Walter Maltby of Amherst is one of 12 individuals to be recognized during the 2019 Fred Page Cup at the Amherst Stadium. Maltby will be recognized as a builder during tonight’s Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers opener against the Ottawa Junior Senators at 7:30 p.m. – Darrell Cole
Fred Page Cup to honour 12 MHL supporters during five-day Eastern Canadian Junior A championship tournament
He’s truly touched that he will be honoured by the host committee and the Maritime Junior Hockey League during the first day of the 2019 Fred Page Cup as a builder. Maltby will be recognized during the Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers game at 7:30 p.m. against the Ottawa Junior Senators.
“After more than 50 years involved in hockey in every category in Amherst and my love of the game, I don’t think I could get a better honour being bestowed on me tonight,” Maltby said. “I’ve enjoyed all the years involved with the fans and the players. Being around at my age, to be involved with the team and having the opportunity in 1993 to host the Centennial Cup.”
Maltby is one of 12 individuals being honoured for the work they’ve done in their respective communities in support of hockey.
Also being honoured during the five-day tournament are Pat Belliveau of the Campbellton Tigers, Jeannot Picars of the Edmundston Blizzards, Charles Theriault of the Grand Falls Rapids, Larry Creaser of the South Shore Lumberjacks, John Hyslop of the St. Stephen Aces, Pat McIver of the Summerside Western Capitals, Sheila Jay of the Miramichi Timberwolves, Graham Baxter of the Valley Wildcats, Wade Taylor of the Pictou County Crushers, John Murphy of the Yarmouth Mariners and Keith MacKenzie of the Truro Bearcats.
Maltby, who is still active on the Ramblers board of directors, has served the hockey community on multiple levels from minor hockey, to the Cumberland Junior B Blues as well as the team he helped found in 1967.
“Outside four years ago when I had the cancer scare, I’ve been very fortunate to have my health and be able to take part in all aspects of the team,” he said. “Not only the Ramblers, minor hockey and Junior B in Springhill, I also played hockey at a high level and coached.”
Maltby is proud of what the Rambler franchise has done to develop players, including Bill Riley, who played in the NHL with Washington. He remembers travelling to Montreal with others from Amherst to watch Riley play against the Canadiens.
His exploits were recognized in three years ago when he was presented the Moe Bent Builders Award at the MHL draft when it was last held in Amherst.
From the founding of the club in 1967, Walter Maltby has served in numerous capacities including coach, general manager, fundraiser and volunteer.
Maltby was the first head coach of the Ramblers when they were members of the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League in 1967 and became the club’s general manager as they entered what was then known as the Metro-Valley Junior Hockey League, the current MHL, in 1968.
He is not the only member of the Maltby family to be involved in hockey. His late brother, Roy, was president of the Ramblers and the MHL as well as holding numerous executive positions with the former Amherst and Area Minor Hockey Association.
Maltby’s nephew, Stephen, of CIBC Wood Gundy is the team’s major sponsor.
Maltby has also been active in such worthwhile endeavours as the Salvation Army and VON.
In 2013, he was a recipient of the Governor General’s Medal for Community Service.
Maltby was honoured by the Cumberland County Minor Hockey Association several years ago for his work with minor hockey. He coached and managed many minor hockey teams, took a peewee team to the international peewee hockey tournament in Quebec City and a midget team to a tournament in Drummondville, Que.
He has sold tickets at numerous fundraisers and has helped both the Bluenose Minor Hockey Tournament and the Fundy Hockey School.
He retired from CN in 1981 and worked with the prothonotary’s office for several years.