Sports

Heritage Celebration brings players home

August 23, 2017   ·   0 Comments

Jim Rutherford, General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, receives the Jim Milligan Memorial Heritage Award from Nancy Milligan during the Beeton Heritage Celebration on Aug. 20. Many former players returned to Beeton for the Celebration with recognized former players who grew up in Beeton or played hockey there.

By Brian Lockhart

Looking around a packed room full of local residents, former residents, family and friends, it’s easy to see the impact that growing up in Beeton had on many people – especially those that were, and are a part of the town’s rich sports history.
The Aug. 20 Beeton Heritage Celebration took place in the upstairs hall of the Community Centre and it was standing room only by the time everyone arrived.
Over 30 former players were represented at the event showcasing Beeton’s great success in the 1950s in senior and junior hockey. This including more than a dozen former players who are now in their mid to late ‘80s and were on 1952 and 1956 senior teams as well as the 1953 and 1954 junior teams.
Inducted to the Beeton Wall of Fame were Bruce Gould, and John Rutherford.
Five former hockey players received the Jim Milligan Memorial Heritage Award.
Jim Rutherford, now a Beeton hockey legend, is currently the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Previously he had long career as a goalie in the NHL playing 457 games.
Rutherford led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup championship in 2016 and 2017, and also led the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup win in 2006.
John Gould played over 500 games in his NHL career with Vancouver, Atlanta, and Buffalo.
Gould retired after playing 52 games with the Buffalo Sabres in the 1979-80 season.
Larry Gould began his career playing in the OHA for the Hamilton Red Wings and Niagara Falls Flyers. He played two games for the Vancouver Canucks before finishing his career in the IHL.
Warren Holmes started with the Ottawa 67s in the OHA and his team went the Memorial Cup final in 1977. After playing with the Saginaw Gears in the IHL, Mr. Holmes went on to play in three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.
Holmes arrived from his current home in Texas to receive his award.
Wayne Carleton played junior hockey with the Toronto Marlboros. He then went on to an NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and the California Golden Seals. Carleton was a member of the 1969-70 Bruins Stanley Cup winning team.
The event provided an opportunity for residents to reminisce and meet some friends not seen for a while. But maybe even more importantly it provided an opportunity to experience the success of athletics in Beeton.

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