|
 Master of Ceremonies, Bob Norton and the Legends Directors welcomes Class of 2012 as three-hundred and thirty-two people attended the 11th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon was presented by Bauer Hockey. The ceremony was held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH on October 28, 2012.
Roland Olivier, Legends President welcomed the gathering and thanked the large audience for attending the event and supporting this year's inductees and Berlin High School. He also recognized several special guests and thanked Kevin Davis, CEO of Bauer Hockey (Keynote Speaker) as this years' Presenting Sponsor. In addition, our Co-Title Sponsors Vachon Clukay & Company, PC and St. Paul's School as our and New Hampshire Distributors, Inc. and the Social Hour Sponsor as well as our 28 other Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsors.
2012 Inductees - L to R: Peter Maher, Julie Sasner, Kathleen Twomey, Jim Tufts, Jim Rivers, Dick Dodds
Manchester Monarchs President Darren Abbott congratulated the inductees from the Class of 2012. He also spoke of the partnership between the Monarchs and the Legends and the New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame over the last 11 years. The Inductees were honored in a pre-game ceremony at our 4:00 pm game today (Oct. 28) against the Binghamton Senators. The Monarchs also celebrated Canadian Heritage Day and honored Berlin High School - their Monarchs uniforms were adorned with a Mountaineers logo on the jersey shoulders.
Mayor Jim Bouley of Concord welcomed everyone to the Capital City and spoke of the rich history of hockey in Concord beginning with hockey on Turkey Pond at St. Paul 's School in 1883 to the more recent Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship at White Park, which will be held this year on January 25-27, 2013.
Kevin Davis thanked the NH Legends of Hockey, congratulated today's inductees then played a short hockey video their marketing staff developed. He spoke of the recent initiative that USA Hockey, Hockey Canada and Bauer have embarked on. Their goal over the next ten years is to add 1 million new players.
Along with the new inductees, the Legends recognized the Berlin High School Mountaineers. They played their first season in 1921-22, won their first of 9 State Titles on February 19, 1963 and their last on March 6, 1976. In total, they have competed in 28 State Championship Title Games. They won the New England Championship in 1967 - and were runner-up the following year. This season marks their 84th season of competition. A short video recapping some of the history followed.
Mayor Paul Grenier of Berlin thanked the Legends of Hockey for recognizing the rich hockey history of the Berlin High School Moutaineers. He indicated he is excited about the revitalization in the community and looks forward to the future of Berlin and the Mountaineers.
John Normand spoke of his memories growing up in Berlin, first listening and later watching the classic Berlin and Notre Dame Hockey matches and eventually having the privilege of playing in those same games for the Mountaineers. He addressed the current players of the boys and girls Berlin hockey teams and his message was for them to continue the great tradition. He said "my interpretation of a Mountaineer is a rugged individualist who seeks to conquer the highest peaks".
Senator Lou D'Allesandro Citations read a letter of greetings and brought citations from Governor John Lynch as well State Senate Resolutions for each Inductee.
Director of Athletics, Craig Melanson of Berlin High School began by thanking Robert Vachon, Gary Bisson and Tim Forrestall for sponsoring Berlin's boys and girls teams to getting them to Concord and Manchester today. He also thanked the Legends of Hockey and their Executive Board, the Notre Dame Arena members and staff, Berlin Recreation and Parks Department, the Manchester Monarchs, Berlin Youth Hockey and the community of Berlin for their continuous support of Berlin athletics. The High School is very proud of its rich hockey heritage. Much of the credit goes to Head Coach Dick Bradley. His dedication, determination and committment to excel led to our first NHIAA State Title.
Vice-President Don Huot recognized the 24 returning Hall of Fame members in attendance. They were: Red Adams; Steve Arndt; Dana Barbin; Pierre Belanger; Lee Blossom; Dick Boucher; Ryan Brandt; Albie Brodeur; Ken Cail; Ron Dubreuil; Merrill Fay; Roland Lavigne; Rene LeClerc; Ken McKinnon; Omer Morin; John Normand; Bob Norton; Seaver Peters; Norm Pinette; Andre Prefontaine, Dick Roy; Brian Stone; Dede Villeneuve and Dunc Walsh.
