JACK MCKENZIE
Date of Birth: 1942-05-20Date of Induction: 2024
When Jack Mckenzie first got involved with coaching baseball, football and hockey in River Heights during the early 1960s, he had no idea at the time that his efforts would eventually influence thousands of young athletes.
Jack would become a familiar face around River Heights community centre. In addition to coaching and mentoring the young club members, he served in several volunteer roles and as club president.
After guiding several hockey teams to success, he realized that upon graduation from Juvenile hockey, the only opportunity players at that age had to continue playing competitively was at the Junior A level in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
For some players, the practice and travel schedule commitment of Junior A hockey, coupled with school studies, was too much to handle. Jack was convinced that an alternative option was needed.
He found groups from Fort Garry, Charleswood, and Stonewall with a common desire in providing players an opportunity to continue playing at a competitive level while managing work or school schedules.
Together with those groups, and soon to be joined by teams from Portage la Prairie and St. James, a Junior 'B' league was formed with Jack elected as the new loop's first President.
Working with a dedicated group of volunteers he struck deals for rinks to play in, found officials to work the games, handled scheduling, marketing, chaired league meetings, handled suspensions, public relations, and worked tirelessly towards growing the league.
Unwilling to bend to pressure from the MJHL to become Junior A farm teams, the new league thumbed its nose at the MAHA, toyed with rules and even allowed its teams to carry overage players that first year
Unable to come to an agreement with the MAHA and CAHA, the new 'outlaw' league became the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League.
Jack would step down as President after 6 years, but kept a watchful eye as the league nursed its bumps and bruises and gained acceptance growing across the city and into rural Manitoba. Today, the MMJHL is 10 teams strong and league champions receive the Jack Mckenzie Trophy.
Through his work, Jack Mckenzie gave thousands of young athletes an opportunity to stay in the game.