GWMHL founding member, former commissioner, and most passionate supporter Dave Atkinson passed away at his home in Washington on May 10, 2021.
It’s impossible to overstate Dave’s influence on the GWMHL and the APBA Hockey community as a whole. Even as others took up the commissioner’s mantle, Dave was always in the background with advice, encouragement, and no shortage of strong opinions. Nobody was more instrumental in helping the GWMHL grow and thrive over the decades.
As a linchpin of the APBA Hockey disk team, Dave was also a major reason we have a game to play at all. But much more importantly, he was a good friend: a kind-hearted, hilarious, and brilliant presence in our lives. We miss him terribly.
Dave cared deeply about the GWMHL and the APBA Hockey community, and it’s with that in mind that we will work to continue this small part of his legacy. As a small gesture of thanks and reminder of Dave’s influence on all of us, the league championship will now be known as the Atkinson Cup.
Read Dave’s obituary to find out more about this remarkable man, and if you knew him, please consider a donation in his memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Gump Worsley Memorial Hockey League 