Joe Tookenay
| Joe Tookenay | |
|---|---|
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1950–at least 1967 |
Joe Tookenay was a hockey player, coach, official, and administrator who served as the president of the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association. Joe Tookenay was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 as a builder.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Joe Tookenay was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 28 September 1996 in the builder category for hockey.[1]
Career and service
Joe Tookenay began playing Hockey at the age of seven in Schreiber. Between 1950 and 1967, he competed for various teams along the north shore of Lake Superior, including squads in Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Nipigon, and Red Rock. He also spent two seasons as a member of the Fort William Hurricanes. Later in his playing career, he participated in old-timer hockey in Nipigon until 1984, when he retired from active play to focus on his off-ice roles.[1]
When his sons entered minor hockey, Tookenay transitioned into coaching. He started at the Tom Thumb level and progressed through the ranks to the Juvenile division, frequently managing two different teams during a single season. During his inaugural year as a Juvenile coach, he guided his team to a district title. This victory earned the squad the right to represent the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association at the western championships.[1]
In addition to coaching, Tookenay was a prominent figure in sports administration. He served two separate terms as the president of the Nipigon Minor Hockey Association, first from 1971 to 1974 and again from 1982 to 1984. In 1984, he joined the executive of the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association as the East Zone Director. He subsequently held roles as the convenor for both Senior and Junior hockey and acted as the branch representative for the Centennial Cup.[1]
In 1995, Tookenay reached the position of president of the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association. His long-term commitment to the sport was recognized on a national level in 1996 when the Canadian Hockey Association presented him with the Order of Merit.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1950–at least 1967) rests on the following dated evidence. He played two seasons with the Fort William Hurricanes during his playing career which spanned from 1950 to 1967.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Dedicated over 40 years to hockey as a player, coach, referee, and administrator
- Coached a Juvenile team to a district championship and a berth in the western championships
- Served as President of the Nipigon Minor Hockey Association from 1971-74 and 1982-84
- Elected President of the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association in 1995
- Received the Canadian Hockey Association Order of Merit in 1996[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Joe Tookenay", builder profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/builder-profile/b20202f6-2c6d-4754-8a2c-7f5e362b1291 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.