J. Howard Carey
Howard Carey, an induction nominee in the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame, September 12th, Maxville, may be fittingly classed as a descendant of Glengarry’s cradle of athletes, Williamstown and area.
Although Howard Carey was born in Summerstown, a son of Howard Carey sr. and his wife the former Donalda McIntosh, at the age of five he became the ward of his aunt, Mrs. O’Shea, due to the demise of his parents.
Mrs. O’Shea operated the store in Williamstown at the location of Alex MacDonald’s present grocery outlet. It was from here that Howard Carey attended public school and played his first hockey on the river beside the store. Under the fatherly tutelage of Williamstown’s beloved high school principal, “Wellie” Barrett, Howard Carey developed his athletic skills in hockey, football, track and field.
In the depression years of the ‘30’s, hockey was played on open air rinks with the exception of the new Jubilee Arena in Maxville. That was the era that Howard Carey moved up from “River Shinny” to organized hockey.
In football, too, Howard recalls that Williamstown high school, coached by “Wellie” Barrett, was the Glengarry pioneer of the school game. They defeated Cornwall Collegiate, 13-0 in an exhibition game, Saturday, October 12, 1935. Among the players, in recollection were: Archie and Howard McDonald, Ernie Larocque, John McBain, Lloyd McRae and Norman Cumming, With the outbreak of World War Two, Howard Carey joined the RCAF and first played with the Winnipeg hockey team. In 1944-45 Howard was in England and played with the Wellesbourne (RCAF) team with the Birmingham arena their home ice.
Back home in 1947, Howard Carey attended the training camp of Cornwall Cougars of the Quebec Senior Provincial League from N.H.L. After playing the first few games Howard, now age 30, retired in favor of “younger legs.”
Howard Carey, stellar defence player, the next few winters were spent with Finch, Maxville and Lancaster. Along with several Cornwall players the Finch team was champions of the Central Ottawa Valley League, 1948. Among the club members were Father M. J. O’Brien, Henry Payette, D.A., Melvin and Clifford Ouderkirk, Orville “Farmer” Graham, F. Markell and W.A. Fortin, president.
Next year Howard Carey paired on Maxville defence with Ottawa’s Gordie Pantalone, the Massena Archambault brothers, Benny MacDonell, “Peewee” Larabie, H. and D. Ferguson and Maurice Lobe in the finals with Finch.
Alexandria Maroons were to the forefront in 1950 mainly due defensively to Fred Murphy in goal, Bill L’Heureux and Howard Carey while up front there were such sharpshooters as Cheyne, Duncan (Angus Katie) McDonald, Max Pope, Bernie Thibaudeau, Reasbeck and “Harley” Coleman.
Among Glengarry sportsmen heading for the Hall of Fame has to be Bill Cumming, builder of Lancaster Dodgers in the early 50’s. And here again Howard Carey played with such stars as Pete Bonneville, Eric Reasbeck, John McLaren, Bill Marlin, Bill and D. Larocque with Jim McArthur on the executive line.
But the foregoing years of playing with some of Glengarry greats and neighborly Cornwall plus Ottawa, Howard Carey moved on to that heritage builders of hockey the Ottawa Olde Tymers, age 60 and over. We quote from the July 27, ‘87 Ottawa Citizen : “The Ottawa Olde Tymers are flying home today with two gold medals won at Snoop’s Senior World Hockey Championship, Santa Dosa, California.”
We note further that two of Alexandria Maroons of 1950, Howard Carey and Bernie Thilbodeau along with, we seem to recall, Sam Gaw of Inkerman Rockets.
A just reward will be the enshrinement of Howard Carey, Wednesday, September 12th, in Maxville at the annual induction banquet following the official “ribbon cutting opening” of the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame.
