Maritime Sport Hall of Fame honours first inductees

WATCH: The Maritime Sports Hall of Fame unveiled the official photos of it first inductees Wednesday. Global’s Ray Bradshaw was with them and has their story.

HALIFAX – The Maritime Sport Hall of fame unveiled 19 photos on Wednesday, honouring the first inductees.

The unveiling of the inductees is a first for the Maritimes. Some of the inductees attended Wednesday’s ceremony.

The Maritime Sport Hall of Fame named it’s first inductees Last October. The home for the new hall of fame is at the BMO Centre in Bedford.

The black ice hockey league from 1895 to 1930, is the only league inducted into the brand new Maritime Sport Hall of Fame.

“They would be very excited,” said Wilfred Jackson, who unveiled the picture of some of the players in the league. “Up until now, the memory of the Coloured Hockey League has largely been lost.”

Willie O’Ree, the first black hockey player in the NHL, headlines six athletes inducted. Jockey Ron Turcotte, from New Brunswick, is another inductee who was honoured today. Turcotte rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.

Another New Brunswicker, boxer Yvon Durelle, known as the Fighting Fisherman, fought Archie Moore for the World Light-Heavyweight championship. His son, Yvon Durelle Jr. says the many halls of fame his late father is featured is in keeps his memory alive.

“He’d love it,” said the boxer’s son. “As long as people like these people here love to see him and love to hear about him, he’ll never die.”

The Nova Scotians are fastball and baseball player Leo Woods and baseball player Philip ‘Skit’ Ferguson, an outstanding pitcher during his senior career.

“I had an offer to turn pro, but I wanted to continue my education,” said Ferguson.

Forbes Kennedy played for several NHL teams and has a connection to all Maritime provinces.

“Like Danny Gallivan said, Forbes Kennedy that played hockey for Saint Mary’s Juniors in Nova Scotia, lived in Charlottetown, born in Dorchester, New Brunswick, where his mother was doing time, he’s a real Maritimer,” Kennedy said.

Hockey broadcaster Danny Gallivan leads the way in the builder category. The others are Edgar Acorn for harness racing and sport historian/author Burton Russell.

There are also nine hockey, baseball and football teams featured in the Maritime Hall. One of them is the Halifax Zwickers baseball teams of 1946 and 1947. The oldest living member of the new hall is 99-year-old Jim Cuvelier, who played for the Zwickers. He got the loudest applause.

“I didn’t think I’d be here this long,” said Cuvelier. “It makes you feel pretty good.”

The Maritime Sport Hall of Fame will continue to hold induction ceremonies each year at the BMO Centre.