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1971 Legion Little League All-Stars Canadian Champions
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 1996
The spirited bunch of 11 and 12-year-old boys went all the way to the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, after winning the Ottawa District title and following it up with an Ontario Championship. Brockville went on to capture its first and only Canadian Little League Baseball Championship over British Columbia, at St. Laurent, Quebec. Their dream season took them to Williamsport, where they faced three opponents. They lost two hard-fought decisions, to Hawaii and to Puerto Rico, before winning their third try, over Kentucky, while wearing Canada’s colours proudly. After their little league careers ended, a number of the players went on to start with the Brockville Bunnies, winning Championships there as well. A few even went on to play in the Inter-County Semi-Pro Baseball League. The team members included: Dennis Atkins, Steven Caldwell, Danny Collison, Larry Crooke, Gerry Crooke, Bernie Edwards, Kevin Kennedy, Steve McCaugherty, Bobby Morrow, Nick Noonan, James Reynolds, Dale Robertson, Terry Spence, John VanDerbaaren. Coaches Dave Wyatt, Fred Blanchard.
2026 HOF Preparation
SPORTS HALL OF FAME
By RON SMITH
The Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame is preparing for next year’s event.
The Sports Hall of Fame has been scheduled for Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, 2026 at the Memorial Centre in Brockville.
After being sidelined by COVID for three years, the Sports Hall of Fame made its comeback in 2023. This year the Sports Hall of Fame will be celebrating its 32nd anniversary.
Brockville radio and community legend Bruce Wylie had an idea for the sports awards banquet in 1976. At the initial event, Bunny Bradfield, Jim Cunningham, Jack Giffin, Charlie Publow and Don Swayne were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for their contribution to local athletics over many years.
The event struggled financially and it did not reappear until 1993 when Leo Boivin, Roger Hodgkinson, Chick Kirkby, Doug Marshall and Wilmot Young joined the original five inductees on the wall in the lobby of the Brockville Memorial Centre.
The 32nd event will be honouring a longtime volunteer, a longtime coach, sports team of the year and sportsperson of the year. The event will also induct five new individuals into the Sports Hall of Fame to join the 170 who are already there on that impressive wall or rotating through on the television screen.
The committee is always looking for the community’s input into nominations for the five categories in the area that encompasses Brockville along with Cardinal on the east, Toledo to the north and Mallorytown to the west.
For coach and volunteer, those awards are given to people who have dedicated a lot of their lives to helping athletes or teams or organizations.
For sports team and sportsperson of the year, they are honoured for accomplishments between May 1, 2025 and May 1, 2026.
For possible Sports Hall of Fame inductees, they are honoured for a lifetime of accomplishments and achievements, whether pro or amateur, whether it is for athletic prowess or for giving of their time to enable teams and athletes to enjoy and succeed in sports.
People are urged to send nominations to Ron Smith at rsmith132@cogeco.ca. The deadline for nominations is Saturday, May 23.
Alan Hugh “Ding” Singleton
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2009
Al or “Ding” excelled in several sports, but his favourite was hockey. The late 30’s and 40’s were Al’s Glory Days on Ice. He worked his way up through the Brockville Minor Hockey Program in 1947/48. He made his first major step towards the NHL when he played for the Galt Rockets.
The next season, he moved up to the Boston Olympics of the Old Quebec Senior Hockey League. Then onto the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen. After that, it would be the NHL, but tragically, during the 1949 summer off-season, Al contracted polio, thus ending his playing career during his rehabilitation. Al helped support the Brockville Memorial Centre and cut the ribbon to open the new centre on February 25, 1951.
Al went on to Coach the University of Guelph Redmen and Gryphons compiling a record of 75 wins, 16 ties and 55 losses.
In October of 2002, Al was inducted into the University of Guelph Sports Hall of Fame posthumously. Alan died of post-polio syndrom in 1995.
Alf Countryman
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 15, 2012.
Alf Countryman was a bowler who devoted his recreational hours to hockey, golf and softball.
In 1938, he set a Canadian record for rolling a three game score of 1147 in bowling at the “Drives” that are amongst the oldest in Eastern Ontario. Alf scored 423, 380 and 344.
Alf played with the Cornwall Flyers and previously with the Brockville Magedomas as a goalie.
He also played part of a season with Prescott in the St. Lawrence League.
Lacrosse fans remember that he played goal for Brockville when they played Cornwall Island Indians some years ago.
Alf was also Assistant Pro at the Brockville Country Club for some time.
Allie Cameron
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2005
Cardinal’s Allie Cameron excelled in baseball, fastball and hockey at an early age, and his attention to his fitness level allowed him to continue playing senior “A” fastball and hockey into his senior years. In hockey, he was a sought-after defenceman for intermediate and senior “A” teams until the age of 44. He has played old-timers hockey with a variety of championship teams for more than 30 years. Being a key component of the Morrisburg combines in winning medals at the Provincial and Canadian level.
In Dundas League Fastball, his defensive play made him a fixture at third base with the Cardinal Pats for more than 20 years.
Andy Stewart
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Andy played for the Brockville Bunnies for 3 seasons, learning to be a catcher. He made his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 1997. He got his first major league his in his first at bat against the Chicago White Sox, and played a total of eleven years in professional baseball, appearing in 898 games with 3090 at-bats and a career batting average of .280 with 71 home runs and 433 runs batted in. His career high season batting average of .338 was with Wichita in 1998, where he also led all league catchers with a .988 fielding percentage.
Andy played for Canada at the 1999 Pan-American games, leading the team in batting (.452 average) and a tournament leader in runs scored, hits and RIB’s while hitting four home runs. Canada won the bronze medal with a victory over Mexico, and Andy was named Canadian Team MVP.
He served as bullpen catcher and catching instructor for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000-2001. He began his managing career with Williamsport of the New York-Penn League in 2002 and won the League Championship in his second season.
Art Pearce
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2004
From the time he first started playing organized baseball as a youth in 1947. Through his semi-pro time with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, until his retirement from the game in 1967. Art Pearce was universally recognized by both players and fans alike as one of the finest players this area has ever produced. In the 50’s & 60’s, Art was frequently picked up by teams looking to win league tournament championships. He was a fixture at the Old “Kelly Park” playing for teams such as the Brockville Fenlons, Brocks, Mannitona Hotel and Commercial Stars. He was a feared hitter who consistently batted over .300 and was a league all-star wherever he played.
After retiring from an active career. He was an assistant coach with the Brockville Bunnies for two years.
Barb Sayeau
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Barb Sayeau began playing ladies’ softball in Cardinal in 1970 and continued with a number of teams until the early 1990’s. Barb coached minor softball in Johnstown for a number of years.
Along with softball, Barb was heavily involved in women’s hockey. First playing on a women’s team at the age of 14. She played in the Brockville Little Angels for 22 years. For many years, she played broomball, hockey and coached women’s hockey at the same time. She was a volunteer at the first-ever women’s world hockey tournament in Canada in 1990.
Barb devoted her lifetime to amateur sport in the area through participating, coaching and volunteering. Always helping others and always with a laugh.
Her number 2 has been retired by the Brockville Angels and hangs in the Memorial Centre. Barb Sayeau passed away in 2011.
Ben TeKamp
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2005
Ben TeKamp has been involved in rowing since the age of 18 at the Brockville Rowing Club. While he was active in the administrative duties of the club, along with serving at the Provincial and National level for more than 25 years, he is best known for being a rowing official.
Since 1975, he has officiated at regional, provincial, national and international competitions. Including the Pan-Am Games, the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships and the Olympics. He has received numerous Provincial and Canadian awards for his long-time involvement and dedication to the sport of rowing.
Betty Craig
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 8, 1995
While she enjoyed skiing and basketball, Betty Craig made a name for herself in International Rowing. After learning the sport at The Brockville Rowing Club, Craig embarked on a rowing career that spanned 13 years at the National and world level. She played on three Olympic teams and participated in numerous World Championships.
When Craig retired, she had earned six medals from Olympic and World Championships, the most by any Canadian at that time and was called one of the best female rowers in the world.
After a brief retirement, Craig returned to win the Canadian Championship again in 1987 before retiring for good. Craif was honoured as Canada’s Outstanding Rower in 1982 and received the Sport Excellence Award from the Government of Canada in the 1982, 1983 and 1984 Tribute to Champions.
Bill Godwin
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2019
Bill Godwin was a key player on two special and winning organizations in the early 1950s from 1949 to 1951. Bill was a top scorer for the Inkerman Rockets, who won the Ottawa District Junior Championships in his time there. Bill played on a forward line with Hockey Night in Canada host Brian McFarlane from 1951 to 1955. Bill was a top player and Captain for the Brockville Magadomas, a team that won four consecutive Ottawa District Championships in those years.
Bill coached the Brockville Braves for several seasons and was also involved with Brockville Minor Hockey. He was the head of the fundraising committee from 1979-81 to build the new Brockville Memorial Centre. Bill passed away in 2013.
Bill Tooker
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2001
Bill Tooker grew up in Brockville and attended local schools. Played all minor sports, baseball, hockey and at B.C.I., football and basketball. Bill began rowing in 1945 and in 1947, rowed at the Canadian Henley. Served on the executive for 12 years, president 1968, 69 and 71. It was during his presidency that the B.R.C. became incorporated.
Bill was a chartered member of the B.R.C. “Old Boys Association” 1960. He became a licensed Canadian Referee in 1967 and a licensed International Judge in 1970. Bill would represent Canada as a judge at 5 world rowing championships, 1 Olympics, 1 Pan-American Games and 1 Northwest International Regatta. He also officiated at 14 Canadian Henleys, 8 Canadian and 8 Ontario Championships.
He trained and licensed Canadian Referees for 5 years. In 1980, he received the “Centennial Medal” in honour of the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Association of Amateur Oarsmen, now called Rowing Canada. In 1994, Bill Tooker received a 50-year pin.
Blaine Healey
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 11, 1999.
Starting at the advanced age of 16 Toledo’s Blaine Healey quickly developed into one of the most dominating fastball pitchers of his era. Credited with being one of the first to throw the Riseball.
The 140 pound right-hander set numerous strikeout records in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Leagues throughout Eastern Ontario, Quebec and New York State in the 1960’s. He started with the Brockville Diggers. Once striking out 26 batters in a nine-inning game and continued on to play senior ball in Hull, Belleville and Oshawa.
His 17 year fastball career ended in 1975 back in Brockville.
Healey began a tradition of pitching in this family with four younger brothers taking up the position.
Bob Darling
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2019
Bob Darling has been a recognizable face with the Junior “A” Hockey Brockville Braves for more than 50 years. He started with the Braves in 1969 as the voice of the team’s 50-50 sales, among other duties, and became the team trainer in 1984.
He’s been honoured for his dedication to the team by the Braves and the Central Junior “A” Hockey League on two separate occasions. He was the recipient of the Volunteer Award by the Brockville Sports Committee in 2004. He’s worked as a Trainer at Summer Hockey Camps and with other local teams that needed his services.
Bob was also heavily involved with the Brockville Minor Hockey Association and the Brockville Figure Skating Club for more than 15 years.
Bob Greenwood Sr.
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2008
Bob Greenwood Sr. was always interested in sports, from cycling to table tennis. He brought his sporting interests to Brockville in 1957.
Bob was involved with the start of the Brockville Minor Soccer Association. He played soccer in the Kingston & District League, later in Brockville and continued to play until he was 50. He was a referee for boys’ and girls’ high school soccer.
He played darts at Legion Branch 96 and was a statistician for the 20-team league for over 20 years. He organized Legion Golf Tournaments and was President of the Legion Golf League.
It has been bowling where Bob made his mark. He was introduced to the sport of 5-pin bowling upon his arrival in Brockville. He would join 5 leagues, winning a high average of 14 out of 15 years with a top average of 260. His nickname was chosen by the late Harry Painting, sports writer of The Recorder & Times, in his column was “The Bowling Barber”. Today, Bob Greenwood takes his place alongside the others in the Hall of Fame.
Bob Mills
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Bob Mills has been involved in the sport of hockey for more than 50 years. His coaching career began in 1960 with New Edinburg Minor Hockey and has continued since then with stints in Prescott Minor Hockey. Junior “B” in Prescott, Junior “A” in Brockville and the Rideau-St. Lawrence Kings.
He has been heavily involved in athletic development for hockey players on their way to college and pro ranks. He has assisted in player and coaching development at the minor and junior levels and served as a Junior-College Hockey Camp Director for 25 years. Bob has also been a hockey scout at the OHL level and for eight years with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. He has served as a volunteer with the Prescott Minor Hockey Tournament for 30 years.
Bob Tucker
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2009
Bob Tucker was a longtime Cross-Country and Track and Field Coach at South Grenville District High School in Prescott for more than 30 years.
In 1973, he formed the Brockville Legion Athletic Club. Coaching athletes in cross-country, along with track and field. Bob Tucker also organized a number of regional and provincial championships in Brockville in both sports a nationally certified coach and rules official.
Bob Tucker has been the recipient of a number of coaching honours from provincial and national agencies. Including the Canadian Governor General’s Award in 2002 and the Meritorious Service Award in 2005 from the Royal Canadian Legion, he worked tirelessly with young athletes who went on to Provincial and Canadian Honours.
Boyd & Wilma Caldwell
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2014
Boyd & Wilma Caldwell volunteered their time, energy and enthusiasm to support minor sports in Brockville for five decades. Beginning in the 1960s, Boyd Caldwell has coached and managed teams in hockey and baseball, including the Brockville Bunnies. He umpired baseball, refereed hockey and did groundskeeping at ball fields. Wilma Caldwell coached minor baseball and was heavily involved in planning, volunteering and organizing tournaments. She was the main stats person for many baseball games, along with announcing baseball games and figure skating shows.
They were both heavily involved in the administration of minor baseball, hockey and figure skating in Brockville, along with raising funds for teams and players. Together, they enjoyed a lifetime commitment to Brockville’s minor sports.
Brian Chapman
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2007
Brian Chapman grew up playing minor hockey in Brockville. Then had one year with the Brocville Braves in 1984-85. In the middle of his three seasons with the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, Chapman was a fourth-round pick of the NHL’s Hartford Whalers in the 1986 entry draft. Chapman played 17 years of minor pro hockey in the American and International hockey leagues, playing 1,208 games with seven different teams. He was a solid defenceman who scored 87 goals and 376 assists in his career and received the IHL’s Ironman Award in 2001-02.
After six seasons with the Manitoba Moose, Chapman ranked among the team leaders in several career categories, including best plus-minus. Chapman retired as the career number 1 in games played in the IHL and AHL.
Bruce Wylie
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2023
Bruce Wylie came to Brockville in 1971 and has been heavily involved in the community and in sports since that day. He started the successful Bruce Wylie Golf Tournament in 1972 at the Highland Golf Club. He started the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and then refounded it in 1993. He also ran a Hall of Fame Golf Tournament for 20 years. He was always supported at all events by his wife, Eileen.
He was a play-by-play announcer for the Brockville Braves for three seasons and called their first championship in Pembroke. He was the stock car races announcer at Cornwall and Akwesasne speedways in the early 1970s. Bruce was the Citizen of the Year in Brockville in 1988.
Burke Dales
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10, 2016
A versatile athlete at TISS, Burke Dales had enjoyed an All-Star football career at the Canadian University and pro levels. He was the Canadian All-Star Punter with Concordia University in 2001 before starting his nine-year pro career with the Calgary Stampeders in 2005. He won a Grey Cup with Calgary in 2008 and retired in 2014 after stints with Edmonton and Montreal. Burke was a West Division All-Star on four occasions and a CFL All-Star in 2010 and 2011.
He was voted the league’s top punter by the players in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Over his career, he punted 824 times for 37.667 yards for a 45.7 yard average. That average is good for second place on the all-time CFL records list.
Burke passed away on January 6, 2024.
Charlie Whiteland
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2005
Charlie Whitehead made his mark in coaching in the Brockville Minor Hockey Association and Minor League Baseball from the early 1950s to the mid-1970s. While coaching a number of hockey Championship teams. He also won pennant and playoff titles with the Brockville Legion Baseball Team. During his time of coaching the Babe Ruth League, he was instrumental in working with the late James Auld to obtain a practice facility for the precise sum of $1 per year at what is now called Gainford Park.
In later years, he helped coach kids on how to play golf at Sherwood Golf Course.
Cindy Scott
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2023
Cindy Scott is one of the top three female athletes in the sports history of Brockville. At TISS High School, she was a star on a senior girls’ basketball team that won three consecutive All-Ontario Championships in the mid-1990s. In track and field, she won a provincial gold medal in the long jump and in the 4 x 100 relay. She played five years of basketball at Western University, winning rookie of the year and being named a league All-Star. She won team MVP and All-Canadian honours in 2000. She was inducted into Western’s Wall of Honour in 2016 and 2018.
She is now teaching and giving back to young athletes by coaching sports at a school in the Toronto area.
Claude Pattemore
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 13, 1997.
Claude Pattemore golfs for fun, the trophies and honors are secondary. There have been many honors and trophies in his lifetime. The Athens native lost his sight at the age of 21 in a dynamite blast while working road construction. In 1951 he was talked into playing golf by friends. Between 1952 and 1972 he won the Ontario blind golfers Championship a total of 14 times and was a 12-time Canadian Champion. In 1963, he won the Canadian, American and International Championships for blind golfers. In 1963 he fired an 86, the all-time lowest scoring competitive round. A record that stood for 26 years. Pattemore became the first Canadian blind golfer to break 100.
He shot a personal best of 78 on his Hamilton home course. In October, 1996 Pattemore was inducted into the Royal Canadian Golf Association Hall of Fame at the age of 69. Blessed with a keen sense of humor Pattemore golfs in the summer and enjoys curling now in the winter.
Cobby Coville
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 13th, 2003.
Cobby Coville was a fiery young athlete at Brockville Collegiate who was proficient in swimming, boxing and hockey. As a boxer he was a five-time Golden Gloves Champion in the Bantam Weight Class before the age of 20.
His real love was hockey. After playing Junior and Senior hockey he became a scout for the Philadephia Flyers of the NHL. In 1967 he travelled all over North America and Europe until 1990, searching out players. A career for 23 years and two Stanley Cups.
He also had a stint as the Coach and General Manager of the Brockville Braves.
