The man largely responsible for keeping Junior ‘A’ hockey in Bridgewater has died.
Ken Petrie passed away on Wednesday.
He was a familiar face in the community with his involvement in the former senior hockey league in Bridgewater and as former owner of the Lumberjacks.
Petrie stepped up to purchase the club in 2009 after it was in danger of leaving.
He owned the team until late 2014.
David Walker served as the team’s governor and says Petrie was passionate about hockey.
“His belief in junior hockey in the South Shore area was very, very evident. If it hadn’t been for Ken, we would have lost Junior ‘A’ hockey a number of years ago.”
Walker says it’s ironic that the day Petrie died the Lumberjacks achieved their biggest accomplishment as a franchise, advancing to the division final for the first time.
He says Petrie wanted to see the Junior ‘A’ franchise succeed in Bridgewater.
A moment of silence in honour of Petrie will be held at the next Lumberjacks home playoff game.
A number of people also took to social media to express their condolences:
