a bit.

Milan has ligament damage in his right arm – the same right arm that has helped him win 23 state titles and become one of New England’s all-time best candlepin bowlers.

When it came time for this year’s world tourney, Milan knew he would be competing despite the sore arm. He admitted that he would be taking more of a minor role on a talented team, but would be ready to step in when he was needed to give the team a boost.

It may be difficult for some to understand why a 67-year-old man would drive seven hours to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to bowl every day for a week to win something he’s already won. Milan has not only distinguished himself on the lanes over the years, but has been a successful businessman. He could easily retire to Florida and spend more time rubbing in sunscreen instead of Ben-Gay.

However, the guy still just loves to compete. You still can see that little spark in his eyes when he talks bowling and about what it will take for his team, the Maine Heat, to win a second title: “Five guys, each one has to average 125 a string. We’ve got it won on paper,” he says.

Beyond the bowling, Milan and his wife, Marie, want to be with their family. Their children and grandchildren are in Maine and that’s where they want to be, too.

So, you’ll frequently see Milan working at the B-B Lanes or helping take care of one of his grandchildren. He wants to keep busy and doesn’t hesitate to give one of his reasons for doing so.

“I watch people retire, I watch them go to Zephyrhills [Florida],” he said. “Then I pick up the paper and read their obituary.”

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In these days that never seem to have enough minutes as two parents hold down jobs while their children participate in sports and other school activities, it’s nice to see some helpful ways in how this is all made a bit easier.

Two Web sites for youth hockey organizations in Bangor and Brewer do just that. On the sites, parents find schedules, scores and lots of other information about the hockey organizations.

For those looking for a little help and to keep up to date with their busy hockey seasons, they may visit Bangor’s youth hockey site at www.bangor-youthhockey.org and Brewer’s site at www.brewerhockey.org

Sports editor Joe McLaughlin can be reached at 990-8229 or at jmclauglin@bangordailynews.net.