Date of Birth: 1954
Place of Birth: Gander, NL
Inducted: 2022 (Athlete/Builder Category)
Dennis Laing played his entire senior-hockey career in his hometown of Gander, where he helped the Flyers win the Herder Memorial Trophy in 1980. Throughout his seven years with the Flyers, he amassed a total of 146 points in as many games; the point-a-game pace ranking him 16th overall among all defensemen in the old Newfoundland Provincial Senior Hockey League.
Dennis also was instrumental in the success of the Gander Junior Flyers as they won back-to-back Veitch Memorial Championships in 1974 and 1975. In 1975 the Flyers went to the semi finals of the Eastern Canadian Centennial Cup.
After a successful playing career, Dennis placed his efforts into coaching and administration. He served two terms as President of Gander Minor Hockey Associations in both the 1990’s and 2000’s decades.
He was influential in the success of the Triple A midget program in Central NL and served as coach for ten years, helping develop many great players from central NL and winning a number of provincial championships.
Dennis was a fixture with Gander Minor and provincial hockey for all his life. He is a born leader and continued to promote hockey, especially in his hometown of Gander. He came out of retirement to play with the 1984-85 Gander Internationals, and when senior was revived in Gander in 2012, he was head coach of the Senior Flyers for two seasons and serving on the executive.
Dennis has a very distinguished hockey legacy as a player and builder in this province.
