The Halifax Fisherman’s Market Midget Boys Fastball team was part of an amazing run in Nova Scotia’s sport history – one that may never be duplicated. In 1981, the Darrell Tingley-coached squad went undefeated at the provincial playdowns to earn the right to compete at the 12-team Canadian championship tournament in Swift Current, Sask. The team, comprised primarily of players from the north end of the city, who grew up and played ball together, came home with the gold medal, marking the first time a Nova Scotia team had won a Canadian title at the midget level. “I certainly thought going in that we had enough potential for a medal,” said Tingley. “We had entered the metro intermediate men’s C league and played in tournaments against men’s teams so we could face a higher level of competition, and we did pretty well in that. “Without being at nationals before, you never know what you’re going to face, but I had a sense that if things went right and if some of the breaks went our way, that we could come home with a medal.”

It was the second time in as many years a Bluenose entry had captured a national fastball crown, with the Brookfield Elks having won the senior men’s championship in 1980. Nova Scotia’s diamond dominance would continue, with gold medals at the junior men’s level in 1982 and 1983 (with several players from the Fisherman’s Market team from 1981 on those squads) and the midget boys in 1983 and 1984. “They were a special group of athletes, no question,” said assistant coach Stan Hennigar Sr., whose son, Stan Jr., was the top hitter and playoff-round MVP at nationals. “It’s really amazing, when you look back at what they’ve gone on to accomplish, that there were so many great athletes that were coming out of a small community in the north end of the city.” Second baseman Wendell Young and catcher Danny Lawson were selected to the national all-star team that year. Young, drafted by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks earlier that summer, compiled a storied 18-year professional hockey career, becoming the first goalie to capture a Memorial Cup (CHL), Calder Cup (AHL), Stanley Cup (NHL) and Turner Cup (IHL) championship. Lawson played university football at Saint Mary’s, but has found his niche as a lawyer and player agent, who has represented CFL quarterback Damon Allen and NFL running back Jesse Lumsden, among others. Hennigar Jr., and shortstop Robbie Forbes also played professional hockey. Pitcher Richard Connolly, a pick-up from Guysborough, infielder-outfielder Allie Hart and outfielder-catcher Shawn Kelly went on to represent Nova Scotia at national and international fastball competition at the senior level. Infielder-outfielder Strat Kane played university hockey at Saint Mary’s and starred in the Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League. Other members of the team were Dennis Flemming, MarkHartling, Richard Jordan, Randy McQuade, Paul Mason, Mike Miller, Konstance Nikolopoulos and Steve Pottie. Tingley, Hennigar Sr., assistant Roy MacNeil and manager Mark Perry comprised the coaching staff.

Team members included: Richard Connolly, Dennis Flemming, Robert Forbes, Allie Hart, Mark Hartlen, Stan Hennigar Jr., Stan Hennigar Sr. (coach), Richard Jordan, Strat Kane, Shawn Kelly, Danny Lawson, Roy MacNeil (coach), Paul Mason, Randy McQuade, Mike Miller, Konstance Nikolopoulos, Mark Perry (manager), Steve Pottie, Darrell Tingley (coach), Duane Tingley, Wendell Young.

Bio courtesy of Jody Jewers