Cleland Lindsay 'Keke' Mortson *

Athlete and Builder

Sports:

Hockey, Fastball, Baseball

Builder Categories:

Coach, Official

Born: 1934 - Arntfield PQ

Biography:

Cleland ‘Keke’ Mortson was born in Arntfield, Quebec, and came to North Bay in the late 1950’s to play with the Senior North Bay Trappers. He played centre and right wing from OHA Junior “A” up to the World Hockey Association for 22 seasons - notching 1401 scoring points. His professional career spanned some 15 seasons, playing for 14 teams in seven leagues scoring 348 goals and carding 1015 points in 1064 regular season games. He played for seven teams in the American Hockey League and picked up 600 points. He also played in the EPHL (Sudbury), Western Hockey League, IHL, CHL, and was playing coach with Macon Whoopees of the SHL. At 38 he got 29 points in 69 games with Houston of the WHA and six years later was called up to take part in the playoffs with the Aeros. He spent seven seasons in amateur hockey, including four with Sault and North Bay in the NOHA and NOHA/OHA Senior loops and on retiring played Oldtimers hockey. During his summers he played GMFA ball from the late fifties through 1975 and then distinctively umpired hundreds of games for the next decade. He also umpired and coached kid’s baseball and in 1985 coached North Bay Sun Life to the Ontario Baseball Association Midget "A" Championship. He taught at a hockey school for kids, helped with the skate-a-thon and generally contributed to his community in his own colourful way. Keke Mortson was a unique individual.