Cecil Taylor of Charlottetown has received the Order of Merit award (Atlantic) from Hockey Canada at the Spring Congress in Regina.
The Order of Merit is given to individuals who for many years have served amateur hockey faithfully, having participated as players, served as coaches and association members, and made outstanding contributions to Canadian amateur hockey. The first such awards were made in January and May 1962.
Taylor began leaving his mark in the early 1970s. As the general manager of the Colonel Gray Colonels – later the Charlottetown Junior Abbies of the Maritime Junior Hockey League – he led the club to six straight provincial junior A championships, as well as five Maritime titles.
Taylor then took his experience and turned toward farther-reaching roles. He was the junior director with the P.E.I. Hockey Association (now Hockey P.E.I.) for seven years, the first vice-president for another two years and, finally, president for four years, his term concluding in 1992.
In 1991, Taylor stepped up to the national level. He was elected vice-chairman at large (and a board member) of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada). For three years, he served as the director for junior hockey. During that time, he proudly shared in back-to-back gold medals at the world juniors. He then served two years as the director of minor hockey.
When his term ended in 1996, Taylor returned to where it all began, junior hockey on the Island. He assumed the role of vice-president of the MJHL, a positon he continues to hold today. His consistent and steady presence allows others to succeed in their roles and the league to thrive overall.
For many years, he also handled the league’s disciplinary measures.
Most recently, Taylor brought his vast experience back to the national level as Hockey P.E.I.’s representative on Hockey Canada’s junior task team.
In 2009, Hockey P.E.I. bestowed him with an honorary life membership.
