Hockey Nova Scotia is proud to announce that Dartmouth's Alvin Anstey has been awarded Hockey Nova Scotia Life Membership.

Hockey Nova Scotia Life Membership is the highest honour that may be bestowed by the branch and is to be awarded only for very distinctive services to the association.

For more than 40 years, Alvin devoted himself to the development and advancement of junior hockey in our province.

Alvin became involved in the game for the same reason thousands of others do: he was a fan and just wanted to be part of the action. His first role was as a statistician for the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League in 1977. One year later he was named league vice-president, and two seasons after that, president.

As the driving force behind the establishment of the Nova Scotia Junior C Hockey League and the enhancement of the existing Junior B league, Alvin demonstrated innovation and a clear vision for advancing junior hockey at the grassroots level in Nova Scotia. The ongoing successes of both leagues can be directly attributed to Alvin. He recognized that Nova Scotia was populated with homegrown players who had the potential to prolong their hockey career at an organized, competitive level. He wanted them to have the chance to continue developing both individually and as part of a team.

The popularity of these leagues can be traced back to Alvin’s endless work mobilizing and directing hundreds of his fellow volunteers to provide opportunities for youth in Nova Scotia to play hockey.

Alvin always put the interests of those who step on the ice first. For years the Maritime Junior A Hockey League was considered a win-at-all costs league. Alvin made it his mission to help change that way of thinking. He oversaw the league’s transition to a true junior development league, providing opportunities for players to continue their hockey and personal development and move on to higher levels of play.

Alvin was instrumental in the growth and sustainability of the Don Johnson Memorial Cup, the Junior B championship for Atlantic Canada, as well as the development and implementation of the Maritime/Hockey North Junior C Championship.

During his long term as Junior Council Chair with Hockey Nova Scotia, Alvin played a hands-on role, visiting each team in the branch multiple times a year to listen to their concerns and see their successes.

Sadly, health issues forced Alvin to step aside from his position as Junior Council Chair during the 2019-20 season. Whether it was in that role or in his previous positions with junior organizations like East Hants, Scotia, or Dartmouth, Alvin always had a reputation as someone you seek for support and guidance.

Held in the highest regard not only by those who have had the pleasure of working with him but also by those who only know him by name, Alvin has been an exemplary example of a dedicated volunteer.

We are proud to present Alvin with this honour and we thank him for his years of service to our sport.

Thank you, Alvin.