Walter “Punch” Scherer

Walter “Punch” Scherer was born May 6, 1916 in New Hamburg, Ontario. Punch was involved for more than 50 years with hockey in and around Waterloo County. He played Junior hockey for New Hamburg, Junior “A” for the Kitchener Greenshirts, Senior hockey for the Stratford Indians, St. Catharines Seniors, Hamilton Tigers and The Hershey Bears and the Washington Eagles of the EAHL Hockey League. He was coach of the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Dutchmen, the Stratford Indians and the Phillipsburg Cheves. Walter was Vice-President and Assistant Manager of the Kitchener Beavers of the EPHL, a New York Ranger Farm Team. He was General Manager of the New Hamburg Hahns Junior “C”, the Kitchener Rangers, the Kingston Canadians, and the Niagara Falls Junior “A” teams, and the very successful Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Dutchmen.

Hockey Canada also appointed him as their General Manager for the National Junior world competition in 1977. Scherer won an Ontario Hockey League award in 1971 and the Gold Stick award in 1972 in recognition of his dedication and hard work in hockey. He also scouted for the Boston Bruins for several years.

It was through his assistance, sponsorship and concern that many local and other athletes went on to become involved in medicine, law, education and outstanding citizens. Many of these athletes, with the help of scholarships, went on to contribute to hockey and to their communities. He also saw many of his players make it to the National Hockey League and go on to coaching and management in professional and amateur hockey.

Photograph Courtesy of Forde Studio Photographers, Kitchener