In the Team category, we were proud to honour the 1972 Sydney Glace Bay Metro Bees, a team whose remarkable season and championship run cemented their place in local hockey history.
Following the folding of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League in 1971, Junior B became the highest level of junior hockey in the region. The Eastern Junior Hockey League featured teams from Antigonish, Port Hawkesbury, North Sydney, Xavier College, and the Sydney Glace Bay Metro Bees.
The 1971 to 1972 Metro Bees played an incredible 65 games that season, including 24 regular season games, 12 exhibition games, and a grueling 29 playoff games. The team captured all six playoff series along the way.
Their championship run saw them defeat North Sydney and Antigonish to claim the league title. They then defeated the Truro Bearcats to win the Nova Scotia championship, followed by a victory over Summerside in the MAHA championship. The Metro Bees capped off their unforgettable season by defeating the Campbellton Tigers to capture the Atlantic Canada Championship.
Overall, the team finished the season with an outstanding record of 46 wins, 18 losses, and one tie, scoring 357 goals while allowing 251 against.
Captained by Stan MacDonald, the Metro Bees were known for their determination, talent, and true team first mentality, making them one of the most memorable teams in the region’s hockey history.
Goaltenders: Greg Lynch, Dave MacIntyre, Gordie Taylor
Defencemen: Dave MacLean, Danny Baldwin, Sheldon MacNeil, Gerald MacDonald, Teddy Clarke, Peter MacKenzie
Forwards: Stan MacDonald, Delmar Frizzell, Greg Thiel, Collie MacDonald, Nick Bonnar, James Kelloway, Blair Hopkins, Hugh Lynch, Allan Burke, Brian Bourgeois, Mike MacKenzie, Larry Clarke, Mike Dunphy
Staff: Leo Amadio (Head Coach), Kevin Murphy (Assistant Equipment Manager), Sonny Oliver (Assistant Equipment Manager), Lester Merrill (Secretary), Gordon Grant (Vice President), Stuart MacLeod (President), Angus MacDonald (Second Vice President), Rodger Bomber Garrab (Treasurer), George Walker (Manager and Trainer)
Congratulations to the 1972 Sydney Glace Bay Metro Bees on this well deserved recognition in the GBMHA Hall of Fame.
We also honoured Ricky Wrathall with induction into the GBMHA Hall of Fame in the Player category. The honour was accepted on his behalf by his sisters, Barb and Doris, along with former teammates Minnow Bourgeois, Steve Deveaux, and Ernie Jackson.
A resident of Grand Lake, Ricky was a highly talented hockey player known throughout the community for his passion and skill. From 1971 to 1983, he was considered one of the elite players in the area, earning numerous team and league accolades including nine Most Valuable Player awards and multiple scoring titles.
Ricky captained the Midget Miners before moving on to the Junior Miners, where he played three seasons and became known as one of the elite goal scorers in the team’s history. He finished his junior career by leading the County Centennials to a league championship.
One of Ricky’s most remarkable achievements came during the 1977 to 1978 season when, at just 16 years old, he set a local record by scoring three goals in only 21 seconds, breaking the previous mark held by local hockey legend Vince Ryan.
A talented forward with the Glace Bay Seniors, Ricky was known for his incredible scoring ability and his deep love for the game. Tragically, in 1983 at the age of 22, Ricky collapsed on the bench during a game in Glace Bay and passed away.
More than four decades later, his legacy in Glace Bay hockey continues to be remembered and celebrated. Today we are proud to honour Ricky Wrathall and his lasting impact on the game in our community.
We were proud to celebrate Dave LeBlanc as he was officially inducted into the GBMHA Hall of Fame as a Builder, surrounded by family, friends, and members of the hockey community who have shared in his incredible journey.
Growing up in the Passchendaele area of Glace Bay, Dave always dreamed of a career in broadcasting, often rehearsing in a pretend studio in his basement. When he was not doing that, he was playing hockey, a passion that would remain with him for life.
For 25 years, Dave became known as the voice of Cape Breton sports, keeping fans informed on CJCB radio and television. Generations of young athletes and fans tuned in to hear the latest scores and highlights, and sometimes even their own names when their local teams came out on top.
Dave also lent his voice to the rink as the public address announcer for the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL and the Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL. Beyond the microphone, he contributed to the game as owner and general manager of the Cape Breton Pepsi Islanders Junior A team, and his dedication to sport has earned him a place in the Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame as well.
More than anything, Dave has always understood the power of sport in a community and the important role minor hockey plays in shaping young lives.
Congratulations Dave, and thank you for everything you have done to support and grow the game in our community. This honour is truly well deserved.
GrayJay Sports
