Tag Archive for: 2018

Induction Ceremony October 21st – Tickets on Sale

Seventeenth Annual Induction Ceremony

The festivities begin with the social hour at 11:30 and this year, Co-Master of Ceremony Ken Cail and Chris Garrett will kick off the induction and celebration at 12:30 pm. The induction ceremony will be held at the Grappone Conference Center.

Cail maybe best known as the “Voice of the Monarchs” from 2001 to 2017 and currently works for Binnie Media and can be heard on the Pulse at 107.7, host of “Cail and Company” as well as 107.3. Garrett worked 25 years as program director for Greg and the Morning Buzz – might be best known in New Hampshire as the “Doctor of Rock”, but sports run deep through his veins. Garrett also works for Binnie Media and can be heard afternoons on 106.3, Frank in Nashua.

The program includes Dick Umile as the Keynote Speaker, who last year concluded his 28th and final season as Head Coach for the UNH Wildcats.

We are pleased to announce that St. Paul’s School will be our Luncheon Sponsor and Vachon & Clukay & Company PC is a Title Sponsor.  New Hampshire Distributors, LLC will be our Social Hour Sponsor.

Our Hall of Fame Induction event honors New Hampshire’s hockey elite — men and women who have made significant contributions in New Hampshire as players, coaches, officials, builders, or media representatives.

This year, the following six deserving individuals will be inducted into our New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame: This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include: Brendan Creagh of Hanover, Brian Foster of Pembroke and Rich Ryerson of Concord are being inducted as players. Dartmouth College coach Bob Gaudet is entering the Hall as a coach. Don McKinnon is being inducted as an official and the late Anthony “Tony” Urban is being inducted posthumously as a builder.

In addition, the Legends will also pay tribute to the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association (MRYHA). To read biographies of the six inductee’s click here.

Any businesses or individuals wishing to assist with sponsorship or purchase tickets, please contact Executive Director Jim Hayes. Jim’s information can be found on this sponsorship form. Deadline is October 12th for both sponsorships and luncheon tickets, which are now available and our event is open to the public.


Number of Tickets
Names of Attendees




Legends to Induct Six

head coach bob gaudet

Dartmouth Head Coach Bob Gaudet

June 7, 2018

The New Hampshire Legends of Hockey is pleased to announce six inductees for its 2018 Hall of Fame class, who will be formally inducted during a ceremony on October 21, 2018.  The ceremony will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord NH.  The ceremony is open to the public and tickets can be purchased by contacting Executive Director Jim Hayes at hayes743@comcast.net.

In addition, the hockey history of the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association (MRYHA) will be recognized. Hall of Fame Induction tickets will be available to the general public on September 1st.

Our event will begin with an 11:30 am social hour and for the first time, our ceremony will have Co-Master of Ceremony, Ken Cail and Chris Garrett and the Key Note Speaker will be Dick Umile.

Brendan Creagh of Hanover, Brian Foster of Pembroke and Rich Ryerson of Concord are being inducted as players. Dartmouth College coach Bob Gaudet is entering the Hall as a coach. Don McKinnon is being inducted as an official and the late Tony Urban is being inducted posthumously as a builder.

Here is a closer look at the six inductees:

Brendan Creagh. In three years playing for Hanover High School in the late 1980s, Creagh was the team’s leading scorer all three seasons and left as the all-time leading scorer among defensemen. After a prep year at Phillips Andover he moved on to the University of Vermont, where he played four seasons and served as assistant captain as a senior year. A skilled, puck-moving defenseman, he played briefly in the AHL and enjoyed a four-year career in the ECHL.

Brian Foster. After starring for the Concord Capitals and then the Manchester Junior Monarchs, where he won an EJHL championship, Foster joined the UNH hockey team on a full scholarship. After two seasons backing up standout Kevin Regan, he assumed the starting role as a junior and went 19-11-4 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. He stopped 40 shots in one of the most memorable games in UNH history, a 6-5 overtime win over North Dakota in the NCAA tournament. As a senior he posted a 2.98 GAA and .908 save percentage, was named First Team Hockey East and Second Team All-America. After that went on to a 12-year pro career in the CHL, ECHL and AHL.

