History

The NAPE Blackhorse Hockey League is one of the oldest running leagues in the province having started in the 1971-1972 season.

At that time the league was named the union of employees who created it, the Newfoundland Government Employees Association Branch 9 Hockey League. Later the union renamed to Newfoundland Association Of Public Employees (NAPE).

1971 Newfoundland Government Employees Association Hockey League Executive Committee
Front Row: L to R: Doug Evans; Cyril Galway; Nick Murphy; Arnold Greene
Back Row: L to R: Leo McCann; Max Osmond; Ron Fardy; Everett Morris; John Boland

Early renditions of the league operated by raising funds through fund raisers like ticket raffles and walk-a-thons. By 1974 the league attracted its first corporate sponsor in the Molson Newfoundland Brewery. This sponsorship moved to the Carling O’Keefe Breweries of Canada in the mid-1980s.

Learn more about the history from 1971 to 1986:

1971-1986-nape-league-historyDownload