A Newmarket champion both inside and outside the hockey arena is being recognized for a lifetime of dedication to the game and his community.
On Dec. 5, the Town of Newmarket unveiled a plaque dedicating the former Hurricanes dressing room at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex to Jim Wells Sr., in honour of his decades of leadership within the Newmarket hockey community and Newmarket itself.
In addition to the plaque, a mural showcasing significant events that have taken place at the Ray Twinney Complex from 1986 to present was also unveiled, showcasing Wells Sr.’s service with a front-and-centre placement of the stalwart coach himself.
Family, friends, members of Newmarket council, and hockey players of all ages were in attendance for the occasion at the recreation complex.
“Many people can leave fingerprints on a community, but they can only do that through incredible dedication and time and commitment. It’s a special person that can have that kind of lasting legacy. And Jim Wells is certainly one of those people in our community,” Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said at the cermony.
Wells Sr. has certainly left his mark on the community through the decades. Following the folding of the Newmarket Flyers Junior “A” team in 1986, Wells, alongside partners Charlie Macoun, Gerry Ertl, John Burt and Ken Storie, founded the Newmarket 87’s to fill the gap left behind.
Their motivation was not only to provide local hockey fans a place to play competitively, but to open up opportunities for their players to pursue their education through scholarships.
When the Newmarket 87’s rebranded as the Newmarket Hurricanes in 1997, Wells Sr. never left the team, creating countless opportunities for his players. He was responsible for creating the traditional Christmas Showcase Tournament, having Newmarket host the Dudley Hewitt Cup, and for welcoming travelling Russian hockey teams to town.
“My dad was a very fortunate man, and at 52, he decided that he was going to retire and create a hockey program in Newmarket. He turned that into his living, and never took a dime for it. He enjoyed it immensely,” said son Jim Wells Jr., who inherited his father’s love for the game as head coach of the Aurora Tigers and a former Hurricanes coach himself.
Wells Sr.’s contributions to Newmarket weren’t only in the hockey rink. Between 1995 and 2015, Wells Sr. and his clubs raised more than $215,000 for Southlake Hospital, and team members were often seen volunteering around town. Wells Sr. fostered excellence in his players both in and out of the jersey.
“It’s unfortunate my father can’t speak as well as he used to, but my sisters and I would like to say some words that we believe that my father would be saying right now,” said Wells Jr. “He would like to thank his wife, Alice, for all the years of support, scheduling family events around the 87’s and Hurricanes, and making sure that the three children, Heather, Lisa, and Jim Jr., became constant supporters and totally understood what volunteering was like in the community.”
Wells Jr. also thanked the Town of Newmarket, and everyone involved in the Newmarket hockey scene, past and present.
“We are so happy that our dad’s legacy will live on with this mural and this dedication.”