Coville was instrumental in raising funds to have artifical ice installed in Centre ‘76 in Athens. He was active in Athens Minor Hockey, and Figure Skating Associations. He died in May, 2002.
Corry Fox
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Corry was a talented, multi-sport athlete who was named MVP in track and field, basketball, volleyball, plus Athlete of the Year at TISS. She was the top female athlete at the first-ever McDonald’s – TISS Invitational Track and Field Meet, winning the hurdles and 200 metres with school records.
Corry led the University of Western Ontario to three Ontario and two Canadian Team Championships in track and field. She established a school record in the pentathlon, earning All-Canadian Honours. Corry represented Canada internationally in the heptathlon, competing in England and the United States.
She enjoyed a successful teaching career at area elementary schools, mostly at Westminster, coaching a wide variety of Sports. She convened the Leeds and Grenville Elementary School track and field championships for 20 years.
Craig Swayze
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Craig Swayze grew up in Brockville in the mid-1940s, rowing and winning a gold medal in the Junior Lightweight four at the 1947 Canadian Henley. While he played other sports, his first love was rowing, and he became heavily involved in that when he moved to St. Catherines as a sports reporter. He covered rowing for more than 40 years. He also became involved in the International Rowing Federation. Was Chairman of the North American Championships. Then served on the committee for the World Championships in St. Catherines in 1970 and 1999. He led the way to upgrade the rowing course in St. Catherine’s, helping make it a world-class facility that attracts National and International Regattas. Craig Swayze died in 2000.
Cyril Leeder
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2013
After being known as a smart and versatile player in a number of sports in Brockville, Cyril Leeder was one of a small group of people who brought the Ottawa Senators NHL franchise to Ottawa in 1990. He has been involved with high management positions with the organization since then. Promoted to the President of the Senators’ Sports and Entertainment in 2009.
He is a recognized community and business leader in Ottawa and has earned a number of prestigious honours for his community involvement, including being inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Cyril Leeder has been the driving force behind successful Ottawa bids to host the 2013 World Women’s Championships. The 2012 NHL All-Star Game and 2009 World Junior Championships. He is the longtime Chairman of the Bell Capital Cup Hockey Tournament and has been involved with many charitable initiatives in Ottawa.
Darren Burns
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2025
Darren Burns has made outstanding accomplishments in hockey, both in playing and coaching. As a four-player with the Brockville Braves, Burns is third in career points with 299. He owns the career record for assists in a season with 94 and shorthanded goals with six. As a member of Acadia University, Burns won the Canadian Championship in the 1992-93 season.
After graduating, he was the Assistant Coach of the Men’s Hockey Team for five years before being named Head Coach. A position he has held for 25 years, his teams have won two bronze medals at the Canadian Championships, and Burns has earned a number of coaching awards. Burns helped create the Acadia Minor Hockey System.
Dave Campbell
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Dave Campbell turned his love of basketball and football at Brockville Collegiate into an amazing career in athletic therapy.
Dave was the owner of private sports clinics in Montreal. For 30 years, he was the athletic therapist for the Montreal Maniacs and then a consultant with the Montreal Canadiens for 30 years. He was the head therapist for the World Gymnastics Championships and a member of the Canadian Team in 1986 in Auckland and 1990 in Edinburgh in the Commonwealth Games.
He worked with the Canadian Athletes at five Olympic Games in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. He has worked with numerous Canadian athletes, including Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
In 2011 Dave became a member of the Canadian Athletic Therapists Hall of Fame.
Dave Dixie
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 8, 1995
Dave was one of the most talented multi-sport athletes in this area. He was a dominating figure in baseball, hockey and fastball, starting when he scored 91 goals in 28 games with the Jr. “B” Athens Aeros at the age of 16.
Dixie played in the CJHL with the Brockville Braves, Gloucester Rangers and Smiths Falls Bears, winning league MVP honours with the Bears. Dixie was a .400 hitter for the Brockville Bunnies baseball team. He then starred in area fastball as an MVP with the Domville Aces, continuing to earn other MVP honours for overall play, hitting and pitching.
He played in two Canadian Championships, including his first, when a highlight was a home run in the 24th inning for a 1-0 victory. He later played for Ottawa in the World Softball Championships after having a tryout with Team Canada.
Dave Saunders
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2018
Dave Saunders has been a combination of talented athlete and dedicated coach, and organizer. In his playing days in hockey, he starred for the Brockville Tikis, Brockville Braves and the Ottawa Gee Gees. In golf, he has won numerous tournaments, including the men’s title at the Brockville Country Club and is a two-time winner of the City Championships. In hockey, he coached at the minor level in Brockville and officiated for 15 years. In Junior B, he coached the Brockville Tikis to a league title in 1985 with a 44-3 win-loss record.
He’s coached minor baseball at the elementary level, and he coached sports for 30 years from 1980 to 2010. Organizing tournaments and championships. He’s always been involved in community sporting events.
Dennis (Pat) Beasley
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 1999
Born and raised in England, Pat enjoyed soccer as a youth. He played as a guest player for York City during the war. Out of the army, he played with the British Police. Came to Canada and played soccer for the Canadian Armed Forces and was Captain of the Canadian Soccer Team. Joined Brockville Minor Soccer Association 26 years ago as a coach and is still coaching today. He is the past President of Brockville Minor Soccer. He also became Referee in Chief for 6 years.
Pat also has grown to love hockey and was Referee in Chief of B.M.H.A. for 3 years, even though he couldn’t skate. Pat is also the British Army and British Police Road walking champion, and in 1962 won the road walking marathon in Montreal, for which he was invited to the Olympic trials.
Denzel Billings
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2010
Denzel Billings began racing stock cars at the age of 16 at the Mountain and Iroquois speedways. It was the start of a career that would last for 50 years. In his career, Denzel Billings was a popular, colourful and fan favourite driver who won 11 track championships at Mountain, Iroquois, Brockville, Cornwall and Kingston in 1973. He won track crowns at Brockville, Cornwall and Kingston. He has raced stock cars at 16 speedways in Ontario and New York State. At the age of 67 in 2007, Billings celebrated his 50th year in racing by winning the Vintage Car feature at the Brockville, Ontario, Speedway.
Dianne Johnson
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2007
Started playing ball at the age of 8 years old. At 16, she played for the Brockville Dave Jones Ladies Fastball Team, playing in Leeds and Grenville until 1998.
She started playing hockey in 1973 and went on to play for the Brockville Angels for 32 years. In 1980, she went ot Potsdam State. In Potsdam, New York, where she played for the varsity team (still playing for the Brockville Angels). During the three years she was with Potsdam State, she played in the University State Championship and was chosen to play in the American All-Star Games. In 1986, she joined a team from Toronto to play in Europe, travelling to Holland, West Germany and England in 1997-98. Dianne played “AAA” for Brockville, playing in a league in Toronto and Ottawa.
Dianne was President of the Brockville Girls Hockey Association and ran their annual tournament for many years. She coached a peewee and intermediate girls’ teams. In 2005, she retired from the Brockville Angels. The association retired her sweater at their annual tournament in February 2006. She is presently still involved in hockey.
Dolores Young
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2014
Dolores Young began rowing in Brockville at the age of 17. She competed for Canada at the age of 19 in the Olympic Summer games in Montreal in 1976 and Los Angeles in 1984. Over a 10-year period from 1976 to 1986. She won rowing championships at every level from Provincial to Canadian to International.
Her coaching career began in 1985 in Brockville, but then she moved to Toronto to Winnipeg. She became the Executive Director of Rowing Manitoba and coached a Canadian team in International Regattas in 2002.
She has coached Championship Crews at the High School level in New Brunswick since 2005 and for the Province’s rowing teams at the Canada Summer Games in 2009 and 2013.
Doris McEwan
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2002
Doris McEwan doesn’t remember learning to swim, but swim she has. Swimming and her have gone hand-in-hand since 1933. That’s the year England’s National Team recruited her for its Junior Women’s Swim program. She competed in the 1948 Olympics in Wembley. England’s swimming anchor on the relay team.
Doris came to Brockville in the late 50s and didn’t take up swimming again until she joined the 1000 Island Masters in the late 80s.
At one time, she held world records in three events in her age category. McEwan competes eight times a year in the National Capital Masters series as well as provincial and national meets. She also coaches Brockville’s Special Olympics swim team. Doris finds time to compete in three triathlons a year. Cycle and Sail.
Doug Currier
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2015
Doug Currier was a talented and versatile multi-sport athlete with speed and power at South Grenville District High School. Playing football, soccer and track and field. Earning All-Ontario silver and gold medals in shotput in the mid-1980’s. He set school records that are still standing thirty years later. He also played Junior hockey in Prescott and with the Brockville Braves.
He joined the Canadian Bobsled Team in 1989. Winning the Canadian and World Cup Championships in the two-man and four-man sleds from 1990 to 1992. He was a member of the Canadian Olympic Bobsled Team in 1992 before retiring.
He was inducted into the South Grenville Hall of Fame in 1998.
Doug MacLean
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2010
Doug played two years for the Brockville Braves in 1973-74 and then pursued his education. Upon graduation, he returned home to P.E.I,. where he taught high school and became head coach of the Summerside Junior “A” Hockey Team. In 1985-86, he became the head coach at the University of New Brunswick and after one season, he was asked by Jacques Martin to join his coaching staff in St. Louis. He helped lead the Blues to first and second place finishes in the Norris Division before becoming Bryan Murray’s Assistant Coach in Washington. He left the Capitals after two seasons to become Murray’s Assistant in Detroit. In 1995, Doug was named Head Coach of the Florida Panthers. In his first season, he won the Eastern Conference Championship and a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. He was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year and was the winner of the Hockey News Coach of the Year. In 1998, Doug was named General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets. A month later, he was named President of the Organization. In 2008, he became a co-host on Toronto Sports Radio Station, The Fan 590 and is now an analyst on Rogers’ Sportsnet Hockey Central.
Duke Murphy
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2006
Lyle ‘Duke’ Murphy was an Athens native who was a gifted all-around athlete in any sport he chose to play from 1960s to 1990s.
He excelled at football and basketball at the high school level for the Athens Warriors. He started forward as a hockey player from junior through intermediate levels in Gananoque, Athens, Cornwall, Prescott and Brockville. He was a member of two Ontario Senior Winter Games Championship hockey teams for the Morrisburg Combines.
Duke Murphy was a left-handed pitcher and strong hitter in fastball, being a key player for the Brockville Diggers in junior and juvenile provincial championships. He was sought after finesse pitcher by Brockville, New York State and Kingston baseball teams. Relying on guile as opposed to power for more than 25 years.
Ed Bell
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15, 2012
Ed Bell has been involved in sports for 45 years. While at Iroquois High School, he began coaching softball and hockey and umpiring in the Dundas Fastball League.
Ed became a teacher and first taught at Wolford in 1969. In 1974 began teaching at Lyn Public School and for 38 years coached track & field, cross country, basketball, soccer and volleyball. Ed would bring his push lawn mower and tractor to the school to design a track for athletes. The invitational meet at Lyn School is now the “Ed Bell Track & Field Meet”.
Ed was an umpire for 28 years in the Leeds-Grenville and Dundas Umpires Association. He was co-convener and instructor for the Hoop’s Summer Basketball Camp. In January of 1990, he formed the Brockville Blazers Girls Basketball. Ed coached and developed many young basketball players who played college or university ball. Ed was a member of the “Save the Braves Committee” in 1978 and was involved as Co-Owner, Assistant General Manager, Equipment Manager and Trainer.
Ed Brown
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Ed Brown lived baseball. He played baseball in the 1910’s and 20’s. He had a major league tryout but refused to sign a contract because he wouldn’t play ball on Sunday. Every single person who played Little League. Connie Mack baseball, or senior baseball, was at one time or another coached by Ed Brown. He was also a pitching guru. In the late 1950’s a group of men built a ballpark in Prescott, and they did it right. Brick dust basepaths, major league dimensions, 5-foot homerun fence, lights, dugouts, on-deck circles and netting.
Ed Brown now had a place to teach the game he loved. Often, he would sneak away to the ballpark and say, “Don’t let my wife know I’m here; she thinks I’m at choir practice.” Ed Brown was everyone’s coach. Every team in town had Ed in their dogout. He was just there, Ed Brown, the man who taught the game to kids for nearly three-quarters of a century.
Ed St. Louis
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2003
Ed St. Louis. While never quite making it to the Professional Leagues. He was, nevertheless, a top amateur athlete. Ed excelled in three sports – baseball, softball and hockey. Ed was a catcher in the Cardinal Minor Baseball Association. The highlight of his playing days was in 1954 when he signed with the Boston Red Sox for a tryout with their farm team. Ed played for the Cardinal Pats Softball Team for over 25 years as the battery mate for Hall of Famer Ted Hoy.
He excelled at Hockey as a Defenceman. The Boston Bruins had Ed’s name on their negotiation list, which led to tryouts with the Junior “A” Oshawa Generals. He played two years with the Baltimore Clippers in the Eastern League. As a senior hockey player, Ed played into his 60’s.
Eric Pattison
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2023
Eric has been involved in sports in Brockville and the Area for more than 40 years. Before arriving in Brockville in the late 1970s, he became involved with the Brockville Minor Soccer Association by coaching and serving as their president. He has coached club soccer teams in Brockville and Prescott. He also coached in the Brockville Minor Hockey Association and served on the executive. He has been a coach for soccer, curling and badminton at St. Lawrence College in Brockville since the mid-1990s. The OCAA honoured him as its East Division Badminton Coach of the Year in 2022-23. He also developed a junior program in Brockville.
Ernie Fader
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 13, 1997.
An all round athlete who played all sports but his first love was hockey. He was well known as a flashy high scoring speed skater who could play any position.
His career started with the Iroquois Juniors. He won championships with the Kemptville Royals and Brockville Magedomas. Player coach with Brockville Chiefs. Player with Ramblers and coached the Brockville Flyers. Ernie was an avid ball player. He won three softball championships and coached in the Legion Minor Ball Program.
In golf he was a member of the Highland Club for 33 years. He has two
holes-in-one. He was president of the Old Curling Club and the First President of the New Brockville Country Club after the amalgamation. Ernie was executive treasurer of the Brockville Figure Skating Club. Ernie’s tremendous talent and lifetime love for sports has made him a role model both in and out of the sports field.
Ernie Metcalfe
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2006
Ernie Metcalfe was a talented all-around athlete in football, fastball, hockey and basketball for more than 25 years while also coaching minor baseball, minor hockey and senior hockey in the Brockville area.
As a strong-armed quarterback out of TISS, Metcalfe participated in the Ottawa Rough Riders rookie training camp in 1968 and then won MVP honours in the city touch football league. In fastball, Metcalfe was a talented all-star first baseman and catcher, noted for his power-hitting and his defensive prowess. In the Dundas League with Brockville, Williamsburg and Cardinal, he played with Ottawa Turpin at the Canadian Championships in 1986. In hockey, he was an award-winning goaltender at a variety of levels in men’s hockey for more than 20 years in Brockville and Area. Continuing his coaching and taking up hockey officiating when his job took him to the United States in 1998.
Evelyn Mainwaring
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2003
Eve was born in Estonia and was always surrounded by horses. She received her first formal lessons from a Russian Sergeant. She emigrated to Canada in 1950. She moved to Brockville, where she met her husband Bertie. He encouraged her interests in horses, from fixing an old stable to the present facility of 40 boarders and school horses. St. Alban’s has come a long way. Eve is a level 2 coach and a recognized judge in dressage. Equitation and hunter/jumper.
She is a lifetime Director of the Canadian Warmblood Horsebreeders Association. Eve is known as the Best Horse Woman in Canada. The most famous example would be her involvement in Canada’s most famous jumper, “Big Ben”. She instills sportsmanship, promotes camaraderie and supports those who share her passion for horses.
Frank “Ike” Ritchie
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012
Frank “Ike” Ritchie had established himself in Canadian sporting circles as an outstanding all-around athlete. He was proficient in many sports but earned most fame in football and rowing.
In football, he was a valued member of the Brockville Club when they defeated Toronto for the Ontario Intermediate Crown by lost the Dominion Championship to McGill University. The team won the Quebec Rugby Football Union Title in 1900 when Mr.Ritchie was considered the outstanding “Wing” in Canadian football. In hockey, Mr.Ritchie was captain of the town’s first team and also captain of the lacrosse club. He was a member of the Brockville Rowing Crew that established the national U.S. Title in Philadelphia. In 1898, rowing in the Canadian Henley. They ran the course in 8.25 minutes. Mr.Ritchie was also a member of the Brockville Club, canoe crew and active golfer.
Garry Bates
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2008
Garry Bates has always been heavily involved in sports. Whether it’s been playing, coaching or organizing so others can enjoy athletics. While he played fastball, baseball and hockey, Bates coached all sports as a teacher at Benson and Prince of Wales Public Schools. He helped organize track and field tournaments. He was key in establishing a basketball referees organization where he officiated. He was also the President and then acted as an evaluator for young officials for more than 30 years.
Bates was also the well-organized Chairman of the successful Memorial Invitational Golf Tournament that raised more than $500,000 for Palliative Care in its 20-year run. He was also a longtime volunteer on committees at the Brockville Country Club.
Geoff McMullen
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10, 2016
Geoff grew up playing a number of sports, including baseball, track and field and hockey. He was a member of the first Brockville Bunnies Team. Hockey was his love. He played in the BMHA and at age 13 decided to become a goaltender. He was a member of the Brockville Juvenile Championship team in 1965-66. He played two seasons with the Brockville Braves and helped the Braves into the playoffs in his second season before playing with the Smiths Falls Bears.
At Algonquin College, he was named the OCAA’s Top Goalie in 1968-69 and then again in 1969-70. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
At Colgate University, he earned his way into the record books by making 72 saves in a single game. He was drafted in 1972 by the New England Whalers of the WHA, where he played for two years. He has participated in the Canada Senior Games.
George A. Wright
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012
George A. Wright is the second son of the late Robert Wright, founder of Rober Wright Company Ltd. He has been active in sports in an executive capacity. He has been a director of the Brockville Arena Company ever since its formation. His enthusiasm for athletics was responsible for him being secretary of the Brockville Hockey Club, Treasurer of the Brockville Baseball Club, Secretary-Treasurer of the Northern Division of the American Canoe Association, Captain of the YMCA War Canoe Crew of 1901. The year the club won the Half-Mile Championship and Tug-of-War at Mudlunta Island, President of the Leeds County Hockey League and the President of the Brockville Softball League.
