Throwback Thursday is sponsored by Dresden Meat Packers:
In recognition of Wallaceburg’s 150th anniversary this year, the Wallaceburg & District Museum has launched a new feature on social media: ‘150 Facts, for 150 Years’.
Here is their first post:
This month marks the third anniversary of the passing of the women’s hockey legend, Marian (Mern) Coveny.
From four years old, she learned to skate and play hockey, with her family, on the frozen creeks near her family farmhouse.
Marian fell in love with the game after playing organized hockey in high school. She joined the Wallaceburg Hornettes who took part in the first ever women’s hockey tournament in 1967. Called the Lipstick Tournament it became the oldest and longest running women’s hockey tournaments in Canada.
Coveny led the Hornettes to win the “B” Division title in 1972 in front of the home crowd.
From there, Coveny played for OWIAA hockey for McMaster University where she earned a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1978. During that time, she was a founding member of the Hamilton Golden Hawks and following her graduation became a physical education teacher.
The Hamilton team won the “A” Division multiple times until eventually winning their first national championship in 1986.
Women’s hockey was still undervalued as a competitive sport. Coveny recalled a time when she was playing for the Golden Hawks, they had been delayed getting on the ice by the previous men’s game. Part way through the third period, the buzzer sounded signalling their ice time was up. The Zamboni was brought onto the ice, but Coveny wouldn’t allow it, jumping on board and demanding the driver get off the ice so they could finish their game.
In 1987, despite the IIHF refusing to sanction a women’s tournament, organizers forged towards a plan for the first Women’s World Hockey Tournament. For the inaugural Canadian tournament, the winning team would get the honour of representing Team Canada at the world championships. The Hawks won 3-2 in overtime and instantly became the first Canadian women’s national hockey team with Coveny as the first ever captain. Their team went on to win the gold after defeating Sweden.
Through her hard work and determination, Coveny took women to a new level in the sport of hockey. She was inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame (1995) and the McMaster Sports Hall of Fame (2002).
If you have an old photo, or video, that you would like to see on the Sydenham Current, let us know by sending us an email to sydenhamcurrent@gmail.com.