Bob Gaudet. Entering his 22nd as head coach at Dartmouth College, his alma mater, this fall, Gaudet is poised to become the all-time winningest coach in school history. His 305 wins at Dartmouth trail only Eddie Jeremiah (308). Twice he has been named ECAC Coach of the Year (1994-95 at Brown, 2005-06 at Dartmouth), and he led the team to the ECAC Hockey title in 2006 and the Ivy League title a year later. In three decades as a college head coach, he has worked with and developed several players who have gone on to play in the NHL, including Ben Lovejoy of Canaan, who was a Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins.

Don McKinnon. McKinnon moved to Durham in 1960 to assist his wife’s father in the millwork business. He’d refereed Ontario Hockey League games in his native Canada, and would go on the call five NHIAA championship games, including his first one between Hanover and Berlin in 1966. It was estimated he refereed more than 75 games in the Granite State Hockey League before that league terminated in 1967. He was also a fixture in the college game, calling more than 200 games in the ECAC and refereeing games in Divisions I, II and III, as well as the New England Hockey League.

Rich Ryerson. Ryerson skated for four seasons at St. Paul’s School, the last three under legendary coach Bill Matthews, where he earned the reputation as a player who could be used in all situations. He scored 38 points as a junior and served as co-captain as a senior. From there, he went on to Dartmouth, where he played 111 games from 1976-80, scoring 29 goals and adding 26 assists for 55 points. Twice in his career he helped the Big Green reach the NCAA final four.

Tony Urban. Growing up in the Berlin-Gorham area, Urban spent nearly four decades involved with high school hockey in the state. He spent 36 years as chairman of the NHIAA Hockey Committee, and served on the High School Hockey Federation for Hockey Rules Committee from 1977-88. He was inducted into the NHIAA Hall of Fame in 2008 and was instrumental in moving NHIAA championship games from the Whittemore Center at UNH to the SNHU Arena in Manchester.

2018 Golf Classic

Annual Golf Classic July 13, 2018

Ah, the Stanley Cup Finals are just weeks away, the golf courses are open and our 13th Annual Golf Classic will be held at the Stonebridge Country Club on Friday July 13, 2018.  It’s a shotgun start which begins at 10:30 am, allowing you time to make an appearance at your office and join us for the beautiful weather, guaranteed!

If you’d like to play, or can help by sponsoring and or volunteering, please contact Executive Director Jim Hayes at hayes743@comcast.net or 603-731-4168.  Click here for the 2018 Golf Classic brochure.

Can you believe it? Shown above in center, Scott Citroni, reacts just after knocking in his ball for a Hole N One on the 4th Hole. Director Dave Beauchamp (green jacket) and others react. This was the first ever Hole N One in twelve years, and from this day forth will be called “The Scott Citroni 4th Hole.”

Our mission is simple: “We honor, celebrate and preserve New Hampshire’s rich ice hockey history and support the development of hockey”.

This year, the Legends will introduce Robert Sprague and the memory of Boston hickory golf-club and golf ball maker G.S. Sprague (1870 – 1928).  Robert is the great-grandson of Boston clubmaker G.S. Sprague, and portrays his great-grandfather at charity golf events throughout New England – will join us!

ON ONE OF THE PAR THREE HOLES, you’ll have the chance to hit one of his 1912 mesh golf balls and see how well you like Mr. Sprague’s best hand-forged mashie irons “using only the best native New Hampshire hickory shafts”.  G.S. Sprague’s factory – located in Boston’s North End – hand crafted over 1,000 golf playing sets annually and hand-formed over 2,000 new mesh balls.

More than 500 photos from Matt Parker Photography can be viewed and or purchased for a nominal fee.  mparker3011@gmail.com

We’d like to once again acknowledge and thank last year’s Presenting Sponsor, Bauer (Global Headquarters) of Exeter, NH.  Our Title Sponsor, The Rinks at Exeter, and our perennial Gold Sponsor, St. Paul’s School of Concord as well as the Co-Title Putting Sponsors, Club National and Charles Schwab, both of Nashua.

In addition, all of our Silver and Bronze Sponsors from 2017.

