His home office is decorated with numerous awards for his contribution to minor hockey, but Gerry McCrory says the real reward is knowing hundreds of young players became better citizens because of the discipline, sense of fair play, and teamwork they learned at the rink.

“I wanted kids to enjoy hockey and to keep them out of trouble,” he says.

McCrory is Sudbury’s Mr. Hockey. He was an executive member with the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association (SMHA), and a Northern Ontario Hockey Association council director. Under his leadership for 27 years, the Big Nickel Hockey Tournament has become one of the best in the province. He founded the McCrory Hockey School.

“Thousands of minor hockey players over the years have been touched in some way by Gerry’s efforts, says David Makela, who has known the man for more than 20 years.
Now the athletic administrator with the Rainbow District School Board, Makela worked the SMHA when McCrory was president, and he has been associated with the hockey tournament since 1986.

“The tireless work McCrory has done over the years in his various capacities will pave the way for his successors to carry on with the tournament, and will allow minor hockey to continue to thrive in this community for many, many years to come,” he adds.

McCrory admits he wasn’t much of a hockey player growing up in Campbellford. He found his talent was in refereeing.

He moved to Sudbury in 1970 with Ontario Hydro, and as his three sons became involved in hockey, he began to spend more time volunteering with SMHA. He saw a need for young players to learn the basics, so he started a Sunday morning hockey school.

“This is the first time since I was six years old I haven’t had my skates on,” McCrory explains. Poor health has kept him from participating this season at the hockey school, which is now run by his son, Barry, at Countryside Arena.

Originally the hockey school was held at the old Bell Grove Arena. Seventeen boys showed up for the first classes that were held at 7 am. Luckily, within a few weeks, better ice times became available.

McCrory tells a funny story about a conversation he once had with a church minister. He told the reverend about his work with young boys on Sunday mornings.

“I told him my pulpit was centre ice.”

He expected the minister to scold him for keeping those boys out of church. Instead he was told to continue to keep up the good work.

In 1980, the Big Nickel Tournament was started to provide local players a chance to test their skills against other top players in the province on home ice. It is considered one of Ontario’s elite tournaments and attracts scouts looking for outstanding players. McCrory has been chair for 27 years.

The 28th Big Nickel AAA Hockey Tournament was held in November 2007. Fifty-three teams from around Ontario competed in the peewee, bantam and midget divisions.
The only thing holding back the size of the tournament is the availability of hotel rooms, says McCrory.

The organizers are also challenged by having to co-ordinate games at seven arenas. Last year, McCrory addressed city council about the need to build a multi-use, multi-ice pad facility. (McCrory was a member of Sudbury council in the early 1990s. He was one of the people who pushed to have Countryside Arena built in the city’s South End.)
The Big Nickel tournament raises thousands of dollars for Sudbury minor hockey. This keeps the cost of playing hockey affordable for local players. In 2007, the tournament raised $20,000 for SMHA.Tournament organizers also make contributions to the House of Kin, cancer research, various teams and championships and other deserving charities. The tournament has also contributed millions of tourism dollars to the Sudbury economy.

Considering the thousands of hours McCrory has spent at hockey arenas, it is a good thing his wife, Florence, and his four children, Susan, Barry, Brian and Scott, support his efforts and are as passionate about the game as he is.

Scott was an outstanding player whose many accomplishments include winning the OHL scoring title and the OHL Most Valuable Player during his junior career with the Oshawa Generals. Scott went on to play 14 years of professional hockey.

“He has spent 53 years in hockey,” says McCrory’s No. 1 fan, Florence. She calls herself “just a spectator,” but one gets the impression she has helped and encouraged her husband to pursue his passion.

Soon a Community Builders Award will join the many other trophies in his cabinet. McCrory was awarded the Ontario Hockey Federation Order of Merit for his service to amateur hockey as well as the OHL Milestone Award. He is a life member of the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association.

“Nothing I did was done to win awards...but for the love of the game,” he says.