The Owen Sound Attack and the local hockey community are mourning the loss of Ray McKelvie.
The team issued a statement on December 2 revealing that McKelvie passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 87. Ray was integral in bringing the OHL to Owen Sound after convincing the Holody family to move the then Guelph Platers to Owen Sound before the 1989-90 season. Following the move, Ray served the franchise in a number of roles over the next ten years including acting as Platers Director of Hockey Operations, and he was also a minority owner until 2000 when he sold his interest to current ownership.
McKelvie continued to serve the Attack franchise beyond selling his stake in the team, acting as Director of Business Operations right up until his passing. He left an indelible mark on hockey in the city of Owen Sound, serving the community by contributing to local charities and of course youth sports. In 2013, McKelvie was honoured by the OHL with the Bill Long Award for distinguished service. He was elected into the Owen Sound Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 as a builder.
Ray's grandson, Mark, is the play-by-play voice of the Attack, continuing the family tradition with the team. The Attack will honour Ray McKelvie prior to the home game on December 10 against Guelph, with more details to come on further arrangements to honour and remember Ray throughout the rest of this season and beyond.
“Ray McKelvie was a driving force behind the Platers and Attack for 33 years” said Attack President and Member of Team Ownership Dr. Bob Severs. “His foresight and commitment to hockey in the Grey Bruce region led him to open the door to the Platers in 1989 and to help to facilitate the change in ownership in 2000 that kept the franchise in Owen Sound.”
“The area’s hockey fans owe Ray a debt of gratitude and his passing leaves an enormous space in the hockey world that will be hard to fill. We will miss him every day” added Severs.