The Markham Royals Jr. A Hockey Club passes on its sincerest condolences to the family, friends, peers, and former players of legendary Markham coach Bill Purcell, who passed away at the age of 91 earlier this week.
Purcell’s hockey journey brought him through the Royals’ extended history on several occasions, coaching the MBJHL Markham Royals in the mid-1970’s, the MetJHL Markham Waxers in the mid-90s, and the OPJHL Markham Waxers in the mid-2000s. Through his contributions to the MBJHL club, Purcell is remembered as the first coach along the Royals branch of our hockey tree.
Purcell’s resume stretches beyond Markham, including the establishment of York University’s varsity hockey program in 1962. Beyond the levels already mentioned, Purcell coached in the EHL, IHL (both of the North American and Italian varieties), ECHL, AHL, and OHL.
The Charlottetown native is a member of the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame, the York University Athletics Hall of Fame, and was inducted as the founding member of our very own Markham Royals Hall of Fame in 2016.
Coach Purcell will be deeply missed by all who have crossed paths with him over the years and felt his impact on the game in Markham and beyond.
