Date of Birth: 1929
Place of Birth: Kelly’s Cross, P.E.I
Inducted: 1996 (Builder Category)

Cliff Gorman, a native of Prince Edward Island, was involved in Newfoundland and Labrador hockey from 1955 when he moved to this province.

As a volunteer and supporter of the Corner Brook Royals, he was elected president of the Corner Brook Hockey Association in 1972. In that position, he played an extremely important role in the many successes that the Royals achieved up to the late 1980s, and held several very responsible positions within provincial hockey, especially in Western Newfoundland.

It was under Gorman’s leadership that the Royals won the Herder Memorial Trophy in 1977, 1985, 1986 and 1988. He was instrumental in providing leadership for Corner Brook’s impressive Eastern Canadian championship performance in both 1985 and ’86, and supplied the exceptional leadership that was needed for the Royals to win the Allan Cup and become national ‘AAA’ senior hockey champions in 1986, the only team from Newfoundland and Labrador to achieve that high level of accomplishment.

In the light of financial hardship, the Royals were forced to withdraw from provincial senior hockey in 1982 and ‘83, but Gorman continued his fund-raising efforts to eliminate the club’s outstanding debts. It was after he led Corner Brook back on solid ground that the Royals returned to provincial senior hockey.

Junior hockey benefited greatly from Gorman’s time, efforts and concern. He was part of Corner Brook’s 1977 provincial junior championship and, in 1993, he was the driving force behind the organization of the West Coast Junior Hockey League. He served two years as Western Director for provincial junior hockey and was elected vice-chairman of provincial junior hockey in 1995. With a sincerity and willingness to give of himself to attract support from all areas of Western Newfoundland, he displayed an approach that inspired others to work for the good of hockey at all levels.