North Bay Coaching legend honored by OHL

Owen Sound - The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Bert Templeton has been honoured with the Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service.

Templeton passed away on December 5, 2003 at the age of 63 after a lifetime of dedication to the game of hockey and to the young men who played it in the Ontario Hockey League. He will be long remembered in North Bay as the most successful coach to stand behind the bench of the Centennials during their 20 year tenure in the city.

His widow Sandi Templeton accepted the award during a special ceremony today in Owen Sound.

The second winningest coach in OHL history, Templeton’s 907 career regular season victories rank him only behind Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Kilrea of the Ottawa 67’s, who has more than 1,000 wins and is still coaching.

Templeton started his OHL coaching career with the Hamilton Fincups in 1974, winning a Memorial Cup with them two seasons later. He also coached in Niagara Falls, North Bay, Barrie and Sudbury in his 26 seasons in the OHL, spending 12 years in North Bay and winning the OHL championship there in 1994.

Templeton was the OHL Coach of the Year in 1975 and 1994 and won the OHL Executive of the Year Award in 1992 and again in 1996. His team’s won eight division championships and he also coached Canada’s national junior team as well.

The Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service is presented in recognition and appreciation of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the OHL. The recipient must be or have been actively engaged in Junior Hockey.

The Award was initiated in 1989 to commemorate the efforts and contributions of Bill Long during his days in the Ontario Hockey League, spanning over three decades as a coach and manager of the Niagara Falls Flyers, Ottawa 67’s and London Knights.

Previous Recipients of the Bill Long Award

1989 – Alec Campagnaro, Guelph Platers
1989 – Earl Montagano, Ottawa 67’s
1990 – Sherwood Bassin, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
1992 – Herb Warr, Peterborough Petes
1993 – Dr. Robert L. Vaughan, Belleville Bulls
1994 – Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67’s
1997 – Frank Bonello, Toronto Marlboros
1997 – Wren Blair, Kingston Frontenacs
2002 – Jim Lever, OHL
2002 – Jack Ferguson, OHL
2003 – Norm Bryan, Peterborough Petes

With Files from OHL