September 30, 2020

Grand Falls-Windsor-  Jack Lee, President of Hockey NL, presented the association’s newest Life Member during their Annual General Meeting on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

Murray Roberts, of Botwood, was elected Life Member by the provincial hockey association.  Roberts began with the Botwood Area Minor Hockey Association in 1995 as the Initiation Director, moving to the association’s President’s position in 1996.   After serving as President for a number of years for the Central Minor Hockey Association Executive, he then became the Public Relations Officer for the provincial association’s minor council  in 1999.  In 2000, Roberts was elected Vice President of Hockey NL, serving in that role until the end of the 2018-2019 hockey season.   He was instrumental in bringing in a provincial comprehensive screening process for all volunteers and lead the charge in introducing the Safety Towards Others Program (STOP) in NL to protect players on the ice.   Roberts was a Speak Out Facilitator which is important to the awareness and prevention of bullying, abuse and harassment within the sport when it was introduced in 1997.

Hockey NL introduced Life Membership in 1985 on the occasion of the associations fiftieth anniversary, to confer on those individuals who have rendered exceptional and distinguished service to the organization.

The association currently has 8 eight active Life Members.