Gerald Shorty Wormington
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 15th, 2012.
Gerald “Shorty” Wormington was a gifted athlete in many sports.
He was Prescott’s ace pitcher in Junior and Senior Baseball and their best hitter when he switched to softball. He played shortstop and continued his hitting prowess.
In hockey he was a smooth playmaking centre described by Sly Apps of the Toronto Maple Leafs as having big league material.
In 1944-45 he had 75 points in 19 games to lead Prescott Juniors to win The St. Lawrence Junior “B” League Championships and the Gill Cup and the Ottawa District Junior “B” tile and the Citizenship Shield.
Gerry Devaney
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2005
Prescott’s Gerry Devaney was a talented and versatile athlete in hockey, baseball, fastball, golf and curling. In his younger days, his stellar play as a goaltender earned him a spot on the negotiation list of the NHL’s Boston Bruins and his professional career included three years with the Jersey Larks on the Easter Hockey League from 1959 to 1961.
In baseball, he had a tryout with the farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. After his minor pro playing career ended, he continued to play a variety of sports, earning praise in senior baseball for his hitting. He has coached minor hockey, fastball and baseball in the Prescott Area for more than 20 years.
Gina Smith
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2010
Gina Smith started riding with the Saskatoon Pony Club in 1969 at the age of twelve. She began riding dressage in Vancouver. Prior to arriving in Brockville in 1990, Gina trained in Germany. She was a reserve rider for the Los Angeles Olympics in 1964 and won a team bronze medal at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Since 1990, she has trained at Franklands Farm in Brockville. In 1991, she was a member of the Gold Medal winning team riding Franklands Farm – owned Dutch Treat. One of Canada’s most accomplished dressage riders. Gina had the highest score in the 1996 Olympic selection trails. Riding Faust she represented Canada at the Atlanta Olympics in 1997. They were named Grand Prix Champion at every show entered, including the Canadian National Dressage Championship’s where she captured the title for the first time in her extensive career. At 1997 North American dressage Championships in Maryland, Gina was a member of the bronze medal team with Fledermaus, owned by Franklands Farm. They won the Swarovski Canadian League World Final at the Royal Horse Show in 1999 and represented Canada
Gloria Lor Spoden
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Glori Lor Spoden was born and raised in Brockville. She started taking skating lessons with the Brockville Figure Skating Club. At the age of 21, she applied for a position with the world-famous Ice Capades.
In 1966, she earned a position with the group and went to Washington D.C. to be part of the Ice Show. Two years later, in 1968, she was the Line Captain for the Ice Capades, which meant that if any members of the line could not skate. She would replace them in a performance.
She was also responsible for teaching other skaters how to do their performances. She left Ice Capades in 1971 and taught figure skating in California for a number of years. She has organized two Ice Capades reunions in Las Vegas with 500 retired skaters attending. She still skates and creates a monthly newsletter in Toronto for retired skaters.
Gord McCrady Jr.
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2014
Gord McCrady Jr. has enjoyed an accomplished career in hydroplane racing and curling. In hydroplane racing, he was the Eastern North American Champion in 1969. Ranked third in the world, he was the Canadian Champion in his class from 1979 to 1981. Along with being the Canadian High Points Champion in that three-year stretch. He has curled at a high level at the Brockville County Club. Regional and Provincial Bonspiels. He co-founded the Prestigious Shorty Jenkins Classic that began in Brockville in 1996. An event that has brought numerous Canadian, world and Olympic Champions to the city. He has been honoured provincially for his contribution to curling.
Gordon Duff
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 11, 1999.
To be successful all great teams need skilled on field personnel.
Equally necessary for success are those people that work behind the scenes with little or no fanfare. The Brockville Bunnies, a baseball institution for over 30 years had such a person in Gord Duff. A tireless worker, Gord served as Coach and Business Manager for the team over a 20 year period.
Gord worked closely with various city clubs, businesses and concerned citizens in numerous fundraising activities.
Gord looked after all off field business activities for the club and laid a solid financial foundation so important for the survival of the team.
Gordon Forbes
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 1997
Expressive and consistent, Gordon Forbes was one of the top male figure skaters in Canada during his career. Born and raised in Brockville, Forbes placed third in the Canadian Junior Championships in 1977. He began computing internationally in 1979 at the age of 19. Forbes won two skating competitions in Europe that year and placed second in another. He went on to place third in the Canadian Men’s Championships that same year. Forbes was a graceful free skater with innovative routines that included multiple triple jumps. He improved his skating and placed as high as second in the Canadian Championships in 1980.
Skating in the same era as Brian Orser and Brian Pockar, Forbes placed third in the Canadian Championships in 1984 and an impressive ninth in the worlds that year. Forbes retired from amateur skating in 1985 at the age og 25 after competing in his eighth Canadian Championship. He skated professionally for three years before turning to coaching young skaters in Ottawa.
Hank Lammens
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2001
Hank Lammens was a talented, versatile athlete who won world honours in sailing and played hockey in the NHL. Tall, strong and characteristic, Lammens was a two-time Finn Class World Sailing Champion in the 1990s and was ranked no.1 Finn Sailor in the world in 1995, a first for a Canadian. Along with a minor pro hockey career, Lammens played 27 games as a defenceman with the Ottawa Senators in 1993.
He was Canada’s yachting male athlete of the year on two occasions and was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He was the Brockville Sportsman of the Year in 1993.
Herb Foster
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 11, 2005.
Herb Foster was born on August 9, 1913 in Brockville, Ontario.
In 1932 Herb launched his hockey career with the Atlantic City Sea Gulls. Herb continued to play with the Sea Gulls through the 1939 season, where he earned the league scoring title three consecutive years 1937-39. Herb made a franchise record in 1938 by scoring 52 goals in 52 games.
Herb then moved around to several teams playing several games with the New York Rangers. During his career he was named to the first-line Allstar teams seven times.
Herb ended his 18 year playing career with the Atlantic City Sea Gulls in 1949 and amassed 358 goals and 227 assists.
Herb had the distinctive honour as being named the head coach of the Sea Gulls his last year in the hockey organization.
Jack & Margaret Shepherd
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2006
In the mid and late 40’s and early 50’s Margaret or Maggie as she was called, played ball for the Stetson Imperial Ball Team. Maggie was the catcher and an outfielder and better known for her hitting abilities when they played at the Broad Street Diamond or Rotary Park.
After serving in the Second World War, Jack & Margaret were married and devoted their loves to sports and serving this community. Jack and Maggie have coached ball, hockey, both boys and girls, from atom through to midget. Whenever one was the coach, the other was the manager.
Maggie was also the treasurer for the Babe Ruth baseball league when they opened their store, Shepherd’s Live Bait, which ran for 42 years. They sponsored many hockey and ball teams, notably the Legion Minor Ball, Shepherd’s Little Indians. During the late 60’s and early 70’s Jack became famous as mascot for the Brockville Braves Junior “A” hockey team as Big Chief Jack Shepherd. Jack and Maggie never claim glory, nor do they seek praise, but have continuously gone out of their way to ensure that others benefit from their accomplishments.
Jack Hoy
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 1999
Jack Hoy grew up playing baseball and hockey in Cardinal, going on as a star in baseball as a player and in hockey as a referee in the early 1950s. He was a pitcher in the St. Lawrence Senior Baseball League. Once, throwing 33 consecutive shutout innings. Known as having a decent fastball and curveball. He signed with the New York Yankees in 1953. Moving up through their farm system until reaching “AA” in 1956, before being released. He pitched inter-county league for four years. Managing the galt terriers in his last year. He spent 10 years as a slick-fielding shortstop on the Cardinal Pats fastball team. He was a referee in the Junior “B”, Intermediate and Central Junior “A” Hockey Leagues for 20 years. Known as being tough, fair and willing to talk to players.
Jack Weststrate
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2008
While Jack Westrate was an Ontario-level athlete in track and field, he made his mark in helping young people reach that level in a 30-year high school teaching career at TISS. Westrate was best known for coaching cross-country, along with track and field. He helped the Pirates develop into a provincial power in both sports, coaching numerous athletes to multiple gold medals. Helping them to achieve U.S. Scholarships. He covered major track and field meet events, along with officiating.
Westrate was honoured by the Leeds and Grenville and Provincial Associations for his leadership. Dedication, spirit and love of all sport, along with his coaching accomplishments. He has also given back to his community, coaching minor fastball and minor hockey.
Jacqueline Rasenberg
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2025
In the early 1980s, Jacqueline Rasenberg was a multi-talented athlete at Brockville Collegiate. Rasenberg starred in basketball, volleyball and track and field, qualifying for the All Ontario High School Championships on several occasions. She graduated as one of the best ever female athletes at the school.
She received athletic scholarships in three sports from American Universities, and played on track and basketball scholarship at the University of Alabama. Injuries brought her back to the University of Ottawa, where she played basketball and volleyball. After becoming a firefighter, Rasendberg competed for 17 years in the firefighter combat challenges. In 2007, she won the Canadian Individual Championship. In 2009, she won the Canadian and world titles in the team competitions. She won six Canadian and eight World Championships. Rasenberg volunteers her time with the Special Olympics.
