The Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Heritage Award, Jay Anderson.
Jay started his minor hockey journey at the Memorial arena in 1972, with his Mom, Joan, who would avoid the hill corner of Guelph and Mill, due to a standard car. After a year in 4Town Jay made the move to Rep in Major PeeWee. After a year as a Georgetown Rebel, his competitive playing days culminated in 1987/88 season with the Jr B Georgetown Geminis.
Jay began coaching Bantam house league with his lifelong friend Kevin Hughes in the 1984. After playing with the Gemini, Jay landed an assistant role under Peter Sturgeon, with the Jr. A Raiders from 88/90 and then with Brandon University from 1990-92, only to return to the Raiders for 1992-94 seasons.
Jay got his first chance to Head Coach for the Oakville Blades in 1994/95. As coaching was taking off, Jay married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Pries in 1996, who was no stranger to the hockey life. Jay made his return to Georgetown in 1997/98 as Head Coach. All coaches are hired to be fired and Jay was no diļ¬erent in that regard, being let go after 20 games with a young Raider team, only to return the next season with the team,under new General manager Jack Moon. The 1999/00season found the team in first place, for the first time in franchise history, but still Jay was let go in November. Jay was immediately hired by the Oakville Blades in December and finished in 8th place, only to face his Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. Jay stayed in Oakville for 4 seasons, winning OHA Western Division Coach of the Year in 2001-2002. Jay came back to Georgetown for the 2005/06season. After an ownership change in Georgetown, he was hired to coach the Mississauga Chargers for four years and then the Villanova Knights. Many times Jay designed jerseys and logos for teams he coached, an art passion he gained from his dad, Bob.
Jay was a coach and evaluator for several OMHA, OHAand Team Ontario (U17) camps from 1992-99, Jay was hired to be a minor scout for the Calgary Flames, of the National Hockey League, from 2001-2006.
Tangled within all of these commitments, Jay has been a high school hockey coach for over 20 years.
In 2002 Jay became the President of the Halton HillsHockey League on Sunday mornings, and continues to this day providing a place for Georgetown players to have a competitive league to play, in their own backyard.
Jay was involved with the Task Force to help determine the future direction of arenas in Halton Hills and continues to serve as an active member of the Hockey Heritage Council as well as being the Chair of the GHHC Old Timers Tournament.
The Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council is proud to acknowledge the contributions from this worthy recipient, Jay Anderson.
The 2023 Hockey Heritage Dinner to honour this recipient will take place on Wednesday September 27, 2023, 7:00pm at the Norval United Church.
Ticket information to follow.
Please direct any inquires to the Georgetown HockeyHeritage Council, ghhc2023@gmail.com |