New book chronicles the life and times of play-by-play man Pat Connolly
Legendary play-by-play man, the late Pat Connolly, is the subject of a new book. “Play by Play: The Life and Times of Pat Connolly” penned by longtime friend Joel Jacobson. It chronicles the life and career of the Sydney native.
Connolly began his career in print media in 1945 with the Halifax Herald and then moved to the Sydney Post-Record, the precursor to today's Cape Breton Post. He started his career in broadcasting in 1948 with CJCB Sydney before taking a job with CJCH in Halifax in 1952, replacing Sydney native Danny Gallivan who had moved on to the Montreal Canadiens. Connolly then took a job with CBHT in 1954, becoming the first sports host for Atlantic Canada at the station. Along with his public announcing work, he was a sports columnist for both The Chronicle Herald and the Halifax Daily News and wrote for other publications both in Canada and the United States. In 2009, Connolly hung up his microphone as public address announcer for the Halifax Mooseheads. That ended a 35-year career that ran with the American Hockey League's Nova Scotia Voyageurs, Nova Scotia Oilers, Cape Breton Oilers, Halifax Citadels and the QMJHL’s Mooseheads. Connolly died in Nov. 2012 at the age of 84 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The book is available through Nimbus Publishing at www.nimbus.ca.
• The Cape Breton Roadrunners recently held their second annual Pursuit Run, with a total of 42 competitors taking part. The pursuit format is different than your standard race. Each runner is given a head start calculated by their age and sex, so it provides a chance for runners who are standouts in their division to be first across the line. The format allowed all the assembled runners to count down and send off 74year-old George Bennett, who started first. One of the top local marathoners, Daniel McNeil of Glace Bay, had to wait last before leaving the start. However, McNeil passed everyone to finish first overall in a time of 26 minutes, 29 seconds for the 7.6 km course. Martin Guest followed in a time of 34:54, while Allan MacKenzie just edged out Justin Lalanne for third place in 28:45. By division, Peter Googoo and Chrissy Smith were the top male and female in the under-19 division, Lalanne and Erin Forsey were tops in the 20-29 division, Corey Deveaux and Rebeeca Walker won the 30-39 division, Chris Milburn and Julie Curwin in the 40-49 division, Terry Morris and Judy Brufatto in the 50- 59 division, Martin Guest in the 60-69 division and Peter Hanna in the 70-and-over division.
• A crew of moustache-wearing recreational hockey players will hit the ice tonight at the Centennial Arena in Sydney for the second annual Mo Cup Hockey Game, a Movember fundraiser for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives. The Cape Breton Crustaches challenge the Flavor Savours starting at 7:30 p.m. Players have grown their moustaches this month and are securing donations. The game is open to the general public. Admission is a cash donation at the door. A Movember wrap up party will be held at Flavor 19 starting at 10 p.m.