James MacLaren
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
James MacLaren was the son of one of the founding members of the Brockville Rowing Club, and he served on its board of directors for more than 40 years. He was President of the BRC in 1926. In 1933, he was one of four Brockville Citizens who assumed ownership of the BRC to avoid foreclosure by the Province of Ontario. He provided the club with leadership, stability and motivation to succeed in 1960. He became the first BRC member to become the President of the Canadian Association of Amateur Oarsmen.
He helped raise funds to hire the club’s first coach in 1947 and was a generous supporter of the club for his entire life. He was awarded the club’s highest honour. The award of merit before he died in 1965.
Jamie Auld
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2004
Born and raised on the St. Lawrence River in Brockville. Jamie Auld has always possessed a love of boats and racing. He was a pedal-to-the-medal racer with an aggressive driving style, one that would earn him numerous race championships.
In the late 1970s, he became one of the best hydroplane drivers in Canada and the United States. He won the Canadian Championships in 1978. His career ended in 980 when he broke his back in a boating accident. He turned to designing and building boats for other drivers. He became world-renowned for the success of his boats. Auld was the innovator of safety features in boat building that are mandatory in all hydroplane racers. He is a consultant for drivers and race teams in Canada and the United States. He was inducted into the Canadian Boat Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Jane Pal
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2019
Jane Pal began her athletic career as a swimmer at the Brockville Aquatic Club in the mid-1960s. She turned to rowing in 1974, had success in Canadian and American Championships. In 1976, she was named to the Canadian National Team and earned a spot in the women’s eight for the debut of women’s rowing in the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal.
She continued as a member of the National team until 1979, when a severe wrist injury ended her rowing career. Jane played community college basketball for Mohawk College, earning special All-Star and MVP Awards in the early 1980s. In 1985, she returned to master’s swimming competitions in Brockville. She has been coaching with the Masters Swim Club since 2007.
Jay Glynn
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2000
As a young boy, Jay had a natural athletic aptitude. He developed impressive skills in several sports, but it was his courage and tenacity. Indeed his out and out doggedness, that made him stand out.
He began working out at the Brockville “Y”. It was the boxing coaches there that presented him with the potent combination of art, strength, courage and conditioning and lured him into the ring. He joined the Ottawa Beaver Boxing Club for further training. Jay achieved Ontario Championship Certificates from 1985 – 1988 and was a member of Team Canada in 1985 and 1988. He was the Ontario Light Heavyweight Champion from 1985 to 1988. He won a silver medal in the Olympic trials for Team Canada. A silver in Greece and a silver medal at the National Championships in Edmonton, all in 1988.
Jay is also a master swimmer, plays competitive squash. An avid cyclist and a cross-country skier, he was “All Ontario” track & field, excelling in distance running in high school.
Jean Davison
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 1998
Jean Davison played all sports as a high school athlete. She moved to Brockville from Bury, Quebec in 1950 and has played softball, basketball, hockey, volleyball, badminton and bowling. Her favourite sport would have to be golf, where she has achieved many honours. She has won the Brockville Country Club Ladies Championship 18 times and the ladies section annual tournament 19 times. She continues to play a steady game today.
In addition to playing sports, Jean has been involved in the organizational end as well. She has served on the Board of Directors of the B.C.C., the Red Cross Golf Committee and was a founding member of the Girls Minor Softball Association – being involved for 29 years.
Jean is married to husband Ralph and has three daughters, Wendy, Kelly and Nancy.
Jeff Kyle
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Jeff Kyle grew up in Brockville. An accomplished player for the BCI Red Rams in basketball and football in the early 1980’s. He was a defensive back for the Queen’s University Football team.
Jeff was one of the original Brockville Connection with Cyril Leeder, Randy Sexton and Mark Bonneau, who helped bring the Ottawa Senators into the National Hockey League in 1992.
He was the longtime Vice-President of Ticketing and Marketing with the Senators. Always in tune with the team’s fanbase. Jeff was smart and savvy and played a significant role with the Senators with his forward-thinking strategy. Away from the rink, he enjoyed family, fitness, fishing and golf. Jeff passed away in 2024.
Jim (James) Earle
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2007
Jim was an outstanding athlete who excelled at basketball and discovered rowing. He competed at the Canadian Schoolboy Championships for five consecutive years, winning 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. He rowed competitively for 16 years, competing at three world championships. He stroked the four to the petite final win in Nottingham, England in 1975. Jim won four Canadian Henley Titles in three different decades: 1969, 1971, 1974 and 1981. During his 16-year career, Jim helped his team win over 100 races worldwide. After rowing, the sport of running would become his passion. He has been racing competitively for 25 years and has 390 wins or age group placings.
Besides coaching himself, Jim has also coached numerous high school teams for 25 years. Some of his many accomplishments include taking his cross country team to OFSSA 6 of the last 9 years, 3 EOSSA Championships in boys basketball and several trips to OFSSA in track.
Jim Loucks
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 9, 2000.
Since 1967, the name Jim Loucks has been synonymous with minor hockey in Brockville. He has been behind the bench longer than anybody in B.M.H.A. history.
Jim has coached two generations of young hockey players, always at the Atom Level and his House League and Representative Teams have achieved great success.
Brockville’s Dean of Coaches, a diehard Montreal Canadiens fan, believes “if you treat your players right, a pat on the back goes a lot further than a kick in the pants.”
Jim has taught over 500 youngsters the game in the first class way.
Making the sport a fun experience.
Jim Shields
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012
Jim played hockey from an early age. In 1944, at the age of 18 he was selected to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp and was offered a tryout with the Tulsa Oilers. Making the team, an injury cut the season short and he returned to Brockville to resume his junior career. He would play for the Smiths Falls Rideaus in an intermediate league and then with the Brockville Magedomas in the Ontario New York Senior League.
It was in 1962/63 when there was talk of forming a junior team in Brockville and it was at the shield’s home where the Brockville Braves were born. Jim was the coach of the Braves in their inaugural season as well as the second year. He was also the first general manager. He was hired as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks for the Ottawa Valley in the 1965-67 era. Jim was also an excellent softball and baseball player.
Jim Toshack
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2010
Jim Toshack was a physical education teacher at Maynard Public School for 33 years from 1984 to 1998. He has spent countless hours coaching thousands of young athletes in cross-country, volleyball, soccer, basketball and track and field. Including 1979 Canadian Junior Team high jumps, Cathy Marjerrison and Jan Anne Forrest. Jim Toshack also helped set up a local elementary athletic association and was one of the organizers for public school sports and tournaments that still carry on that tradition. Always working to help any athletes get better. Jim Toshack was a caring and always competitive coach.
Jim Vickery
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10th, 2011
Jim Vickery has organized and coached sports at the elementary school, high school and club basketball level for more than 40 years.
Starting in 1970, the Athens native coached every sport imaginable at Toniata and Vanier Public Schools. Also, starting the Burger King Track – Meet until he retired in 1998. He began coaching high school basketball in 1983 in Athens. Alternating from there to Brockville Collegiate until 2011.
He has coached basketball for the Brockville Blazers and the Brockville Blues. He was honoured as the first recipient of the lifetime coaching award by the Brockville Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He has been a mentor to Young Coaches and thousands of young athletes.
Jo Jo Graboski
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Jo Jo Graboski was a fast and talented young hockey player who lost an eye after being hit with a stick while playing with the Oshawa Generals in 1932. The Chicago Blackhawks offered him a contract, but the NHL wouldn’t allow a one-eyed player to join the league.
Nicknamed “The Polish Flash”, he found his way to the Brockville Magadomas in 1934, and he was a fan favourite as he led the team in scoring in 1935, taking Brockville within a game of the Eastern Canada Allan Cup Finals. Graboski then played in England, with the Hershey Bears, the Valleyfield Braves, Kirkland Lake, Glace Bay and Quebec Aces, retiring in 1942. In his eight seasons of Senior Amateur Hockey, he helped lead his team to three championships in three different countries. He died in 2002.
JoAnn Bell
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2024
Joann (Sherwood) Bell was a figure skater with the Brockville Figure Skating Club in the 1950s. She followed that up by coaching at four clubs in the area. Joann was also an all-star second baseman for Lyn in the Leeds and Grenville Ladies Softball League in the 1970s and 1980s. She volunteered as the secretary-treasurer for the Brockville Braves and the Brockville Blazers.
In 1971, Joann started a gymnastics program at the Lyn-Tincap School, The Brockville Gymnastics Krickets, and she became a major fundraiser and its head coach for more than 25 years. Without Joann’s persistence and efforts, the club would not be what it is today. In 2010, she founded the Brockville Chapter of Cycling Without Age.
Joe Doyle
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2004
Joe Doyle was an athlete and a manager. He played defence for the Cardinal Redbirds in the early 40’s and helped them win the Eastern Ontario Championship and the Citizen Shield as a manager of the Prescott Jr. “B” Saints in the 50’s. He would win another Citizen Shield.
Joe also managed a travelling softball team named Doyle’s Dearies in the 50’s. For 50 years, his main love has & been curling. He has been a member of the Prescott Curling Club for over 50 years. In 2000, he received a lifetime curling membership from the club. In 1985, he won the Legion District Curling Championship, curling with Tracey Delaney, Frank Jenkinson and Bob Burford. He would then compete in the Provincial Curling Championship in Guelph, compiling a 4-5 record. A modest man, Joe doesn’t think he did anything except “keep things together,” but that’s what makes a great manager and this is Joe Doyle.