MC Bob Norton congratulated and announced each member of the Class of 2012 into the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame. The following seven individuals have established outstanding personal hockey histories and are the newest members of the Hall of Fame.
COACH CATEGORY:
Dick Dodds of Hanover, NH
Dick Dodds played his high school hockey for the Marauders of Hanover. During his playing days, Hanover lost in the State Championship game OT 4-3 in OT to Berlin High School his junior season. He was elected captain for 1975-76 for his senior season. He attended St. Lawrence University, playing freshman hockey and varsity his sophomore year. After graduation, he began his coaching career back at Hanover in 1980-81 as the junior varsity coach and just two seasons later was named Head Coach. He has completed 30 seasons for the Marauders and won five state championships. His first came in 1993 against Concord, a thrilling 3-2 double OT victory. In '94 the opponent was Manchester Central, in '03 it was Bishop Guertin, '05 Salem and in 2006 Berlin. He ranks third All-Time with State Championship Titles only behind the legendary Barney Laroche of Notre Dame and Dunc Walsh of Concord. In addition, his teams played in the Championship Title game in '01 and '09. His overall coaching record is 430-229-19 and ranks second in All-Time wins.
Jim Tufts of Exeter, NH
Jim Tufts played his youth hockey in Exeter and then attended Phillips Exeter Academy where he played three years of varsity, playing his last two for legendary coach George Crowe. Tufts attended UNH but focused on soccer, playing three years of varsity, but that's when he started coaching hockey in Exeter. His first high school coaching experience was as an assistant for Winnacunnet for two seasons beginning in 1975. He was named the Head coach at Exeter High School in the fall of 1977 and has now completed 35 seasons guiding the Blue Hawks to one State Championship in Division 1 in the 1982-83 season, a 4-0 victory over Manchester West and two additional Division II State Championship Titles in 2001 and 2002, a 4-0 win over Oyster River and a 2-1 overtime win over Spaulding respectively. In addition, his teams have competed in two additional State Championship games, most recently against Concord High, losing, 1-0 in 2009-10 in DI and in DII against '98 against Winnacunnet. Tufts was the first to achieve 400 victories and ranks #1 All-Time in wins in New Hampshire with 444.
MEDIA CATEGORY:
Jim Rivers of Contoocook, NH
Jim Rivers began his hockey broadcasting career doing high school games in the fall of 1971 on Concord's WKXL radio, alongside Hall-of-Famer Dick Osborne. In the early 70's the duo covered both Concord and Bishop Brady High Schools as well as the Concord Eastern Olympics of the New England Hockey league, often times doing a high school game in the afternoon and then racing to places like Braintree and Fitchburg, MA to cover the semi pro game at night. When Osborne moved on to the UNH Hockey Network, Rivers paired with Harvey Smith and they remained the voice of the capital city hockey until three years ago when Smith retired. The pair was the longest running continuous broadcast team in high school sports in the country, covering all sports on both radio and television. In the fall, Rivers will be entering his 42nd season of broadcasting hockey in New Hampshire. Rivers also served as the color commentator for the Manchester Monarchs, alongside Hall-of-Famer Ken Cail from 2002 through the 2009-10 season. He was instrumental in starting the NH High School Hockey website that is still in existence today. He has won several Golden Mike and Associated Press Awards for his coverage and is a former NH Sportscaster of the Year. Some of his career highlights include: working the U.S. Olympic hockey game in Manchester alongside Hall-of-Famer Bob Norton; broadcasting the last game ever played by Berlin's Notre Dame high school, a 3-2 State Championship victory over Manchester Memorial on March 11, 1972; Bishop Brady's near miracle run to the state title in 1973 that included a stunning victory over Berlin in the semis followed by a last second overtime loss to Hanover in the title game. He also had the opportunity to interview the legendary Douglas N. Everett, yet another highlight of his career.
