JIM TEMPLE
Date of Birth: 1937
Place of Birth: Grand Falls, NL
Inducted: 2001 (Player Category)
The record of Jim Temple within hockey of all calibers and ages from 1949 to 1974 is overflowing with impressive accomplishments, individual and team honors and performances that pay tribute to his native Grand Falls and him. Jim Temple established himself as one of the better hockey players within provincial competition while maintaining a similar reputation within local hockey.
Building on Most Valuable Player awards in minor and high school hockey, Temple moved into junior hockey with similar talent and was an extremely valuable member of the Grand Falls Junior Jays club that won the provincial championship in 1956, claiming another MVP selection.
Despite his youth, Temple skated with the Grand Falls senior Bees for four seasons of provincial play and emerged with three Evening Telegram Trophy years as champions. When “B” hockey was dropped provincially, Temple joined the Andcos and won the Herder Memorial Trophy with that club. He added two more Herder victories with the Grand Falls Cataracts prior to his retirement.
A sharp forward who was a strong and speedy skater, Temple scored 40 goals in 41 games during the 1967-68 senior season and led the league in goals. He was one of the top performers for Grand Falls in a couple of trips to the national Allan Cup playdowns after playing a prominent party in on the volunteer committee that returned the town to provincial senior hockey in 1966.
An enthusiastic “old-timer” player, he has returned a great deal to hockey as a coach and organizer. He has directed minor hockey, coached minor teams and in general continues to be a dedicated and valuable worker for hockey to the present time.