Posted: 08 May 2009
Source: NewsDurhamRegion.com
Apr 29, 2009 - 11:49 AM By Brian McNair {img:3|right}OSHAWA -- Oshawa has lost a true 'hockey guy'. Cliff Maddock, an Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame inductee for his work with minor hockey and the junior Legionaires, passed away Monday at the age of 85. Peter Vipond, who worked alongside Maddock for 17 years with the Oshawa Legionaires, remembered him fondly on Tuesday. "Great guy," were Vipond's first words. "So many people get in hockey these days for the wrong reasons, and Cliff was in it for the right reasons, no question. He was there for the kids. He was as competitive as anybody, wanted to win as much as anybody, but when it was all said and done, it was about helping the kids. That was the bottom line." Maddock first became involved with Oshawa Minor Hockey in 1950 and served as president from 1962 to 1966. He became a director for the Jr. B Oshawa Crushmen in 1965 and remained actively involved when they became the Legionaires in 1972 right through to 2006, when they were sold and became the Durham (now Whitby) Fury. He was president of the franchise for much of its existence, first from 1970 through 1989, then again from 1996 to the time it was sold. Among the honours that came his way were the Golden Stick Award from the Ontario Hockey Association, the Mel Bradley Award from Oshawa Minor, two outstanding service awards from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and induction into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. "He was just a hockey guy," Vipond summed up. Predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Mary, Maddock leaves behind two children, their spouses and a grandson. The family will receive friends at the Mount Lawn Reception Centre in Whitby on Thursday, April 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Chapel service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Interment Mount Lawn Memorial Gardens.
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