Joe Saundercook
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012
Joe Saundercook was a colourful high-scoring hockey player and a hard-hitting baseball outfielder. Joe Saudercook has been active in sports all his life. He played with Brockville junior and senior teams in the old OHA when Kingston, Belleville, Oshawa and Brockville were arch rivals. Offered a professional contract shortly after he turned senior. He went to Saskatoon in the old Western Canada Professional League. Later, he played professionally for Oakland, California and with other teams in the U.B. Western League.
He was a proficient swimmer and was a member of the Brockville team at the turn of the century that played in what today is the Grey Cup Classic for the Canadian Championship. Fellow Hall of Famer Hec MacLean also played on that team.
John Morgan
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10, 2016
After playing University basketball at Carleton, John Morgan has been heavily involved in sports since arriving in Brockville in the late 1960s. He helped start the Sports Association in the Public schools. Along with Garry Bates, Jim Vickery and Jim Toshack, then coached and organized all sports at Commonwealth School for 29 years.
John played in the men’s basketball league for more than 20 years. Along with serving as a statistician and on the executive, he coached the St. Lawrence Brahma Bulls basketball team for 10 years. John refereed basketball and appointed officials for many years. He served on the Golf Council of the BCC for 25 years on its Board of Directors. As Golf Chairman, and ran the Junior Program. He was previously inducted into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame.
John Sharpe
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2013
John Sharpe has been a pillar of strength for the Sporting Community of Brockville and Area for the past 56 years. He has served the needs of all organizations with which he has been involved in an energetic and committed fashion. John has covered a broad spectrum of the community, which includes youth, ladies and men in a number of capacities. He has served as President, Coach, Executive, Volunteer or as a highly respected official. He has contributed in a high-performance manner to the B.M.H.A., Little League/Senior Little League and Legion Baseball programs. The Brockville Braves, The Tikis, High School Football, The City Fastball League, in addition to contributing leadership to the success of the 2010 Fred Page Cup and also The Provincial and National Senior Games hosted by the city.
In the summer of 1990 accepted the position as Manager of The Brockville Arenas and served in that capacity until retirement in 2006. John has been involved. He has competed. He has contributed. He has led.
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.
Josh Jonker
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2018
Josh Jonker was the premier sprinter in Eastern Ontario and was recognized on the national stage during his running career with the TISS Pirates. He was also a two-time Canadian Midget Champion at 100 and 200 metres, as well as the Juniot 100-metre Champion. He represented Canada on the national stage.
In 1983, he was the first athlete from TISS to win an OFSAA Gold Medal when he won the 100 metres. He finished his High School career with four golds, two silvers and a bronze from the Provincial High School Track and Field Championships. He set 100 and 200-metre records at EOSSA in 1987, and those marks still stand today. He started the Motto “Excellence is a TISS Tradition” that is still used by the Pirates.
Karen Blachford
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2009
Karen Blachford grew up in Brockville, attended Toniata Public School and then BCI before heading off to University. It was in London that Karen was diagnosed with MS. Not one to give up, she would begin to try wheelchair sports.
Starting with baseball, playing with kids from there, her career is a tale of awards. In 1998, she was a provincial five-time golf medalist in track & field in 1999, a provincial champion and six-time gold medalist. In 2000, she was named London’s Sports Person of the Year and the 1999 Female Athlete of the Year at the Kitchener Athletic Awards Banquet. She was also the Provincial Champion and a six-time gold medalist in 2001. She achieved her certified level 2 hockey official. In 2002, she won a silver medal at the world championships in Switzerland. In 2004 and 2005, gold medals at the Canadian National Wheelchair Curling Championships and in 2006, a gold medal at the Winter Paralympic Games in Italy.
Karen continues to compete and inspire disabled people throughout the world.
Ken Lynch
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2023
Ken Lynch has been involved for almost 50 years with officiating basketball in Brockville and the area as well as the Provincial level.
He started refereeing in the early 1970s and has officiated more than 6000 games in his career. He has officiated three OFSAA Gold Medal games at the Ontario Summer Games (Waterloo) and the Ontario Boys’ Under 18 Club Championships (Ottawa). Along with officiating, he was honoured for 33 years of coaching at Benson Public School and for more than 20 years of coaching at South Grenville High School. He received the Colin Hood Sport Award from OFSAA for his contributions to student-athletes. A proud member of the Cardinal Pats for 10 years.
Kevin Beatty
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15, 2012
Kevin Beatty didn’t begin a running career until late high school. He began to excel as a member of the Queen’s University Cross-County and Track teams during University. He was Queen’s Cross-Country Rookie of the Year in 1997 and OUA All-Star in 2001 for the University of Waterloo.
In 2000, he began marathon running and placed 6th overall in a field of 25,000 at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington. He competed at the National Capital Marathon in Ottawa in 2002, ran a personal best to finish 6th overall and took home the silver medal in the Canadian Championship. Finished the year as the 3rd fastest marathon runner in Canada.
Kevin ran the 2004 Chicago Marathon, one of the World Marathon Majors, finished 20th overall in a personal best time of 2:21:37, and once again finished the year as the 3rd fastest Canadian marathon runner. In 2005, he was selected to be a member of Team Canada and helped Canada finish in first place. In 2008, he turned his attention to triathlons and finished 3rd in his age group, top Canadian and had the fastest run split of all competitors. Selected in 2008 as Triathlon Canada Athlete of the Year of the Olympic Distance.
Kevin MacDonald
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2025
Kevin MacDonald enjoyed a long career in minor pro hockey. He played with the Brockville Braves as a 15-year-old and then spent four years in the Ontario Hockey League, mainly with the Peterborough Petes.
After playing University hockey, MadDonald spent 10 years as a rugged defenceman in the minor pro leagues in the United States from 1988-1998. Playing 703 games, he was on three championship teams. MacDonald played one game with the Ottawa Senators in the 1993-94 season. At the end of his playing career, MacDonald spent three years coaching in the West Coast Hockey League. His Father, Tony MacDonald, was inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Kim Sauve
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Kim Sauve has coached basketball for more than 40 years at the local, regional, provincial and national levels. She coached her St. Mary Crusaders to the All-Ontario High School Championships in 1994, 1996 and 1998 to go along with one silver medal. Along with coaching numerous other sports at the high school level. She was involved in organizing volleyball and basketball All-Star games, along with creating the school’s athletic banquet.
Kim has coached the Brockville Blazers and Regional All-Star teams. She has received local honours for her coaching along with the Naismith Basketball, the Toronto Raptors and the Provincial High School Association.
While Kim is the most accomplished and decorated female coach in the area, she has always been a dedicated teacher and coach to her players.
Larry Lunman
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12, 2015
For more than three decades, Larry demonstrated a high level of devotion to his students, working as the first qualified physical education teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic School.
Larry was more than a coach – he was a hard-working volunteer, organizing sporting events, refereeing, and coaching. His career started in 1963 at St. Mary. During the winter, Lunman organized a school hockey team, and in the spring, the first elementary basketball tournament. He continued to build the school’s sports programs and ran house leagues for football, volleyball, basketball, and 3-pitch softball.
Larry began Biddy Basketball at St. Mary and organized it for 20 years.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he coached St. Mary’s boys’ flag football, track and field, boys’ and girls’ volleyball, senior boys’ and girls’ basketball, as well as his junior boys’ basketball team in competitive inter-school events.
He officiated local high school basketball games before retiring in 1995. He is also an avid sports historian.
Larry Robinson
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 1996
In the fall of 1968, as a rightwinger, Larry joined the Brockville Braves. Three years later and now a defenceman, he was drafted into the NHL by the Montreal Canadiens. Larry played 20 seasons in the NHL, the first 17 with Montreal and three in Los Angeles. Robinson played 1,384 games in all, compiling 958 points on 208 goals and 750 assists. He holds the NHL record for 20 straight playoff appearances and was on six Stanley Cup Championship teams, twice winning the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenceman. He was a playoff MVP in 1978 and was chosen a league all-star six times. After serving as Assistant Coach with the Stanley Cup Champions New Jersey Devils, Robinson became Head Coach in Los Angeles in the 1995-96 season.
While a junior player in Brockville, he was a flamboyant performer and a favourite with his fans, who continue to follow his career. While maintaining friendships with his former teammates and fans here, Larry has earned their respect and admiration. Along with hockey, Robinson was also a talented competitor in fastball and polo.
Larry Robinson
LARRY ROBINSON
By Ron Smith
If it was a movie script that was offered to Hollywood directors, they probably wouldn’t believe it.
But, it was certainly a Cinderella story when the St. Louis Blues went from last place in the National Hockey League in early January to hoisting the Stanley Cup in mid-June.
And, for Larry Robinson, the most accomplished player to ever wear a Brockville Braves uniform, it marked an impressive milestone achievement.
As a senior consultant/assistant coach for the Blues, this is the 10th time … six as a player with the Montreal Canadiens, three as a coach with the New Jersey Devils and one with St. Louis… that Robinson will have his name engraved on the sport’s most cherished trophy.
