For more than 25 years John "Buck" Mayo's writings were responsible for major benefits to hockey, especially hockey in Western Newfoundland. He was the area's top hockey writer from July of 1959 to mid 1985. As a sports writer and sports editor of the Western Star in Corner Brook, Mayo provided exceptional support and promotion through his coverage of all levels of hockey in communities from Port aux Basques to St. Anthony. His writings were fair and unbiased, accurate and informative, consistent and entertaining. They were among the very best coverage of hockey in the history of the sport within Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mayo's love of hockey was extremely evident, as shown in his professionalism and his successful determination to provide the facts in a manner that was correct and easily understood by his thousands and thousands of readers. The Corner Brook Royals enjoyed great success during Mayo's tenure at the Star and his professionalism and personal interest in the club was an excellent supporting factor in many aspects of the Royals' operation.

"The Corner Brook Royals were very fortunate to have John Mayo as the premier sports reporter in Western Newfoundland for 25 years or more," says Cliff Gorman, long-time chairman of the Corner Brook team.

"As a player and fan I was lucky to observe John Mayo as a hockey reporter and dedicated supporter," says Doug Grant, who enjoyed exceptional success as a Corner Brook goalie and went on to play for Detroit and St. Louis in the National Hockey League.

"John Mayo was a fine hockey reporter," remembers Buchans' great star Hugh Wadden. "We always knew we would get a fair shake when we played the Royals, even when the games were played at Humber Gardens. He certainly has been a credit to sports reporting and really supported hockey with his writings."

While senior hockey benefited greatly from John Mayo's reports, he was very, very supportive of junior, school and minor hockey all over Western Newfoundland. Every Western Newfoundland hockey program is better because of the manner in which John Mayo covered it. In fact, his great personal interest in hockey was manifested when he served as chair for Corner Brook junior hockey and, for several seasons, he was a working executive member of the city's minor hockey program.