Category
Athlete
Sport
Hockey
Hometown
Saint John
Year Inducted
1973
athlete
John "Jackie" Keating (D)
HONOURED MEMBER
Biography
The world of professional hockey, - and particularly during the early 1930’s was a rugged world, a world that was dominated by “bigness”.Jack Keating, at 136 pounds, lived in that world and convinced us all that bigness must be measured in terms of courage and skill and speed, and not just pounds and inches. This Newcastle native began his hockey career at Harkins Academy and progressed from there to the Chatham Ironmen, the Saint John Fusiliers, the National Hockey League’s New York Americans, and to minor clubs in Buffalo, Providence, Syracuse and St. Paul.In the off-season, his baseball bat was the terror of the New Brunswick Senior League. And like so many others who felt a need and an obligation to share their talents with younger players, he joined the coaching ranks in Saint John in 1940 where for twenty years, he helped athletes, big and small, to achieve in a big man’s game, his game hockey. Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 2nd, 1973.
Quick Facts
Played hockey for Harkins Academy, Chatham Ironmen and the Saint John Fusilers
Played in the National Hockey League (1931-32, 1932-33) with the New York Americans; scored five goals and five assists in 35 games overall
Coached the 1946 Saint John Beavers hockey team to the Maritime Senior championship; club advanced to the Allan Cup against the Hamilton Tigers
Won the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League batting title in 1927