PLAYER CATEGORY:
Peter Maher of Exeter, NH
Peter Maher grew up in Exeter and attended the "Learn to Skate" program at the age of five which was run by George Crowe. During one of the Exeter Summer hockey Schools, Canterbury Head Coach Charlie Huntington recruited Maher away from Exeter to Canterbury School in CT. Four seasons later in 1980-81 Maher had amassed 212 points (All-Time Leader) and 99 points in just 25 games and winning the DI Prep Championship and was named Athlete of the Year. He joined the Maine Black Bears in 1981-82 and as a sophomore, Maher enjoyed several highlights including: Auld Lang Syne Tourney, collecting 5 points in the tournament including 2 goals and 1 assist against UNH, and two assists against VT; Earlier in his sophomore season, Maher was one of the tops in the nation for points per game before he went down with a concussion and ended with 11 goals and 16 assists; hat trick (HT) against U. of New Brunswick and Princeton. Two more concussions sidelined him his junior year. His senior year, the first for Hockey East, Maher scored the first ever goal for Maine in H.E. and ended the season with 10 while dishing out 17 assists including a HT against Northeastern. From Maine to Denmark Maher took his talents for the 1985-86 season, playing in the Elite League for HIK. Maher accepted the Carlsberg Award for the top scorer in Danish Elite League averaging over 2 points per game. First professional game I scored 4 goals vs. Esbjerg. After the season, Maher played in the Coup de Glace for Megeve, France. He returned to the states playing for the Budmen Hockey Club the following season but returned to Herning, Denmark. However, prior to the season, Maher played in Oslo, Norway in the Europa Cup. For Herning, he was leading scorer. Maher returned to the states and played several more seasons with the Budmen.
Julie Sasner of Gloucester, MA
Julie Sasner was born and raised in Durham, NH and began skating at the age of 4 on her family's back yard pond. In the 4th grade the Oyster River Youth Association (ORYA) started a girl's team and girls 9 to 18 played. A few years later, they had a better schedule with more games and Julie stood out on the ice. Former UNH Women�s Coach Russ McCurdy invited Julie's line to play in a college tournament due to a cancellation of a MN team. She was 14 and scored a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win. Sasner attended Harvard and received the following recognition during her career: Ivy League Rookie of the Year; All-Ivy League 4 years; Ivy League Player of the Year her senior year; 3 time captain; team MVP 3 times and the first women's ice hockey player inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. She scored 78 goals and assisted on another 55 for an at the time record of 133 points in 91 games. In 1989 she was selected to the U.S. National Women's team and in 1990 won the Silver Medal in the first International Ice hockey Federation World Championships. Soon after she retired from competitive hockey she turned to coaching. She began her career as an assistant for three sports, including hockey, at Harvard and ended her coaching career as the head coach for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In between, Sasner coached Cornell University from 1993-1998, leading the 1996 team to an Ivy League Championship. She coached in several USA Hockey short term events, including a Head Coaching assignment at the Pacific Rim Championships in 1996. After starting the women's program at Wisconsin, she was an Assistant for the U.S. National and Olympic teams in 2000, spending two years with the team in preparation for the 2002 Olympics. That team included Legends Hall of Famers Tricia-Dunn Luoma, Katie King and Tara Mounsey. Their record over the two years was 76-3-1 and culminated with a Silver Medal at Salt Lake City.
Kathleen Twomey of Savannah, GA
Kathleen Twomey took the ice at the age of two when her father strapped onto her boots two blades in the front and two in the back. She upgraded to double runners at 3 and regular hockey skates at 4. At 5 she joined the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association (MRYHA). Later she played one season for the Manchester Flames "C" team then headed south to play for the Chelmsford Girls team. They went to the Nationals in CA the first year and won the Nationals in DC the following year. In year senior year at Trinity, she played for the Lady Monarchs, received an invitation to play in the Make A Wish game and was selected MVP for the NH team. She then attended St. Anselm and played 4 years for the Hawks, graduating in May of 2009. Twomey received the ECAC Rookie of the Year for 2005-2006 season and the ECAC Player of the Year for 2006-2007 season. She still holds the record at St. Anselm for goals with 75 and points with 124 averaging 1.22 points per game. In all, she scored 25 power play goals, 3 shorthanded and 15 game winners. Twomey also took up coaching two years ago coached the Cyclones U12 team and this past season the Cyclones U-14 B girls team. In addition, she is co-coaching the Brady/Trinity girl's club team which will go varsity in 2012-13.
