Inductees for year 2016

J Edmond Bourque

Category: Individual

Some athletes participate and excel at one sport, but the truly special athletes are those that compete at a high level at a number of sports. This is exactly what Junior Bourque was, a special athlete. Excelling at hockey, fastball, softball and marathon running, Junior did it all. He was a high scoring right winger with the Bathurst Papermakers for ten years, winning the North Shore Intermediate A Hockey League title in the 1961-62 season. On the ball field he was a key member of championship teams such as Keystone, St. Anne Stealers, the Coachman, and the South Bathurst Stallions. In his later years, Junior was a devout marathon runner and competed successfully in such notable events as the Boston, New York and Montreal Marathons. Any athlete who has done so well at so many sports is truly worthy of being a member of the Bathurst Sports Hall of Fame. 

Nick Kovats

Category: Builder

To direct a young man or woman towards sports is to direct them down the right path in life. This is exactly what Nick Kovats did for more than three decades. As a member coach of the NB Amateur Boxing Association, Nick was the prime organizer and coach of the Bathurst Amatuer Boxing Association for a period of 34 years, during which time many of his athletes won multiple championships and all gained valuable life lessons. Nick encouraged his athletes to be the best they could be, to perform at the highest level of their abilities, and gain confidence in all that they do, not just in the ring. Nick’s coaching career included coaching boxers at the Bathurst Boxing Association, the Canada Winter Games, NB Gold Gloves, Maritime Boxing Championships, Eastern Canadian Boxing Championships and Canadian Championships. Many of his boxers were victorious at all these levels. Yet many of his athletes state that the value system he instilled in them was more important than the boxing skills they developed. Nick Kovats was certainly instrumental in bringing boxing to the forefront in Bathurst and his efforts will be remembered by all. 

Alfred Mallet

Category: Builder

lfred Mallet began his successful soccer coaching career in 1998 at Ecole Place des Jeunes and for close to twenty years he coached various levels of female soccer, sometimes two teams in the same season. Alfred dedicated himself to becoming the best coach and mentor he could be, exemplified by attaining his Level 3 coaching status with Soccer NB. This level, along with his dedication to strive for excellence secured a position as a coach on the Provincial Soccer NB AAA team. His leadership was essential in the string of NBIAAA Provincial Soccer Championships and Soccer NB Championships attained over his coaching career. Alfred’s NBIAA soccer team at Ecole Secondaire Nepisiguit made it to the provincial final 9 times out of ten years, winning five of them. He also had three provincial championships with Soccer NB, the pinnacle being the 2007 U18 AAA Championship, which secured a spot in the Nationals where his team finished a respectable 8th. His commitment to the growth of female soccer in the Chaleur region and the impact he had on the lives of so many young girls is truly what makes Alfred Mallet a Hall of Fame recipient.