Trying to imagine hockey in Thunder Bay without Albert Massaro and the Hornets Sports Organization is virtually impossible. The organization--which was created by Albert in 1969 to give kids a chance to play hockey--remaining active well into the 1990s.

Born in Fort William on November 7th, 1931, Albert has always maintained an active lifestyle, participating in numerous sports including hockey, broomball, bowling and stock car racing. Albert did more that just compete, however, he became involved. In earlier endeavours, Albert served as President of the Lakehead Stock Car Club and founded both the Push-Mobile Races and Roller Hockey doing so in the early sixties.

Albert's involvement with the Fort William Minor Hockey Association has spanned over 35 years and includes stints as a referee, coach, director and President. This devotion to the game of hockey is what spawned the creation of the Hornets Sports Organization, a vehicle by which Albert allowed kids who would otherwise not have the chance to participate in the game the opportunity to do so.

Through the years Albert has coached hundreds of youngsters, managing one year to coach three separate teams at the same time. In 1987 Albert took his juvenile team to the Ontario Winter Games where they emerged victorious--a true Cinderella story. As President of the FWMHA during the 1986-87 season, Albert introduced the draft for overage peewees which has provided even more opportunity for children to enjoy hockey.

Albert continued to dedicate himself to providing sporting opportunities for the youth of his community for many years until his death in 1997.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 29, 1990