Harold MacKay’s vision more than 16 years ago has landed him a spot in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame.
MacKay, who is widely considered the founder of the Halifax Mooseheads, was announced yesterday as part of the QMJHL’s 2011 class of inductees as a builder.
In 1994, the Louisburg native played a major role in convincing both the QMJHL and local investors that a team in Halifax — the first of its kind in the Maritimes — would be profitable.
“There was so much risk in the beginning,” MacKay recalled. “Everyone was skeptical about the idea. But we did it and it worked … It was satisfying to see it all come together.”
The Mooseheads set league attendance records in 1994-95 and the rest is history. There is now a six-team Maritime Division.
MacKay, who won the John Horman Trophy in 1997 as QMJHL administrator of the year, said he was “shocked” when he received the call from the QMJHL and “overwhelmed” by the honour.
– For MacKay’s thoughts on present-day Mooseheads attendance, visit Matthew Wuest’s Q Files blog at www.metronews.ca/qfiles.
