Kenny Williams Receives the Hockey Canada Order of Merit (Atlantic)
An individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully
When hockey happens anywhere on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland & Labrador, there’s a pretty good chance Ken Williams is involved. For more than 35 years he has been one of the faces and voices for the game in his home province, and for this he is the deserving winner of the Hockey Canada Order of Merit.
From his start on Maggoty Cove Pond in Bay Bulls to his work on a national level with Hockey Canada and Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador, Ken has continued to find ways to give back to the game, and to do his part to make hockey better throughout Atlantic Canada.
After a short playing career in the Southern Shore Junior League, Ken returned to the game rather inconspicuously; in 1986 the decision was made to construct an arena on the Southern Shore, and he played a leading role in seeing the project through to completion.
When it came time to choose a manager for the arena, Ken was an obvious choice, and he was soon elected as the founding president of the Southern Shore Minor Hockey Association, an organization he continues to give his time to almost three decades later.
But he was quick to branch out from that role. Ken played a major part in organizing the Avalon West Hockey League, serving as its first president in 1993, and also volunteered as treasurer for the Avalon East league.
He had an interest in the women’s game and was instrumental in reviving senior female hockey at the provincial level, working to get Newfoundland & Labrador back on the map nationally. He served as a director with the provincial female committee for several years, and left a lasting impression.
Ken was proud to chair Senior Council in Newfoundland & Labrador, and was honoured to work as a representative with Hockey Canada, continuing to trumpet the impact of senior hockey at a national level.
With all he did for the game, it was no surprise to see Ken celebrated with induction into the Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador Hall of Fame as a builder in 2015, a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the game.
For more information, please contact:
Craig Tulk
Executive Director, Hockey NL
P.O. Box 176
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
A2A 2J4
709-489-5512 office
709-486-0442 cell
709-489-2273 fax