2007 Inductees
Harold James Palmer “young Palmer” (Special Recognition)
Harold Palmer was born in Annapolis County in 1896 and moved to the Berwick area in the thirties. In the early 1900’s, however, he made his way to the New England States to make his fame and fortune. He settled in Waltham, Mass. – the watch city. Word spread quickly about his boxing ability. The local newspaper described him as “elusive as an eel and resembling a human kangaroo with his jumping style. He could ‘give it’ and ‘take it’ – strong assets for patted mitt gladiators.” Matchmaker John McCarthy Murphy brought Harold to a “smoke talk” at Casino A.C. to show his wares. Soon every manager in New England was after the Waltham welterweight; however, it was Larry Amann who emerged as “Young Palmer’s” manager.
1995 Berwick White Sox Bantam Baseball Team
n 1995 the Berwick White Sox Bantam Baseball Team brought the Provincial "C" Championship title to Berwick.
The team was comprised of local fourteen and fifteen year-olds who had advanced through the Berwick Minor Baseball Association together. Their play together had taught each player exactly what each others’ skills and abilities were and they accepted and respected what each could bring to the team. Their coaches describe them as an exceptional group of gifted athletes who combined a spirit of co-operation with an uncanny ability to read the play during games. When the chips were down and it mattered most, someone always came through with the big hit or the great catch to bring them back into the game. They worked hard at developing their skills in practices and each player knew his or her role on the team and, as a result, the team exuded confidence. Team spirit was always boosted by their parents, who were their biggest fans. They cheered them on at games and supported them financially.
Rod Dorey
Rod Dorey was born in Berwick in 1946. His family moved to New Brunswick when he was two years old and he stayed there for the next ten years. His introduction to sports was playing pond hockey and baseball with his older brothers. When he signed up for Pee Wee baseball in Black’s Harbour, he was five foot ten inches tall and was sent home to get identification to prove he was only ten years old. He went on to become the league’s top hitter and pitcher. At age twelve, the family moved back to Nova Scotia, settling first in Waterville, where softball and hockey were very popular at the time. With the coming of artificial ice in Berwick, a Boy Scout Hockey League was formed and the Waterville Scouts, led by Rod, won the league championship. The softball league followed the next summer and the Waterville Scouts once again won the championship. Rod led in pitching and hitting.
Brian MacAskill
Brian was born in Cowansville, Quebec in 1960. He was introduced to sports at an early age by his Acadia Hockey Hall of Fame father, John. In Quebec Minor Hockey, he represented the Town of Waterloo, Quebec at the prestigious Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament, finishing as silver medalist in his final year.
Larry R. Morse
In the mid 1980’s senior hockey in Nova Scotia had returned to the level of play and popularity not seen since the 1960’s. The Windsor Schooners were one of the top teams in the league and Berwick’s Larry Morse was one of their top players.
Larry started playing hockey in the Berwick minor system at the age of four. He developed an effortless skating style with deceptive speed. Larry is considered “strong on the puck with an uncanny ability to find the back of the net”. He was always called on to score the goals. In the Juvenile regional finals against West Pubnico, Larry scored all five Berwick goals including the winner in overtime to advance the locals to the Provincial Final Four. In that championship he was the tournament top scorer and was named first team all-star.
Paul L. Ward
Paul was born in Weston into a sports-minded family. One sport they especially enjoyed was hockey. In those days everybody joined including family, farm workers, and warehouse people. They were all eager to play on an outdoor rink or a frozen meadow. Paul’s family had a store in Weston with an attached room. In between customers, Paul would scoot in and shoot a rubber ball at a paint can cover that was nailed at the other end of the room. The result was a very hard and accurate shot.