Tributes are pouring in for Ray Stonehouse, Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) president and former long-time owner of the Ridge Meadows Flames, who passed away at the age of 76.

On Saturday, July 17, the league issued a statement.

鈥漈he PJHL would like to extend its thoughts and prayers to Sue Stonehouse and the Stonehouse family during this difficult time,鈥� the announcement said.

鈥漅ay was not only a Keystone Cup champion, Cyclone Taylor Cup Champion, and three-time Pacific Junior Hockey League champion, but he was a champion for all Junior B hockey, teams, players, coaches, and officials in B,C.鈥�

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Friends and fans recalled a tough but fair man, who was a strong ambassador for the league.

Among them, Sean Murray, who knew Stonehouse from when he played and coached.

鈥淢y deepest condolences to his wife, Sue,鈥� Murray said.

鈥淎lways loved talking hockey with Ray. God bless you my friend and R.I.P.鈥�

Tim Knight was grateful for 鈥渁ll the memories and inspiration he shared鈥� and described Stonehouse as a 鈥減assionate, hard working, dedicated hockey builder.鈥�

鈥淪ome of my clearest hockey memories were in Old Cam Neely arena with the Flames when Stoney would come into the room and fire us up. He鈥檚 had a major impact on so many and will be missed,鈥� Knight said.

Gord Spink recalled playing for Stonehouse in the early 90鈥檚, calling him a 鈥渟trong ambassador鈥� for the PJHL.

鈥淭hank you for all your hard work over the years, it never went unnoticed,鈥� Spink commented.

Megan Steenhuisen said what he did for the junior hockey community 鈥渋s a true example of dedication.鈥�

Quinn Donovan said Stonehouse 鈥渨as a good man, tough but fair, with a lot of great insight into the game he served with honor, and he will be missed.鈥�

Chris Lakusta said he will miss seeing Stonehouse at the rink in Aldergrove.

鈥淚t won鈥檛 be the same without you but your spirit will live forever in the ones you came contact with including mine,鈥� Lakusta wrote. 鈥淩.I.P. Mr. Stonehouse.鈥�

In 2020, Stonehouse was nominated to be inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.

His hall of fame biography noted that he started with the league in 1980 when it was called the West Coast Junior Hockey League, and described him as 鈥渁n integral part of the success of Junior B Hockey in British Columbia.鈥�

Stonehouse owned the PJHL Ridge Meadows Flames for 25 years, before selling the team in 2005.

鈥淚 just felt it was time,鈥� he told the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News in a 2016 profile. 鈥淭ime to pass the torch.鈥�

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His teams won gold, silver, and bronze at the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Championships.

Since 1989, Ray and Susan owned and operated the Great Canadian Sportcard Company in Port Moody.