Rev. MSGR. J. Alpheri Lauziere
Year Inducted: 2002
Birthday: September 13, 1891
Died: January 1, 1986
City/Town: St. Francois du Lac, PQ
Monsignor Lauziere arrived in Berlin in 1922, when the young sport of hockey was growing rapidly, as the local mill had just formed a mill league and Berlin High School finished its first year competing in the sport. Msgr. Lauziere organized a city league whereby the mill teams, the High School, and various local clubs would play each other with playoffs held at the end of the season. His team, The Canadiens, won two city titles in four years.
Beginning in 1930, the depression was taking its toll on local hockey. Msgr. Lauziere persuaded several of the teams to merge, forming the Berlin Hockey Club, which became the Berlin Maroons in January 1937. Under his leadership and Hall of Famer “Navy” Labnon, the Maroons became a powerhouse and won the New England AAU championship in 1941.
After WWII, the Maroons resumed play in 1946/47. Described in newspaper accounts as having a “cool business head,” Lauziere financed the club year after year finding innovative ways to raise money to keep the club afloat. Under his guidance and quiet support, the Berlin Maroons won 7 New England and three national Senior AHA Championships. In 1949, Msgr. Lauziere and fellow priest Fr. Omer Bousquet were cited by the Amateur Hockey Assoc. for their outstanding contributions to hockey.
In 1966, as the treasurer of the Notre Dame Arena, Inc., he convinced the arena board to install artificial ice. He set aside $25,000 and had faith that the community would raise the balance. In 1969, the arena roof collapsed. He was one of those who spearheaded the arena rebuild which was completed in one year. His title “Patron Saint of Hockey” in the North Country was well earned.
