LOVERING, John Kelly

BORN IN 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, John Kelly Lovering was the son of John and Ruth Lovering, and brother to Richard. From 1988 to 2001, he was the General Manager of the Notre Dame Hounds in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), and later became the head coach of the Australian national hockey team. With the help of Robert Spalenka, Norman Johnston, and GM Wayne Hellyer, he won a Silver medal and three Bronze medals.

From 1980 to 1990, Lovering was Athletic Director, Hockey Coordinator, senior football and hockey coach and an enthusiastic and motivating educator at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. He also served as a chairman of the Canadian Hockey Association's (CHA) National Coaching Committee.

In Australia, Lovering created a hockey program for school sports groups when Penrith ice rink opened in Sydney in 2000. He promoted the sport giving stick and puck lessons, and the teachers and students loved him. Graham White picked him up early in the morning at Parramatta and he would take the bus to Penrith station and back home every week for more than a year. “[Kelly] had incredible enthusiasm and commitment to hockey,” recalls Graham. "He did a lot that few are aware of." He was an inspiration and mentor to coaches and officials such as Keven Ross, Michael King, and Andrew Green.

On the night of October 4th 1997, a national team selection try-out game was hosted by Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink in Sydney for the 1998 Australian National Men’s Team. The players met a team of overseas internationals, or 'World Imports'. It was the first of four Australian campaigns for Kelly Lovering, 1998 to 2001. The Mighty Roos brought home silver, losing only to Belgium, 1-6. In 1999, they won Bronze in Krugersdorp, South Africa, with two wins and two losses and repeated the feat in Iceland in 2000 and Majadahonda, Spain, in 2001.

“As all coaches coach, retire, move on, their accomplishments are what’s most important, and most spectators and federations measure that through medals,” wrote Anthony Wilson, who played in three National Teams coached by Lovering. “However, those that played for Kelly know that his impact was way larger than any medal could ever make, he was a magician for players being able to contribute. He simplified the game, and made everyone feel like they were superman. That’s a gift.”

Lovering played an important part in the establishment of the Newcastle North Stars Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) team in 2001 and 2002. He devoted his time and expertise to aiding in coaching and recruitment, resulting in the acquisition of two of the team's initial imports, Brett Hillier and Michael Schlamp, from the SJHL Estevan Bruins. Upon his return home, he was appointed Head Coach of the Bruins for the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

The legacy of Lovering’s contributions was carried on by foundation coach Don Champagne in 2002 and volunteer coaching director Rob Barnes, who served from 2003 to 2007. The team won the 2003 AIHL Grand Final at the Sydney Ice Arena thanks to Barnes' leadership. This success was followed by back-to-back championships two seasons later, with the Barnes era yielding three of the club’s Goodall Cups.

Hockey Canada awarded Lovering the 1995 Gordon Juckes Award, its highest honour, for his significant contributions to the development of amateur hockey at the national level. Curtis Joseph, Wendel Clark, Rod Brind'Amour, Gary Leeman, and Dale Derkatch are just some of the 38 players who he mentored to play in the NHL, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the sport.

Lovering succumbed to cancer in December 2014 after a long battle. He was survived by his wife Mary Lyn, son Tyler, daughter Kristy, and his grandchildren. Tyler was a founder of the AIHL and a commissioner and executive chairman following his return in 2010. He won four Goodall Cups and represented Australia at nine World Championships (1998-2004, 2006, 2008).

Kelly was “A true leader both on and off the ice,” to National Team goalie, Al Becken. ”He drew the very best out of you, his love for the game was only matched by the love he had for his players. I will never forget the impact he has made on me.”

Glen Foll, Lovering’s National Team Captain, said, “It was an absolute pleasure to know and play for Kelly, fantastic person who brought so much energy to the dressing room. So many great memories during his time as national team coach.”

According to Anthony Wilson, “Those that know Kelly, knew there were none like him. He opened doorways for many like Greg Oddy. An absolute gentleman of the sport and someone who made every player feel 10ft tall.

SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOTS”.