By Randy Schultz, NYHOL
Photos by Janet Schultz, NYHOL
LOCKPORT, NY — The Howell Motors Ford Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was recently inducted with a formal ceremony held at the Cornerstone Arena.
Mike Landers with Master of Ceremonies Randy Schultz
Hall of Fame Chairman, Mike Landers, opened the evenings activities with a welcome.
“Three categories are being honored this year including coaches, contributors and players,” said Landers. “And this year a new category, Team of Distinction, is being introduced.”
Special guest speaker at the dinner was Rip Simonick, long time equipment manager for the Buffalo Sabres.
The following were honored in their respective category:
COACHES:
NORTON KINSLEY —
Norton Kinsley has the distinction of being the head coach of teams that made New York State tournaments every year he coached until 1991.
BOB SHAW –
Shaw began coaching at the Kenan Arena. With successful assistant coaches including Walt Kowka, Jim Gifford and Rick Chapman, Shaw began his successful coaching career in Lockport.
Shaw got to coach some of Lockport’s finest players including Charlie Heinrich, Tom Dockery, John Walsh, Brian Smith, Jim Bedford, Don Tuttle, Mark Kahle, among others.
CONTRIBUTORS:
IGNATIUS “IGGY” TARAJOS –
“Iggy” has dedicated his life to the ice, no matter if he was playing, creating the perfect ice rink surface or overseeing operations in some of this country’s most iconic arenas.
From his early years at the Kenan Center in 1969 to his current role with the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken, Iggy’s passion for ice and unique career path have helped shape the world of rink operations and professional hockey.
HEINRICH CHEVROLET –
David Heinrich came to Lockport in 1966 after purchasing Al Morgan Chevrolet. In 1969 he built the current location of Heinrich Chevrolet on Transit Road in Lockport.
A community minded person, Heinrich sponsored various sports teams over the years. This included youth and men’s hockey teams.
DAN O’BRIEN –
Dan was a hockey dad. His son played high school hockey for Starpoint High School. His daughter, Natalie, played modified hockey with the Starpoint boys team for one year because there wasn’t another option for her to play for her school.
Talking with Natalie, it was felt there had to be a way to make a girl’s high school hockey team happen at Starpoint. Leading the way, Dan and the group he organized, made it happen.
That team today is known as the Niagara County Girls Varsity High School Ice Hockey Team.
WILLIAM KENAN, JR. –
Nancy J. Cable Ph.D. accepting for Kenan
William R. Kenan, Jr. was said to be a man of vision. It is believed that what became the Kenan Center Ice Rink was one of those visions.
In the early 1960s ice hockey in Lockport was played in the parks and was called “Park Hockey.” When hockey game results were published in the local newspaper on Park Hockey, each story would end with the suggestion, “there is a dire need for an indoor hockey rink in Lockport.”
Mr. Kenan’s philanthropic measures made sure that happened.
Nancy Cable, executive director of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust accepted the Hall of Fame honor for the late Mr. Kenan.
JIM LORENTZ –
Rip Simonick accepting for Jim Lorenz
Lorentz is best remembered in Western New York for his days as a player with the Buffalo Sabres. In the Lockport area he is remembered for his days spent at the Kenan Center Ice Arena as an instructor with the Sabres summer hockey school.
That was followed by a career as a color commentator for Sabres broadcasts. Simonick accepted the award on behalf of Lorentz, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
TEAM OF DISTINCTION –
1981-82 LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY TEAM:
One of the 3 Captains
From an opening 10-3 win over Ken-West to a final 5-1 win over Tottenville to win the New York State High School Club Hockey Championship, the 1981-82 Lockport Club Hockey Lions had an exciting season.
Compiling an overall record of 34-3-7, the young squad finished first in the league and then went on to become State Champions after a first place finish at Leisure Rinks in Orchard Park, NY.
Captain of the team, Dave Watson, accepted on behalf of the team. During his acceptance speech he called up several other members of the team.
PLAYERS:
JOHN WALSH, JR. –
John Walsh Sr. accepts for his son.
John Walsh, Jr’s love of hockey began around the age of five with Mite hockey. He eventually moved up with Squirt and Bantam hockey.
Walsh played high school hockey from 1983-84 as well as floor hockey at the Kenan Center. As a player he was known for his checking and slap shots.
Unfortunately, John passed away in 2019. Accepted on his behalf was his dad, John Sr. (Jack).
DOMINIC DOCKERY –
TJ accepts for both he and his brother
Dominic has had a lengthy hockey career, with it’s share of ups and downs. It began with his amateur days in Lockport and has continued to his pro career, now playing in his fourth season with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.
T.J. DOCKERY –
Following his amateur and pro hockey career, TJ became a hockey on-ice official the year after he retired as a player. He is currently a lineman in the American Hockey League (AHL) as well as the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). His main focus right now is to become an official in the NHL.
RYAN NEIDRAUER –
Ryan Neidrauer with his helper
Ryan was born and raised in Lockport. He built a life centered around his deep love for hockey, his family and his community and not necessarily in that order.
MARK PALMER –
Mark’s love for hockey began at the age of five. While watching a Sabres game on TV Mark asked his dad what the game was all about. The response was, “Whoever puts the puck in the net the most wins.”
Mark then said, “I want to be the one to stop the other team from putting the puck in my net.” Thus, a goalie was born.
And what a goaltending career Mark has had.
TRACY MCNITT –
As a young boy of five, Tracy lost his hand in a lawn mower accident. His parents were not going to let this setback deter their son in any way.
It was at this point that skating, along with attending Buffalo Sabres games as season ticket holders, that his parents put him into squirt hockey at the Kenan Center. This decision started a lifelong love of hockey and shaped the person Tracy would become the rest of his life.
TERRY STRIFFLER –
Accepting for Terry, Jim Musco
When Terry began skating at the Kenan Center is when his love for the game really took off. He started playing Bantams, Midgets and Juniors, along with playing with the Lockport High School hockey team.
And he was always in goal. That was the most natural place for him to be and he enjoyed many seasons doing his best to stop the opposing team from scoring.
DR. ERIC RICHARDS –
Dr. Eric Richards began skating in response to his father falling in love with hockey as an adult. The Buffalo Sabres helped, as did Lanny McDonald and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Richards came up through the ranks of youth hockey, to Jr. hockey, college hockey to adult hockey leagues. Even an eye injury suffered in adult hockey, along with some other injuries, didn’t stop him.
His love for the game continues to this day.
Hockey Hall of Famers
