Hanson Dowell made a major contribution to the development of hockey in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada. In 1935, he was an administrator with the Central Valley Hockey League and from there he moved up the executive ladder.

He served four years as president of the Maritime Amateur Hockey Association and five years as vice-president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, becoming CAHA president in 1945 and holding that position until 1947. He was the first person from Atlantic Canada to be elected president of the CAHA.

For twelve years (1956-68) Dowell was secretary-treasurer of the MAHA and he remained as treasurer from 1968 to 1974.

Hanson passed away on September 23rd, 2000.