PETERBOROUGH PROUD - TED HIGGINS

“So proud to be from Peterborough”

Ted Higgins is one of the finest ambassadors Canada’s national summer sport of lacrosse has ever had.  Ted is well known and immensely popular within the entire lacrosse community across Canada. Being a key contributor to 15 National championships gets one noticed!

He has been involved with lacrosse for approximately 65 years in almost every role possible. He has been a water boy, stick boy, player, team bus driver, team manager, team coach, team executive member, league executive member, and team owner. Beyond being a mainstay for Peterborough lacrosse, Ted Higgins is a genuine promoter of the game of lacrosse.

He started as a player of bantam, midget and juvenile teams. The highlight of his career as a player came in 1961 when he played for the Minto Cup champion Hastings Legionnaires. The team was also the Eastern Canada Finalist in 1962. Ted went on to play two years of Senior lacrosse with the Brooklin Redmen.

In 1964, Ted Higgins in the role of General Manager, reactivated the Peterborough Senior team. This led to Ted being on the executive of the 1966 Mann Cup champion Peterborough Petes.

Over the next five decades, Ted dedicated himself to lacrosse serving both the junior and senior teams in Peterborough. He was an executive member of the 1971 Peterborough PCO's who were the Eastern Canada Junior "A" champions. This was followed by four consecutive Minto Cup championships from 1972 to 1975 (this legendary team was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2010).

Success continued at the Senior level with the Peterborough Red Oaks who won the Mann Cup in 1978 and the Eastern Canadian Championship in 1979.

During the 1980's and 1990's, Ted Higgins was responsible for Senior lacrosse surviving in Peterborough. Since that time, Ted played a pivotal role as the Peterborough team has won the Mann Cup in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019. If the Lakers are successful in capturing the 2022 Mann Cup, it will mark Ted’s eleventh Mann Cup!

When you discuss his tremendous success in lacrosse, Ted smiles in a humbly manner and responds stating, “I am so proud to be from Peterborough. I was born and raised here.  I truly love the people and the city of Peterborough.  Like every success in life, it is not accomplished by a single person.  There have been so many people who have been a major part of my success. And most certainly my partner Rosemary has been instrumental.”

Outside the world of lacrosse, Ted Higgins has made countless contributions to the greater Peterborough community.  He owned and operated Higgins Hardwood Flooring for decades, providing employment for several persons (including more than a few lacrosse players over the years).  Ted enjoys singing and was an integral member of the one time very active, but now defunct local singing group – “The Golden Tones”.

In 2017, Ted was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.  Rather than feel sorry for himself, he decided to fund raise for the Peterborough chapter of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation by participating in the annual Parkinson’s SuperWalk campaign. In 2020, with a troop of help, Ted raised $36,250 making him the #1 Individual Fundraiser across Canada. An additional $12,200 was raised in 2021, placing Ted #1 in Peterborough and in the Top Ten across Canada. The year 2022 is the third year Ted Higgins has participated in the Parkinson’s Canada annual SuperWalk campaign. Ted has set a goal of $10,000 for 2022 and is approaching the ¾ mark of his goal.

Unknown to most, Ted also donates to various food banks and other worthy causes.  He is truly a genuine and caring person who along with his partner Rosemary Rutledge have made the community of Peterborough a better place.

A genuine lacrosse icon, Ted Higgins has been inducted into the following:

Inducted into the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame in 1999

Inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999

Inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005

Inducted into the Peterborough Pathway of Fame in 2011

Community builder and contributor, lacrosse legend – Ted Higgins is proud of Peterborough.  However, in return - the good citizens and greater community of Peterborough are surely proud of one of their own, Ted Higgins.

Rad Joseph

MSL Media Team

radjoseph@hotmail.com