Published Apr 27, 2025 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 5 minute readThe 1978-79 Greenwood Bombers bantam hockey team won the provincials for a third straight season and defended its Maritime title. Front row, from left, are Shawn Frank, John-Claude MacPherson, manager Wayne MacPherson and Craig Dill. Second row, Darren Lahey, Denis Slade, Darryl Whitlock, Scott Reid, Robert Tait and Paul Rawding. Third row, coach Ken Peach, Jerry Peach, Doug Leigh, Bob Houghton, Glen Clarke, Eric Morgan and coach Mark MacPherson. Missing was Jeff Gemmell. Photo by ContributedRetired NHL goalie Ken Wregget will be one of the first inductees into the new Kingston Greenwood Sports Hall of Fame.He is being inducted as an athlete and as part of two of the Greenwood Bombers bantam hockey teams from 1976-79.“He was obviously a key part of that team,” Hall of Fame committee member Don Hyslop said, referring to the 1976-77 squad. “He was playing underage. He was a peewee playing bantam hockey.”THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe inaugural class also includes Gerry MacMillan, the late Barbara McKeil, Ernie Hatfield Sr. and the 1977-1979 Greenwood Red Sox bantam girls’ softball team.“It sets a standard, I think, for future years,” co-chairperson Leo Glavine said of the 2025 inductees.The induction ceremony will be held Oct. 25 at the Kingston Fire Hall. Ticket details will soon be released. Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Ken Wregget makes a glove save as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kelly Fairchild looks for a rebound at Maple Leaf Gardens. Wregget is one of the first inductees in the Kingston Greenwood Sports Hall of Fame. Photo by Alex Urosevic /Toronto SunWreggetWregget, a Brandon, Man., native, moved with his family to the Annapolis Valley where his father worked at 14 Wing Greenwood. Wregget lived in Greenwood from when he was eight to 14 years old and played novice to bantam hockey.“His formative years in hockey were basically here,” explained Hyslop, who taught Wregget at Dwight Ross Junior High School.Article content“We were very fortunate here,” he added.“The kids who played sports in this area had a close connection to their schools, both West Kings and Dwight Ross, and a very close connection with their coaches and teammates. It was special in that regard.”Prior to high school, Wregget’s father was transferred to 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta. Wregget played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Broncos, was drafted in the third round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1982, competed for Canada at the 1984 world junior championship, played 17 seasons in the NHL for five teams and won the Stanley Cup in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Wregget, who now runs a sports bar in Bridgeville, Pa., is making plans to attend the induction ceremony.Article content“He wants to be here to meet former teammates and former people that he knew that were involved in his life,” said Hyslop, who shared the induction news with Wregget. “That was quite special.” Golfer Gerry MacMillan will be one of the first inductees into the new Kingston Greenwood Sports Hall of Fame in October. Photo by ContributedMacMillanMacMillan grew up in Wilmot and now lives in Kingston. He worked at Paragon Golf and Country Club in the village, including serving as the superintendent for 18 years.MacMillan won provincial titles at every level. Nationally, he finished second in juvenile and third in junior.“Gerry was dominant in amateur golf in Nova Scotia,” Hyslop said.MacMillan won seven Nova Scotia amateur championships from 1977 to 1998 and was second six times. He was part of the provincial team 19 times between 1972 and 2001.He was named Nova Scotia’s golfer of the year four times and was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.Article content“His place in our province, he’s up there with the best,” Glavine said, calling MacMillan humble and a gentleman. “Gerry has been a great role model and an inspiration for many.”McKeilMcKeil was a multi-sport athlete, including curling and softball, but was most well-known for her accomplishments on the golf course.“She represented Nova Scotia in competition in every province in Canada,” Hyslop said.McKeil won 23 ladies championships at her home course of Paragon, made the province’s ladies amateur team three times and the senior squad nine times.McKeil made the Nova Scotia women’s all-star softball team in 1956, was on the 1971 Maritime provinces bowling team, won numerous curling bonspiels in western Nova Scotia and was successful on the stock car track.Article contentShe died in 2022 at the age of 86.HatfieldHatfield was a coach and well-known softball and baseball umpire.He started umpiring in 1958 and called his last out in 2020 when he worked three games of baseball for the commercial league in Yarmouth.Glavine talked to pitchers who raved about having him behind the plate.“They spoke about Ernie and his consistency, game in, game out; year in, year out,” he shared. “He had that feel for the game.”Hatfield umpired nationals, provincials and zones in three provinces and for 10 years was umpire-in-chief for the Annapolis Valley, stretching from Windsor to Digby.Red SoxThe under-15 Red Sox grew out of the Dwight Ross school team that was a dominant force in Western Nova Scotia.Article content“We decided to test them against the provincial competition,” said Hyslop, who coached the team. “To buy uniforms, the girls picked strawberries as soon as school got out.”The team registered with the provincial association in 1977 and defeated the Halifax Jollimore squad 2-0 in the best-of-three provincial final with both games being decided by one run.“That was the closest competition (we) had in 2.5 years,” Hyslop said.The team repeated as provincial champs in 1978 to qualify for the first Eastern Canadian championship in 1979. Greenwood hosted the New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador representatives and won all four of its games in the double round robin to be crowned champs.“I had girls that were extremely talented athletes. They were good in multiple sports,” Hyslop said of the fundamentally sound team.Article content“That first year, because we didn’t have very many teams to play, we practised hard (and) we got boys in the area to group up and play us in pickup games.”During a 2.5-year stretch, the girls went 32-0 against their age group and won an under-16 and an under-20 tournament. Its only loss during that time was to a senior women’s team.BombersThe Bombers dynasty saw the Greenwood squad win three straight provincial championships from 1976 to 1979 and Maritime titles in 1978 and 1979.“They were playing as high a level of bantam you could play,” explained Hyslop.So what made them so special?“They had excellent coaching and they had excellent talent,” Hyslop said. “Kenny (Wregget) played goal for two of the three teams, which solidified them in nets.”Article contentAl Pickering, John Connors, Mark MacPherson and Ken Peach coached the team, which was managed by Wayne MacPherson.Greenwood won the provincials in 1976. In 1977, half of the team returned and they won again, advancing to the first Maritime championship, where they were also victorious. They repeated the following season.Need to knowThe first class of the Kingston Greenwood Sports Hall of Fame is comprised of:Ken Wregget, hockey.Gerry MacMillan, golf.Barbara McKeil, golf, curling, softball.Ernie Hatfield Sr., umpire and coach.1976-1979 Greenwood Bombers bantam hockey team.1977-1979 Greenwood Red Sox bantam girls’ softball team.Article content
First class sets standard for Kingston Greenwood Sports Hall of Fame
