Remembering Mary Lou Carrigan: A Pillar of Hamilton Minor Hockey
It is with deep sadness that the Hamilton Minor Hockey community mourns the passing of Mary Lou Carrigan, a true pillar of our game whose impact will be felt for generations.
For more than 30 years, Mary Lou gave her time, heart, and tireless energy to minor hockey in Hamilton. She was a trailblazer and leader, becoming the first female president of both Coronation Minor Hockey and the Recreation Hockey Leagues, breaking barriers and setting a powerful example for women in sport leadership.
Mary Lou also served on the Hockey Council, where her voice was respected and her guidance invaluable. Her passion for grassroots hockey helped shape policies and programs that prioritized accessibility, development, and community.
Perhaps most meaningfully, Mary Lou was a founding executive member of the Hamilton Minor Hockey Initiation Program (HMHIP)—a program that continues to introduce countless young players and families to the game she loved so deeply. Her belief in creating welcoming, positive first experiences in hockey helped lay the foundation for what HMHIP represents today.
Mary Lou’s legacy is written not only in titles and committees, but in the thousands of players, parents, volunteers, and fellow executives whose lives she touched. She was a mentor, an advocate, and a steady presence who always put the kids and the community first.
Hamilton minor hockey is better because of Mary Lou Carrigan.
She will be profoundly missed, and forever remembered.
Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of working alongside her.