Broad first recipient of McCrory award

Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament hands out awards to volunteers

Doug Broad shared a lot in common with the late Don McCrory.

Like McCrory, Broad gave many hours to refereeing hockey and shared a similar personality on the ice. It’s why Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament organizers selected Broad the first recipient of the Don McCrory Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to officiating and mentoring of young officials.

He was recognized during the PLAHT’s annual awards presentation at the Canadian Canoe Museum on Wednesday night.

Tournament chairman and longtime referee Dan McNamee said he and officiating supervisors Mike Dennis and Paul Legacy came up with the idea to honour Mr. McCrory who died in June 2017.

“Don was a great mentor and is very deeply missed,” McNamee said.

“We wanted to honour someone who has put a lot into the program and has been a good mentor to a lot of referees. Everyone likes Doug and liked to referee with him. He just had this calmness even when things were hairy scary. That’s what Don was like. He was one of those people who was unflappable. He brought a calm to the game and was someone you could talk to. Doug was always beloved when he was refereeing in his heyday. He made sense to be the initial recipient.”

Five individuals and four sponsors were added to the PLAHT Wall of Honour.

Drew Casey, son of longtime chairman Steve Casey, has volunteered since he was a child. Cousins Rita O’Brien and Andy O’Brien were recognized for years of volunteer work at the Douro arena. Bruce Payne has helped at the Keene arena for two decades. Linda Gall has served as secretary/treasurer for five years. Jeff Skinner has looked after the tourney program and Lakefield arena for five years.

Sponsors recognized included Canadian Hockey Enterprises, Canadian Instrumentation Services Ltd. Group, Craftworks and Package Plus.

Tournament officials also presented two awards announced last week. The Frank Lustic Memorial Award for meritorious service went to Mr. Lustic’s son Darrel. The Steve Casey Volunteer Award was shared by longtime trainers and tournament volunteers Jim Burchell and Bill Ainsworth.

The Lindsay Muskies Atom Black team was recognized for winning Tuesday’s PLAHT Skills Competition.

The 114-team tournament runs Thursday to Sunday at all local arenas.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT EXAMINER Recipient Doug Broad receives a new award called the Don McCrory Memorial Referees Award next to Sarah McCrory, her mother Joan, son Evan and Paul Legacy, left, and Mike Dennis from the tournament committee during the annual Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament awards ceremony on Wednesday night at the Canadian Canoe Museum. See more photos from the awards night at www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com.