A man credited with launching the hockey careers of many in the Glace Bay and surrounding areas from the 1960s to the 1980s has died.

Robert (Bugsy) Seward, originally from Glace Bay, passed away on March 10 at the Provincial Palliative Care Centre in Charlottetown. He was 86.

Seward was an instrumental part of growing the sport of hockey in the Glace Bay community, especially in the mid-1960s with the creation of the Glace Bay Community Hockey Clinic, which gave children the opportunity to learn and play the game in 1965.

James Edwards, president of the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association, knew Seward well and was a driving force in his induction into the association’s hall of fame in 2025.

“He was such a great guy, and he was a great teacher,” said Edwards, noting Seward was an economics teacher at the former Morrison High School when he was in school.

“He was the foundation for Glace Bay Minor Hockey because he started with the tots, novice, atom and peewee divisions with his community hockey clinic. He laid the foundation for Glace Bay Minor Hockey.”

READ MORE HERE: https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/he-laid-the-foundation-for-glace-bay-minor-hockey-robert-bugsy-seward-remembered-as-instrumental-part-of-growing-the-sport-of-hockey-in-glace-bay

The Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Robert “Bugsy” Seward, a man whose impact on hockey in our community is truly immeasurable.

Bugsy was more than a coach and more than a teacher. He was a builder of the game in Glace Bay. In the mid 1960s, he established the Glace Bay Community Hockey Clinic, creating opportunities for local children to learn and play the game beginning in 1965. What started with approximately 100 participants quickly grew year after year, expanding across multiple age groups and eventually reaching close to 300 players, supported by dozens of coaches and volunteers. That program continued for two decades before becoming part of the foundation of minor hockey in our community.

He was ahead of his time as a coach and teacher. Bugsy introduced innovative practice methods, including station based drills that allowed players to stay active and engaged while developing their skills. His approach helped shape many successful hockey players, including those who would go on to higher levels of the game, but more importantly, he helped shape generations of young people.

Bugsy’s contributions to hockey extended far beyond coaching. As a player, he came up through Glace Bay hockey and went on to play with the Acadia Axemen from 1960 to 1963, followed by five seasons with the Senior Miners. He also played a key role as an official, becoming part of the first national referees program and earning certification in 1968. Off the ice, he coached at Morrison High School, winning a provincial title, and spent many years mentoring players at multiple levels of the game.

Through all of this, Bugsy remained a passionate advocate for hockey and for his community. His dedication, leadership, and love of the game helped build what Glace Bay Minor Hockey is today.

We were proud to recognize his extraordinary contributions with his induction into the GBMHA Hall of Fame in 2025, an honour that reflects the lasting legacy he leaves behind.

We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Catherine, his children Kerri and Craig and their spouses, his grandchildren, and all of his family and friends.

Bugsy’s influence will live on in every player who takes the ice in our community.

Thank you for everything, Bugsy. You will never be forgotten.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/glace-bay-ns/robert-seward-12782476