Dicky Valliere (Died on March 25, 1998)
Dicky Valliere learned to skate on Frog Pond, at the end of Devens Street, in Berlin along with his brothers and sisters. He began organized hockey as a 6th grader playing for the Guardian Angel Elementary School. At the young age of 12, Dicky was afflicted with polio which permanently affected his knees, but he was determined not only to play, but to excel in hockey. Valliere was a member of the Notre Dame varsity team for 4 seasons. As a freshman the Rams won the State Championship before losing the New England Championship game. The next 3 seasons Notre Dame won three more consecutive State Championships winning the NE Championship in 1957 with Valliere as their Co-Captain. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team, having scored three goals and assisting on 3 more. Valliere really got it going beginning in his sophomore season, averaging 29 goals a season and ending his career with 89 goals and 96 assists. He played with the fabled Berlin Maroons Hockey Club beginning in 1959-60 and continued playing through 1968-69. During his career with the Maroons, Valliere totaled 228 goals and 201 assists while helping them win two NEAHA Championships and two National AHA Championships. Among many accolades, he was selected to the NEAHA All-Star team in 1961.
All Hall Members - Front Row L to R - Kathleen Twomey, John Normand, Dana Barbin, Peter Maher, Jim Rivers, Julie Sasner, Lorraine Frenette, Dick Dodds, Rene LeClerc, Lee Blossom Second Row L to R - Dick Boucher, Dick Roy, Brian Stone, DeDe Villeneuve, Omer Morin, Andre Prefontaine, Steve Arndt, Ryan Brandt, Red Adams, Bob Norton and Albie Brodeur. Missing from photo. Pierre Belanger, Ken Cail, Roland Lavigne, Ken McKinnon, Seaver Peters, Norm Pinette, Jim Tufts, Dunc Walsh
Executive Director Jim Hayes announces 2013 Honored Team
He said "we have honored many great teams over our first eleven years, and each played an important role in molding our state's hockey history. The organization we will recognize next year, as selected by the Board of Directors began play in 1933-34 and were coached by Delly Callahan and led by Captain James Ceriello. They won 2 unofficial state titles in the early years, the first in 1938-39 and then again in 45-46. Due to warm weather and poor conditions they missed a couple years of official games and did not field a team from 1951-52 through 60-61 seasons. Since then they've competed for 18 State Titles, winning 8. Their first Championship came in 1976-77 with (Coach Dick Ryerson) while the last 6 with current Coach Dunc Walsh most recently in 2010. It's my pleasure announce the Concord High Crimson Tide as next years honored team."
Presenting Sponsor
Bauer Hockey
Co-Title Sponsors
Vachon Clukay & Company, PC and St. Paul's School
Social Hour Sponsor
New Hampshire Distributors, Inc.
Gold Sponsors
Amoskeag Beverages, LLC
Bogacz Photography/Digital Media
Banks Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-GMC
Christian Party Rental
Corriveau-Routhier, Inc.
Great State Beverages, Inc.
Speedy Printing and Copying
Silver Sponsors
Berlin City Auto Group
Brine - ESC Team Sales
De Niro Construction
Fay's Boat Yard
Golf and Ski Warehouse
Morgan Storage
Olivier Law Offices
PretiFlaherty
Rene LeClerc Insurance Agency
Bronze Sponsors
Berlin IGA Foodliner
Capital City Paving
Central Paper Products, Inc.
Dwyer, Donovan & Pendleton
EVR Advertising
Granite State Glass
Mason & Rich P.A.
Northway Bank
Plodzik & Sanderson, PA
Tardif Contracting and Landscaping, Inc
Town and Country Motor Inn
Zero Waste
Services Provided by
Spotlight Video Productions, David Pearl - Hooksett, NH
Defining Moments Photography, Amanda Sullivan - Bedford, NH
Text writer - Mike Zhe
Layout and design - Bonnie Jaillet
Master of Ceremonies - Bob Norton
Audio / interviewer - Ken Cail
All photographs at our event taken by Defining Moments Photography have been posted on their website through Dec. 31, 2012. Go to www.definingmomentsphotonh.com and click on On-Line Ordering, to view or purchase photographs. You may purchase individual photographs or the entire CD with all the images, including copyrights for $50.00. Accepted cards are VISA, MC and AMEX.
In addition, DVD's of the Induction Ceremony and Interiews may be purchased for $15.00 through Spotlight Video Productions, Hooksett, NH. Contact David Pearl at www.videonh.com or email info@videonh.com.
|
