(Inducted citation read and prepared by Ron Carragher)
Good afternoon and welcome to this very special occasion. It is a privilege to be here with you as we induct such a remarkable individual into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame – a man whose journey from our small island on the east coast of Canada has led him to the highest echelons of the sport we love.
Dave Cameron has spent a lifetime devoted to the game of hockey. From his early days playing in the rinks of PEI to his distinguished career as both a player and coach, Dave’s passion for the sport has been unwavering. His journey began in Tryon and Kinkora, and he played his minor hockey in Crapaud and a pond at Joe Dougay’s in Albany where he first lived. He became a high school standout with the Kinkora Blazes in the mid-70s as a prolific goalscorer and captured the league scoring title by a 17 point margin.
Cameron enrolled as a student-athlete at the University of Prince Edward Island and played with the Panthers for the next four years. It was with the Panthers he began to make great strides as a hockey player, and he was named the most improved player in 1977 and an AUAA all-star in his final two years. He was coached by Ev Stewart, and Jack Hines, a legendary coach on PEI who was instrumental in Dave’s career as both a player and coach. Jack recalls that Dave as a player was “a great student of the game; he always came to practice prepared and had a great thirst for wanting to improve and get better each day on the ice.” According to Jack, however, it was Dave’s brother Brian who was the more skilled player!!!
As a player, Dave was best known for his tenacity, leadership and skill. His professional career took him across many leagues.
The New York Islanders selected Dave in the 8th round, 135th overall in the NHL amateur draft in 1978. He recalls that when he was selected, he found out in a phone call from the CFCY radio in Charlottetown.
In 1980-81, with the Indy Checkers (Islanders farm team), he had a breakout year, earning 40 goals and 70 points in 78 games. Dave is most proud that he played with three other Islanders at this time – Kevin Devin, Garth McGuigan and Shane Turner.
Dave went on to play with the Colorado Rockies and the New Jersey Devils in an NHL career that spanned from 1981-84, playing 168 games, earning 53 points and 25 goals, with 238 PIM. Islander Billy MacMillan was the GM of Colorado while Dave was there, and Bobby MacMillan was a teammate in New Jersey.
Dave is one of only a handful of Islanders who have gone from playing to coaching in the NHL. he is one of three Islanders to become a head coach (Doug MacLean and Gerard Gallant being the other two), both of who also coached the Summerside Western Capitals.
Dave’s ability to inspire and lead has been evident at every level from junior hockey to the international stage.
Dave took over the Western capitals from Doug MacLean, and would immediately have success, guiding the Capitals to three Championships in 1985-86, 1987-88, and most memorably, 1988-89. That year Summerside captured the Callaghan Cup as Atlantic Junior Champions, and hosted the Centennial Cup national championship at Cahill Stadium. The Caps made it all the way to the final, before losing 4-1 to Thunder Bay of Ontario.
After briefly taking a break from coaching duties in 1989 (he worked as a special education teacher at Westile High School), Dave returned as a player to suit up with the Charlottetown Armour Fence Islanders in senior hockey. Famously, the went on to win the Allan Cup in the brand-new Charlottetown Civic Centre, and Dave was named MVP in the series, in which they defeated perennial contender Thunder Bay twins 5-4 in overtime.
Dave’s coaching tenure resumed in various locations, including joining Al MacAdam as an assistant with the St. John Maple Leafs. He coached the St. Michael’s Majors in the Ontario Hockey league in Toronto, and in 2011, enjoyed a monumental year as the Majors made it to the Memorial Cup Final, with the final game itself being a dream for Island hockey fans, pitting Dave against Gerard Gallant, who coached the Quebec Major Junior champion Saint John Sea Dogs. On that day, Gallant had the last laugh, the Sea Dogs winning 3-1.
From there, Dave hit the NHL, first as an assistant, and eventually head coach, of the Ottawa Senators, where in two seasons from 2014-2016 the team went 137-70-50-17, with a single play-off appearance. After his stint in Ottawa, Dave went to the Calgary Flames as an assistant to Glen Gulutzan.
Beyond the NHL, what a resume Dave has with the World Junior organization. His leadership was instrumental in guiding Team Canada to a silver medal in 2011. As an assistant the team won gold in 2016, and then he returned as head coach, finally winning the gold that was cruelly taken from the team in 2011, by winning in 2022. At the time of his induction, Dave will again be behind the bench for the 24-25 event, to be held in Ottawa, where he currently guides the 67’s in the OHL.
Dave has never forgotten his roots, and has a deep love for all family. Brothers Brian, Charlie and Ricky, and sister Lorna have always been close and have kept Dave’s feet always on the ground. His parents, Wilbur and Bernice, instilled in Dave a strong work ethic and desire to succeed, and his wife Kelly and sons Ben and Connor, have always been there as a rock for Dave.
It is indeed a great pleasure to welcome Dave Cameron to the PEI Sports Hall of Fame!
Dave Cameron (ice hockey) – Wikipedia
Inducted August 10 2024 at Credit Union Place, Summerside
