112-big

Date of Birth: 1940
Place of Birth: Bell Island
Inducted: 2001 (Athlete/Builder Category)

An outstanding playing career followed by an equally outstanding coaching career places Bell Island native Dick Power among the hockey elite of Newfoundland and Labrador. Now living in Harbour Grace, Power’s on-ice performances established him as one of the very best defensemen ever produced within the province and his guidance to Conception Bay North players like Daniel Cleary of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League is an indication of his value as a coach.

Power’s first provincial competition was with the Bell Island junior club in 1957, 1958 and 1959. His play was such that he was offered a playing position with the St. Catherine’s TeePees of the Ontario Junior Hockey League but he declined. In 1960 and 1961, Power was a major factor in St. John’s junior and senior championships for St. Pat’s as he was junior MVP and senior best defenseman. He captained the St. John’s Capitals to the 1961 provincial junior championship.

He skated with the Corner Brook Royals for the 1962 provincial senior season and was a big asset as the Royals won the Herder Memorial Trophy. He was with Grand Falls the next season and played for the Gander Flyers from 1963 to 1967. When the Conception Bay CeeBees were the first provincial representatives in the 1967 national Allan Cup playoffs, Power added to the roster and had the distinction of scoring the province’s first Allan Cup goal. He finished his playing career as a playing-coach in Harbour Grace.

In addition to providing exceptional management for the S.W. Moores Stadium in Harbour Grace, Power has been an extremely valuable asset to coaching in the complete Conception Bay North area. His in-depth knowledge, tireless dedication and willingness to work long and hard have contributed greatly to the general improvement of the caliber of hockey in that area of the province.

While his record as a winning coach is very impressive, it is his day-to-day instructions and guidance at the grassroots level that pay the highest dividends for CBN youth. His record as a coach is equal to the great skill he displayed as a player. One of the strongest skaters to ever play provincial hockey, he possessed a hard and very accurate shot that could bump with the best of them.