Five local hockey players will be inducted into the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame at the Summit Center this weekend.
The ceremony is kicking off at 2 p.m. this Saturday (Aug 24).
George Nickerson, the event’s referee and master of ceremony, says Glen Boon, John Snowden, David Burgess, David Scott, and Remo Campitelli will be inducted in the player category.
He says Boon was born in 1942 in Toronto and has been married for 58 years.
“First played organized hockey in 1951, in Scarborough. Later on, he moved to Huntsville and became one of the earliest players on the Huntsville Old Timers,” shares Nickerson.
Nickerson says Snowden was born in Huntsville in 1944 and was an elementary school teacher, vice principal and the principal for many years.
“He was inducted into the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame in 1999,” says Nickerson.
He adds Burgess was born in 1942 in Saint Catherine’s and has been married for 58 years.
“He has a PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Earlier on throughout his life, he was a professor of economics for many years at the University of Western Ontario in London,” he shares
According to Nickerson, Scott was born in Bracebridge in 1943 and has raised four kids with his wife.
“He got his first pair of skates at six years old. He’s played on a lot of different teams over the years. His favourite motto or saying was ‘you got to keep going’,” says Nickerson.
He shares Campitelli was born in 1944 and “has played in over 60 hockey tournaments throughout his life. Up until this past week, he organized yet one more charity fundraiser here in Huntsville.”
Nickerson says they look forward to celebrating these “terrific men and their families,” as they are part of the overall picture of 80-year-old players who can get out on the ice and continue to skate.
He says the inductee celebrations in previous years have been held in various towns across Canada.
Nickerson says he became aware of the organization because, in the past, a number of Huntsville men have been inducted so he decided to bring the program to town.
“Bringing it to Huntsville seemed like a natural,” says Nickerson.
He says Huntsville is a “true sports community” with many volunteers and motivation to support late-life sports.
Nickerson adds that there will be a game between the alumni players from previous years’ inductions and the local girls.
“These men, who are 80 years of age, will be skating against and competing in a friendly match against [a U-13 team] from Huntsville,” said Nickerson.
“We’re really thrilled,” added Nickerson, “to be able to have this kind of program in Huntsville. We have to credit the town of Huntsville for recognizing this need.”