Silver Sponsors: Amoskeag Beverages, LLC – Bogacz Photography/Digital Media -Gamache Enterprises – Granite State Capital – Morgan Self Storage – New Hampshire Distributors, LLC – North Country Tractor – PretiFlaherty – Pro Ambitions – Rowley Insurance Agency – Triplet Computers, LLC

Bronze Sponsors: Ackerson State Farm Insurance Agency – Arcomm Communications – Banks Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-GMC – Beauchamp Estate Services – Capital City Paving – Christian Party Rental – Deco Limo of Boston – EVR Advertising – Fay’s Boat Yard – The Houston Family – Karr & Boucher PLLC – L. A. Brochu Inc. – Manchester 40+ Hockey League – Milford Lumber – Northway Bank – R & T Electric Inc. – Rene LeClerc Insurance Agency Inc. – Sleepnet – The Voice Library.net

Nearly 100 businesses and individuals donated gifts in kind for the tournament last year. To view complete list, click on Contributors (Gifts in Kind)

Sponsorship, Gifts in Kind Donations and Player Registration Deadline is Friday June 22, 2018.

Champions!
Congratulations once again to last year’s Champions. Lee Blossom, Ryan Sahr, JM Sahr and Scott Towle took home the title.   Who will win the cup this year?

2017 Champions: (L to R) Scott Towle; JM Sahr; Lee Blossom and Ryan Sahr.

All Champions
2017 – Lee Blossom, Ryan Sahr, JM Sahr, Scott Towle
2016 – Lee Blossom, Mark Placy, Ryan Sahr, JM Sahr
2015 – Rene LeClerc, Pete Ackerson, Steve Grzywacz, Dave Kuhman
2014 – Todd Philbrick, Tom Otto, Jim Corbett, Jerry Collins
2013 – Dick Dodds, John Dodds, Scott Peters, Dean Cashman
2012 – Chris Chisholm, Jim Hayes, Ray Martin, Pat McNicholas
2011 – Casey Kesselring, Jeff Graham, Mike Beliveau, Trevor Smith
2010 – Chris Chisholm, Jim Hayes, Ray Martin, Pat McNicholas
2009 – Mike Castagna, Paul Lemire, Doug Leppart, Doug Snyder
2008 – Chris Chisholm, Jim Hayes, Ray Martin, TJ Whitelaw
2007 – Mike Castagna, Mike Ladouceur, Johnna Lory, Rich Tombs
2006 – Ken Roberge, Mike McGinn, Glen Williams, Dwayne Robinson

Ray Phelan has the perfect follow-through as Laconia Laker player Aidan McKenzie watches. Aidan and his father John McKenzie were there on “The Scott Citroni 4th Hole” along with board member Dave Beauchamp and his son Morgan. Proceeds from the 4th and 6th holes will be used to purchase equipment for families of need for Laconia Youth Hockey. In addition, the Lakers sent a foursome (Greg McClary, Caleb Drouin, Ty Jordan and Colby Jordan).

Shown above is Roger Letourneau (L) keeping a close eye on Hall of Famer Bruce Parker and his putting stroke. John Normand (H of F) recognized all other Hall of Famers in attendance. Steve Arndt; Dana Barbin; Lee Blossom, Dick Boucher; Dick Dodds; Mark Evans; Rene LeClerc; Ken McKinnon; Steve Murphy; Bruce Parker; Wally Tafe and Dick Theriault.

2018 Induction Ceremony
NH Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon, honoring players, coaches, builders, and media representatives for their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the sport of ice hockey in New Hampshire. This year’s date is October 21, 2018 and will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.  In addition to enshrining the Class of 2018 into our Hall of Fame, the Legends will honor the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association.  If you’d like to join us and or sponsor this premier event, please contact Jim Hayes at hayes743@comcast.net

We also collect and display hockey-related artifacts in our on-line Museum of New Hampshire Hockey and we support the growth of the sport through various activities, including our youth hockey equipment donation program and our sponsorship and support of the NH High School Senior All-Star hockey games as well as All-State recognition for both New Hampshire high school and prep school teams.

We continue to search for artifacts and film from the old days. Anyone wishing to loan or donate artifacts is welcomed to do so.

Thank you in advance.

High School Play-offs / Senior All-Star Doubleheader

NHIAA Semi-Final Matches
The quarter final rounds are now complete.  This week 16 teams (in four divisions) will be competing in this weeks Semi-final round with hopes of moving on and eventually hoisting the State Championship trophy for their respective division.

