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John Hamilton Leask (1918-1972) was "a gentleman who exemplified sportsmanship," according to Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition director Don Stewart. Respectful to all, he had a generous spirit, and was devoted to sports. Born in Caron, Saskatchewan, a twin son of Norfolk County natives Grant Leask and Eva Madden, John was raised in Fort Erie, where he was active in local baseball and hockey, and an executive member of the Ontario Baseball Association. John was a goal judge for the Buffalo Bison of the American Hockey League 1960-70, and in 1970 became the official scorer for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. He moved to Simcoe in 1965 and was an executive member of Simcoe Minor Hockey Association until he became house league chairperson in 1966. He managed the Simcoe Chargers peewee team that competed in a special tournament at the Canadian National Exhibition and made it to the Ontario Baseball Association championship. In 1967, John was elected both president of the Simcoe Minor Hockey Association and a Director of the Ontario Baseball Association. He also managed the Simcoe Giants Intermediate baseball club to an Ontario title. In 1968 he continued with the Intermediate club, was elected third vice president of the OBA, and was a member of the Southern Counties baseball executive. In 1969 he was re-elected to the OBA and managed the Giants to another Ontario title. John Leask received a certificate of merit from the Ontario Amateur Hockey Association, and an award from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association for 25 years of volunteering. He died of a heart attack at a 1972 Ontario Baseball Association playoff game in Oshawa. John was inducted into our Hall of Recognition in 1997. ______ |
John Leask
