Contributor

John Shorey

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2007

For over 50 years, John Shorey has contributed in a quality, high-energy manner to the Brockville and District sports scene. He has contributed as a player, an Executive and as a developmental leader for the great game of hockey. John played for the Brockville Flyers and was an original member of the Brockville Braves. He also played internationally in Italy and Holland. He was a member of the 1967 Prescott Barons-ODHA Intermediate “B” Champions. John led the Brockville Tikis for over a 13-year period as Coach, General Manager and Owner. John had many successful seasons with the Brockville Diggers fastball team, winning Ontario Juvenile “A” and Junior “A” titles in 1961 and 1963.

In 1995, John received the ODHA and Junior Hockey Recognition Award, and in 2004 received the Hockey Canada Junior Hockey Recognition Award. His work in providing a comprehensive training manual for younger players has been widely recognized by many teams and associations. John has provided over 25 years of exemplary leadership as President of the Rideau St. Lawrence Jr. “B” Hockey League.

Les McAllister

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2002

Les was an outstanding high school athlete and continues to be active today. He was a pitcher and second baseman for intermediate “A” area softball teams for 20 years. Les played goal in minor hockey in 1951 and continues to do so on old-timers teams. Today, with his love of sports, Les has coached ladies’ softball from 1975 to the present. He was the head coach in Prescott minor hockey for 5 years and won the 3M Coaching Award in 1996. Les spearheaded a project to build a new softball diamond with lights in Prescott in 1978.

He also served on the fundraising committee for the building of the Prescott Community Centre. He served as a minor hockey executive and was one of the original founders of the Prescott Minor Hockey Club Midget “AA” tournament, where he served as Chairman for the first 4 years.

From athlete to coach to executive, Les McAllister has served the Prescott Community for a lifetime.

Phil Kall

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012

Phil Kall has organized and coached sports at the minor level in Brockville for more than 40 years, starting in the 1970s. The former Sports Editor at the Recorder and Times, coached baseball and teamed up with Jim Loucks to form a dynamic duo at the Atom Hockey League Level. He was also heavily involved in organizing the Roger Ladouceur Memorial Aton Hockey Tournament in Brockville.

Always believing in providing an opportunity for kids to enjoy sports. Phil Kall has been an important advisor to young coaches, always willing to volunteer his experience and expertise to help out. He has been a wonderful mentor for hundreds of young athletes.

Ramona Braganza

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2019

Ramona Braganza was an energetic gymnast growing up in Brockville, and she used those skills to become a professional cheerleader with the Toronto Argos for three years and the Oakland Raiders for 10 years through the 1980s. She has competed in numerous fitness competitions. Been featured in fitness magazines and has been a professional fitness instructor for more than 25 years.

In Hollywood, Ramona became the fitness trainer for actress Jessica Alba for 12 years and is working with a number of television and movie stars. She is regarded as one of the top personal trainers in the entertainment industry. Ramona has worked to empower women through fitness in Canada, the United States and India.

Rob Smith

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2010

Rob Smith’s interest in sports began as a stick boy with the Brockville Braves. Rob moved up to be an Assistant. Trainer, then head trainer and was twice selected as All-Star Trainer in the CJHL. But it was serving the Village of Lyn where Rob made his mark. For 23 years, he served on the Lyn & District Minor Softball Association. Including 10 years as President. As President, he played a key role in increasing participation from 120 to 230 ballplayers, and the number of teams jumped from 7 to 23. He was active in fundraising for the new Lyn Centennial Ball Park. Rob was the first person to arrive and the last to leave the park. Rob umpired in the Lyn & District Softball Association for 23 years, serving 15 years as Umpire-In-Chief.

He has also coached house league and bantam girls travelling teams for 4 years with the Brockville Blazers Girls Basketball Association. Rob also coached his brother, who represents the Ontario Blind Sports Association. Rob was an important member of The Pit Crew for Chris Raabe’s 2008 Sportsman Driver Track Championship at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. He was on the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley Rec. Committee for 15 years, including 9 as Chairman and was the recipient of Lyn’s Citizen of the Year in 1997.

Ron “Old Coach” Baker

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2014

While Ron Baker was a good athlete in his younger days, his biggest contribution to local sports has been in volunteering. Along with coaching minor ball in Spencerville and minor soccer in Prescott. Run Baker developed a hockey beginners program for South Grenville Minor Hockey Association and has run it for 42 years. Introducing over a thousand young girls and boy’s to hockey. He has been actively involved with organizing, mentoring and coaching in the SGMH program for years. His contributions to minor sports have been recognized with honours at the local. Provincial and national levels, he won the 3M Coaches’ Award in Brockville in 1990.

Ron Smith

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2013

After arriving in Brockville in 1975 to work at The Recorder and Times, Ron Smith was the sports editor there for the last 33 years of his 37-year career at the paper, before retiring in June 2012. He has been involved in city sports in playing and organizing basketball, fastball and the City Golf Championships, along with helping start the Men’s Touch Football League, where he organized and played for 25 years.

He coached for 15 years in the women’s fastball league and officiated basketball in the city and area for 28 years. He has been heavily involved in the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame since 1993. Along with his passion for golf, local sports has been his life.

Steve McAllister

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10th, 2011

Steve McAllister has been involved in the sports media business and with professional sports associations since 1981. The Prescott native has written for the Canadian Press and was sports editor for the Globe and Mail for nine years before joining Yahoo Sports as its managing editor in 2009. He has been the President of Tennis Canada and worked with the NHL Players Association for three years.

He has taught sports writing and made regular appearances on sports radio and television shows in Toronto. Along with being a highly respected sports journalist across Canada. He was a hockey referee and linesman at the junior, senior and university level for 20 years.

Wayne McManus

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9, 1994

Wayne George Elson McManus has devoted all of his life to sports in the Athens Area. He played, coached, umpired and helped to organize the Intertownship Softball League from 1959 to 1970. He was a member of the fundraising committee for Centre 76, coached the Athens Senior Girls Softball Team in 1982, and umpired various leagues until 1985. On the Athens Athletic Assoc. 1968 to 1970, Asst. Manager of Athens Junior “C” Hockey from 1966 to 1968 and on the executive in 1968-69. He has been the manager of the Athens Aeros Junior “B” Team since 1969. He was honoured as Athens Citizen of the Year in 1993.