In hockey circles, they called him “King Bee,” a most appropriate description for Howard Pallett, the man who spent more than a quarter of a century as the driving force behind one of Ontario junior hockey’s legendary clubs, the Dixie Beehives.

    

     Over the years, the Beehives (simply Bees to their die-hard fans) enjoyed many a sizzling moment and claimed some of the most coveted prizes in Ontario junior hockey. Dixie Arena, the first lady of Mississauga’s hockey arenas, often burst at the seams and shook from the roar of the crowd that somehow managed to squeeze into the stands to lend vocal (and moral) in support as their heroes battled for a provincial silverware.

    

     Howard has had tributes paid to him in many ways over the years. In 1969, the Ontario Hockey League presented him with a gold pin in appreciation of his outstanding work. In 1977 on the 25^th anniversary of his involvement with hockey, Howard received awards from Ontario, the Metro Toronto Hockey League and the Chicago Black Hawks. It was also the year, he was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame for a contribution that went beyond being the owner and a guiding light for the Dixie Bees.

    

     The Pallett family had deep roots in Dixie. That’s where Howard was born and raised and where he and his pals used to play hockey on frozen ponds near his home during their childhood. Later, when they became more serious about their hockey, the group had to travel to Georgetown because there was no indoor ice facility available in any of the Toronto Township’s communities. Howard and his friends decided to do something about it. First, they purchased a piece of land from Howard Graham, then sold both preferred and common stock with which to build Dixie Arena that became a Mississauga landmark in more ways than one. In 1952, Howard was the key figure in the purchase of the East York Rockets, which they eventually renamed the Dixie Beehives. While affiliated with the NHL Chicago Black Hawks, the Bees boasted three Ontario Junior B divisional titles and three Ontario championships. At one time or another, a whole slew of players wore the Beehive jersey on the their way to the NHL — Dave Burrows, Rick Dudley, Freddie Stanfield, Ken Hodge, Barclay Plager, Larry Patey, Randy Cunneyworth and Mike Kaszycki, just to name a few. Bryan Lewis and Brent Casselman went on to become NHL officials.