Here’s a look at this week’s match-ups and good luck to each of the teams.

Division I
# 1 Concord versus # 4 Bedford
# 2 Hanover versus # 6 Bishop Guertin
Division II
# 1 Keene versus # 5 Dover
# 3 St. Thomas Aquinas versus # 7 Kingswood
Division III
# 1 Kennett versus # 5 Belmont-Gilford
# 2 John Stark-Hopkinton versus # 3 Mon-Fall Mountain
Girls Division
# 1 Exeter versus # 5 Oyster River-Portsmouth
# 2 Hanover versus # 3 Bishop Brady-Trinity-West

Please verify start times with your local school.

Senior All-Star Doubleheader 
On Sunday March 18th, the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey will host two Senior games at The Rinks at Exeter.  The New Hampshire High School Hockey Coaches Association will be selecting seniors this week to compete in the two games.

Andrew Putney (9) Manchester Memorial and Asa Palker (7) Bedford of Team Red battle for puck with Jeremy Duhamel (18) Bow

The first game is for Division III seniors and is scheduled to start at 12:00 pm. 
The second game is for Division I and II seniors and will begin at 12:30 pm.  All players are urged to arrive one hour before their game.

Ticket prices are $5.00 for all adults high school is $2.00.

Players gather after the Division III Senior All-Star game.

The Legends are providing certificates to all senior players.  Certificates will be distributed at a post-game reception after each All-Star game on Sunday March 18th.

In addition, All-State Teams are being selected this week by the New Hampshire High School Hockey Coaches Association and for the eighth year, the Legends will provide certificates for each member of the various All-State teams.  In addition, for each division, the Legends awards certificates to the Player-of-the-Year and Coach-of-the-Year.

For those underclassmen and girls not in attendance, those will be taken to their schools by coaches or in attendance for disbursement.

Nominations Open January 1st

The New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Nomination Review Committee are now accepting nominations of candidates for induction into the next New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame Class. At this time, the date has not been confirmed. We are looking to hold the ceremony October 2018.

The Legends Hockey Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor those men and women who have made significant contributions to sport of ice hockey in New Hampshire by their participation as Players, Coaches, Builders, Officials or as members of the Media. Through our first sixteen years, one hundred and twenty-eight deserving individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

If you know of anyone you feel may be a qualified Hall of Fame candidate, the Legends committee encourages you research and submit a nomination form for consideration of this high honor in any one of the above categories.

NH Legends of Hockey Policies and Procedures for Nomination states, “It is important that any nominee be of high moral character and the Induction Committee and Board of Directors shall consider such matters when considering candidates for induction.”

ELIGIBILITY FOR INDUCTION

To be eligible for induction in the Player category, the individual must: a) have been born or raised in New Hampshire and played ice hockey at an exemplary level; or b) while an active player, have made a significant contribution to the sport of ice hockey in New Hampshire.

To be eligible for induction in non-player categories, the individual must: a) have made significant contributions to the sport of ice hockey in New Hampshire: or b) have made significant contributions to the sport of ice hockey while residing in New Hampshire.

In addition, each individual’s contribution may be different. Also to be considered will be the nominee’s ability, sportsmanship or character, or a combination of these qualities.

[button url=”https://nhlegendsofhockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NH-Legends-Nominee-Form-no-year_distributed_Final.pdf” target=”_blank” style=”normal”]Nomination Form[/button]

  • Nominations must be received prior to March 1, 2018. To view nomination page including sample form, click here.
  • If you are using Chrome, you may experience a problem. Please use alternate web browser.
  • Type your information into the form and save on your desktop. You should print a copy for your own records, then email Jim Hayes hayes743@comcast.net the completed form. In addition, click on Submit form on the top right.
  • Selected individuals will be recognized at the next annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  This fall, the Legends will also be honoring the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association.

We have included a copy of the Sample Nomination Form for Sandy Sistare which was submitted by Jane Kalinski. This should help you with your nomination process.

If you have questions or need assistance with the nomination process, please contact any one of the New Hampshire Legend’s board of directors who are listed on the web site. You may also call the Executive Director, Jim Hayes, at 603-731-4168.

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