Lauchlin Angus “Lauchie” MacIsaac was born in 1943 in Antigonish. From as early as his teenage years, he has been vitally involved with his town, province and country. He has been an athlete, coach, mentor, educator, administrator and builder.
Lauchie lived for seven years at the Antigonish jail on Court Street. His father, Angus “the Jailer” MacIsaac, was the custodian of the local jail. Angus was from Brierly Brook. His mother was Mary Catherine MacPherson from Caledonia Mills. His siblings were Huntley, Gerald and Donna. Angus also had two stepchildren, Theresa and Daniel George (D.G.)
Lauchie’s early years in Antigonish were much like those of many young men in town. He played football, baseball, track and field, badminton, basketball and volleyball. Some years later, Lauchie took up golf, bowling and curling. Ironically, he did not play hockey, but for nearly six decades he has been involved in hockey as an outstanding executive, mentor and builder.
Lauchie as a part of the 1969 Nova Scotia Senior Baseball Champions
Lauchie attended Morrison School, a boys-only school, before moving to the new Antigonish High School. After graduating, he attended the Nova Scotia Teachers College in 1965, then returned to St. Francis Xavier University where received his B.A. and B.Ed. in 1967, and attained his Master’s in Education in 1978.
Lauchie’s life as a hockey executive began in Antigonish. He was first involved with the 4 A’s, the Antigonish Amateur Athletic Association. Then, in 1968, he became chair of the Antigonish Minor Hockey Association and took on a 10-year commitment as fundraising chair. Lauchie’s term was for six years, until 1974. He then spent 30 years, from 1968 to 1998, serving five six-year terms:
- 1974 — Regional director for the Highland Region
- 1980 — Chair of the Minor Hockey Council
- 1985 — Vice-president of operations for the province
- 1992 — Chair of Hockey Nova Scotia
- 1998 — Chair of the Nova Scotia branch of Hockey Canada and vice-president of operations for Hockey Canada
In addition, in 2004, as chair of Hockey Nova Scotia, Lauchie served on the board of directors of Hockey Canada, helping oversee several committees. In 2010 he took on another role as a member of the Hockey Nova Scotia Appeals Committee.
In softball, Lauchie coached the Antigonish Regional High School team to five provincial championships in 1972, 1983, 1985, 1990 and 1992. In 1985, he coached the Antigonish peewee softball team to an Eastern Canadian Championship, before achieving the same feat with the local bantam team in 1992.
Lauchie wasn’t just a key figure in local sport, but became an integral leader in the Antigonish community as a whole. He spent many years serving on the Antigonish Arena Board, the St. Ninian’s Parish Council, the board of the St. Martha’s Foundation and the board of the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home. He chaired the Cemetery Care Committee and served for many years on the Antigonish Recreation Committee.
For his decades of contribution to the community, Lauchie has been awarded many accolades, including:
- Volunteer of the Year from the Town of Antigonish
- Volunteer of the Year from Hockey Canada
- Volunteer of Merit from Hockey Canada
Hockey Nova Scotia now presents the “Lauchie MacIsaac Award” to an individual in Nova Scotia who represents minor hockey’s best procedures. In 2023 Lauchie was granted the Hockey Nova Scotia Life Membership – the highest honour that may be bestowed by the branch and to be awarded only for very distinctive services to the association.
2023 Life Membership Award, Hockey Nova Scotia
Lauchie married Betty Smith, who grew up on Church Street. Their family includes four sons: Michael, Steve, Brian and Andrew.
Throughout Lauchlin MacIsaac’s life he has been a prime example of the volunteering and contributing spirit that has maintained Antigonish’s proud sports heritage.
Submitted by Bill Kiely, February 12th 2023.