2001 Inductees
1962 Berwick Tug-of-war Team Nova Scotia Champions
The road to a Tug-of-War championship really began early in 1947, on a Saturday morning when Jim Patterson drove down to P.L Morse's. Interested in strength and conditioning, Jim thought he would like to apply these characteristics to the art of pulling tug-of-war. Morse gave his commitment and what followed was a rigorous schedule of training, practicing twice a week, maintaining jobs, raising families, and participating in a tug-of-war league that would follow the Fall exhibitions of Nova Scotia. Patterson was described as a man who "wanted what he wanted" - things done his way, very dedicated, always the first to practice and a man who practiced what he preached!
Berwick "Three - Stars" 1933 - 1936 Western Nova Scotia Junior Hockey Champions
In 1933 shortly after the first arena was opened in Berwick . local sports promoter Art Robinson saw the need to develop the talents of a number of gifted local junior hockey players through stronger competition. Soon he had assembled a strong squad of skaters who quickly became a fast-skating and highly competitive team. The Three-Stars featured many players whose names are quite familiar to Berwick residents today — Glen Dakin, Earle and Vic Robinson, Roland Woodworth, Lester and Orley Bligh, John Hiltz — to name but a few. A number of strong intermediate and senior players actually had their competitive start with this junior team including Orlay Bligh, inducted into the Berwick Sports Hall of Fame during the first year of selection. The unusual name for the team was derived from the manager Art Robinson's employer — Standard Oil whose topselling product at the time was "Three Star gasoline".
1956 - 57 Berwick Apple Kings Nova Scotia And Maritime Junior Hockey Champions
In 1956-57, a group of widely recruited junior hockey players, playing as a Berwick-based team, accomplished what no other Annapolis Valley junior team had done before — winning the Nova Scotia and Maritime Junior Hockey Championships. Local businessman W.B.(Bill) Wilson and physician Dr. R.A. Moreash, well-known hockey promoters, recruited a team of the best junior hockey players from throughout the Valley and collegiate level to play under the name of the Berwick AppleKings wearing the famous colours of the Boston Bruins. Under the guidance of Coach Gerald White and managers, George Langille and Jack Murphy, the AppleKings proved to be a powerhouse. The AppleKings exhibited a good balance of speed, size, offense and defense and were said in the local press to "display a good brand of hockey". Although Berwick was home base, the AppleKings also played "home games" in a number of other Valley rinks particularly during the run to the championship in order to accommodate more fans.
Burns Wesley Pierce 1868 — 1944 (Special Recognition)
It is doubtful that many of the people who evert regular patrons of Pierce's Bowling Alley and Pool Hall on Mill Street during the the 1920's and 30's knew what an illustrious athlete the owner had been before moving to Berwick. Burns Wesley Pierce at the turn of the century had been one of the most famous and gifted competitors in the demanding sport of endurance bicycle racing — one of the most popular spectator sports during the 1890's and early part of the 1900's.
Arthur Ward Robinson 1881-1940
Berwick has had a long and storied sports history extending well back to the earliest years of the twentieth century. However it may be no exaggeration to claim that sports first became a well established and important part of the life of Berwick because of the near coincidence of two events — the completion of the first covered arena in 1929/30 and the arrival of Arthur Robinson in Berwick.
Gerald Mckenna Morse
Often in a small community, the true sports heroes, and those who really have the greatest impact, quietly carry out their responsibilities and duties, without any concern for personal glory or praise. Such a person is Gerald Morse. It has been said of Gerald that, as a coach, he could get more out of any hockey player that any other coach. Winning was never the most important thing to Gerald but rather the opportunity for all his players to play, improve and enjoy their experiences. Not only has Gerald enjoyed a reputation for being an excellent coach, well schooled in the fundamentals, but, more importantly he has had a huge influence on several generations of players and other coaches.
John Phillip Prall
It is extremely difficult — if not impossible — to adequately summarize on a single page the career of a man who has dedicated over 30 years of his life to athletics in the Berwick area — especially when the man is so modest and unassuming that he doesn't even bother to keep accurate records of his accomplishments.