John Bates played hockey and football for St. Francis Xavier University (St.FX) in 1915-1916 and then served in the Royal Canadian Army during World War I from 1916-1919. During the War he survived a mustard gas attack, temporary blindness, and a secret allied expedition in Northern Russia.

In 1919, he went back to St. Francis Xavier and captained both the hockey and football teams. During his years at St. Francis Xavier, Bates led the hockey team to two intercollegiate championships and in his last season scored half of the team’s total goals.

In 1921, Bates graduated from St. Francis Xavier and went on to Dalhousie Medical School. While at Dalhousie, he played hockey and rugby. Bates led the Dalhousie Tigers to two league championships in both hockey and rugby as well as one Maritime championship. He was the leading scorer for the Dalhousie Hockey team for three years.

From 1920 to 1925, he played catcher and second base for the Halifax Crescents baseball team. Bates was known as “one of the most brilliant and popular athletes ever to attend Dalhousie.”

His achievements include being named President of the Glace Bay branch of the Canadian Legion in 1933, Honorary President of the Cape Breton Hub Hawks in 1934, Honorary President of the Glace Bay Miners hockey team in 1940, and President of the Cape Breton Senior Hockey League in 1948. John Bates was elected to the St. Francis Xavier Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He passed away May 13, 1985, at the age of 89.