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Thursday March 8, 2012 HOCKEY HERITAGE 2012 The Independent & Free Press Special pullout section 8 Pages By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Holding court in front of the audience at the Acton Legion Monday night, the retired teacher in 2012 Georgetown Hockey Heritage Award recipient Neil Cotton made an appearance. "This evening my lecture is about people," said the 65-year-old longtime science teacher at Georgetown District High School. "Hockey is just a game and the most impotant thing I take from playing all sports, but hockey in particular, is the quality of the people you meet along the way." View a photo gallery: www.theifp.ca/photos/ A skyscraping, rugged presence on the blue line (and sometimes centreman) for four Georgetown Raider clubs that won Ontario Hockey Association Intermediate A championships, Cotton also stepped forward to rescue the Raiders from folding in 1976 when the executive quit en masse. Serving as president/captain of the team in 197677, Cotton guided the Raiders to the Eastern Canadian Championships in Campbellton, N.B., where they were bounced in the national semifinals. The Toronto native retired from the Raiders in 1978 but helped put in place an organization that went on to win the Hardy Cup title in 1982. Cotton went on to become a power skating instructor with the Town of Halton Hills and a coach with the Georgetown Minor Hockey Association for five years at various age levels. He also had a 15-year stint as head coach of the GDHS Rebels. "What a ride it's been," the accomplished musician added before taking out his acoustic guitar to perform a song called Children of the Ice. longtime player and coach, was recognized for his dedica"My theme is people, not the game. We are never tion to the sport. in this alone in this the greatest game, hockey. It is a Photo by Ted Brown team effort. Who ever heard of singles' hockey?" Local hockey folks take a Cotton to Neil Neil Cotton received a congratulatory kiss from his granddaughter Bronwyn following Monday's Georgetown Hockey Heritage Award dinner held at the Acton Legion. Cotton, a Heading Straight For Divorce? BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY: Is It Right For You? Peri-Menopause, Menopause, Thyroid Imbalance, Andropause & Saliva Testing Men & Women's Health Workshop with Dr. Gillson Saturday April 14, 2012 Avita Integrative Health & Restoration Clinic 5A Conestoga Drive, Ste 300, Brampton SPRING'S ALMOST HERE! Time to Light up the Grill KELLY NOLAN, BSc Pharm. Your BBQ Headquarters! Georgetown's #1 Favourite Butcher & Deli! 333 Mountainview Rd. S., Georgetown 905-455-0488 www.avitaintegrativehealth.ca 905-873-0352 My Reputation is at Steak!