“It sure brought back a lot of memories for me, the whole story of where we were and where we came from,” said Robinson, “and the fact we were basically setting history for the franchise just made it all that much sweeter.”
The Blues fired the offensive-minded Mike Yo in January and replaced him with the more defensively-responsible Craig Berube.
“We just didn’t have the horses to play that way,” said Robinson of an offensive, run-and-gun game. “Craig came in and changed the way we played. The kid (goaltender Jordan Binnington) came in and we went on an 11-game winning streak. All of a sudden, we were back in the race.”
“He (Berube) wanted the guys to play as a team, not as individuals,” continued Robinson. “I’ve always believed that individuals win awards, teams win championships. That was the biggest turning point.”
From January to the end of the season, the Blues broke down the schedule into 10-game segments, wanting to win seven of the 10 games. Every game was playoff style for the Blues and they didn’t have to change anything when the post-season started.
The Blues shocked the heavily-favored Winnipeg Jets in the first round and the road to the Stanley Cup parade had begun. Even in the finals against the Boston Bruins, the Blues were the underdogs.
“It was amazing. This team never game up. The more the odds were against them, the better they played. When their backs were against the wall, that’s when they played their best,” praised Robinson, noting the depth and balance of the team was a key element in winning.
Watching from the team box was agony in the playoffs.
“I was playing every shift, blocking every shot, shooting every puck,” recalled Robinson. “The butterflies I had in my stomach never left me until there was seven seconds left in Game Seven.”
This was a memorable and special Stanley Cup win for Robinson, right up there with his first one with the Montreal Canadiens as a player in 1973 and then his first one as a coach with New Jersey in 1995.
He’s the only player-coach in the NHL to win a Stanley Cup over five decades.
It’s been an incredibly memorable career in hockey for Robinson.
He lasted 20 seasons in the NHL, 17 with Montreal and three with the Los Angeles Kings, playing 1,384 games with 208 goals and 750 assists. He counted another 144 points in 227 playoff games.
He won the Norris Trophy twice as the league’s best defenceman and the Conn Smythe once as the MVP of the playoffs. He was named as No. 24 in the top 100 greatest NHL players. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Robinson has always been a pretty humble guy and that hasn’t changed.
“I’ve never really been like that,” he said when asked if he looks back at his amazing career. “If you’re looking back, you’re going to run into something in front of you. All those championships I was on, I was part of a team. I was just one person on a team where there was a lot of hard work and effort by a lot of people.”
Few people know how Robinson’s career began. In 1969, he was headed to a tryout camp for the Cornwall Royals but there was a snowstorm and he arrived late. The Royals told him not to bother but a Braves official was there and asked Robinson to come to their training camp.
The Braves only had two defencemen at the time and asked the big and raw Robinson to switch from forward to the blueline.
“That’s how my career got started,” said Robinson with a grin.
Despite battling health issues, the 68-year-old Robinson recently agreed to return to the Blues for another year, making it his 50th year in hockey.
Lawrence (Larry) Ashley
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 1999
Larry began as a stick boy with the Brockville Braves in the early 1960s. He moved to the Ottawa Nationals in the W.H.A., then joined the Toronto Toros for the 1973-1974 season. When the Toronto Totos relocated to Birmingham as the Bulls, Larry was the trainer. He then joined the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques before becoming the trainer for the Vancouver Canucks in 1981. A position he held until he passed away in 1995 at the age of 42. Larry was a member of the National Athletics Trainers Association and a past President of the Professional Hockey Trainers Association.
Lawrence Fox
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 9th, 2017
Lawrence Fox has always been heavily involved in sports in Brockville. Starting at an early age in the 50’s, he started off playing Minor Baseball, but earned a reputation of in Softball with the Brockville Diggers as a good hitter and an outstanding third baseman, earning the Nickname “Scoop” from his teammates. He earned all-star recognition with the Diggers for five years in the Kingston League. He was a talented player in minor and junior hockey until breaking a leg in hockey playoffs in the Spring of 1961. After that, he turned to coaching in minor hockey and minor baseball, winning a number of championships. Lawrence was also a longtime baseball and fastball umpire in Brockville and the area for youth and adult leagues.
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.
Lionel McAllister
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2006
Lionel enjoyed much success as a player in softball and hockey, but it was his achievements as an on-ice hockey official where he made his mark. He started refereeing in the Prescott Minor Hockey Club in 1966. He progressed to being a linesman in Junior “B” and tier II Junior “A” games in 1968. After attending the Bruce Hood School of refereeing in 1971, he went on to referee in the Ontario Hockey League. He considered an NHL refereeing career and attended the American Hockey League Linesman Clinic in Springfield in 1975. He worked 27 games for the AHL in Syracuse and Rochester in 1975.
Lionel retired from refereeing in 1982. That was short-lived as he found himself back on the ice, whistle in hand, in Lakeland, Florida. He refereed minor hockey, high school, college hockey and adult hockey until June 2000. When at the age of 64, he retired for good.
Little League Champions
LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
By RON SMITH
It’s hard to believe it was 50 years ago that the Brockville team captured the Canadian Little League baseball championship and competed in the World Series.
But, for those that enjoyed the whirlwind summer of 1971, the memories make it seem like only yesterday.
The talented team of 11 and 12-year-olds strolled through the District playdowns, handily won the Ontario championship and then persevered for the Canadian crown to deservedly earn its spot at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
In a stretch of more than six weeks away from home, the Brockville team made history as the lone city representative to ever win the national title and proudly carry the Canadian flag at the Little League World Series.
Because of their accomplishments, the 1971 Little League all-stars were inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, the only team to have received that honour.
Coached by the late Fred Blanchard and Dave Wyatt, the team consisted of Dennis Atkins, the late Steve Caldwell, Dan Collison, Gerry Crooke, Larry Crooke, Bernie Edwards, Kevin Kennedy, the late Steve McCaugherty, the late Bobby Morrow, Nick Noonan, James Reynolds, Dale Robertson, the late Terry Spence and John Vanderbaaren.
“The whole experience of going to the World Series, it was a blur. It just went by so fast,” said Collison. “It always gets me to think back, look through the scrapbook and just say ‘wow’”.
Atkins, one of three 11-year-olds on the team, regards that team and that accomplishment as a highlight of his sports.
“It really is. It’s hard to believe I’m 61. Where did all the years go?” asked Atkins. “To be part of that was so, so special.”
Gerry Crooke still smiles when he thinks back to those times.
“It’s unbelievable. 50 years, really? It’s been that long? That’s unreal,” said Gerry Crooke. “It seems like yesterday. People talk to me and I can give them all kinds of stories.”
Right from the time the team was put together, Wyatt was pretty confident it was a group that could win the Canadian championship.
“I didn’t think it. I expected it,” said Wyatt. “And that was the way the kids felt. We didn’t hope to win. We expected to win.”
The players thought that also.
“We knew we were going to win. It was just confidence,” continued Collison. “We weren’t cocky or anything but we had confidence. It was a Brockville thing. We had this aura about us. We were here to play ball and we were going to play smart and hard and we were confident we were going to win. We never showed off. We were always very humble.”
It was a pretty talented team with Collison and the two Crookes as the best players but everyone else had their strengths and contributed to winning the district, the provincials and the Canadians.
Collison was probably the best young pitcher in Canada. The Crooke cousins were top hitters and pitchers, even though Larry was four-foot, six inches tall and only weighed 85 pounds. Everyone else shone by chipping in offensively and defensively at key moments.
“It wasn’t about three or four players,” said Crooke. “It was all of us, all the guys. They all put in their time too.”
The team practiced morning and late afternoon and had to be chased off the diamonds from playing pickup ball in between at Prince of Wales public school.
There was no summer hockey then. Everyone lived and breathed baseball. The players were described as having baseball smarts, knowing what they had to do offensively and knowing how to make the correct defensive plays.
The playdowns began with a 37-1 victory over Stittsville, then saw Collison throw a one-hitter in an 8-0 win over a combination Aylmer-Hull team with a no-hitter and 17 strikeouts in the six-inning, 9-0 win over Ottawa City View.
Brockville won the championship with a 9-4 win over City View with Collison earning playdown pitching honors while Gerry Crooke was the top hitter with a .687 average.
“We were just playing ball. There was no nervousness involved,” said Larry Crooke. “It was just like playing out in your backyard and we did that every day.”
Then, it was off to Chapleau. A scheduled 10-hour train ride ended up taking 16 hours when the train engine caught on fire. That just prepared the team to arrive in Chapleau to see snow on the ground in early August.
Brockville blanked Windsor 2-0 and edged Noranda 3-1 in a game that was stopped on four occasions due to rain in 45 degree Fahrenheit weather. Brockville defeated Toronto Parkedale in the Ontario championship by an 8-1 score. Collison earned the pitching win, striking out 15 and hitting two long home runs while Robertson, the team’s tough little catcher, drove in two runs.
That earned Brockville the opportunity to fly from Timmins to St. Laurent, Quebec for the Canadian championships, the first time the players had ever experienced flying.
Brockville’s first game in the Canadians was probably one of the most controversial, a 1-0 victory over Sherbrooke in front of 3,000 fans, according to The Recorder and Times report by sports editor Don Swayne.
In the bottom of the sixth inning of the scoreless game with Brockville runners on second and third, Vanderbaaren hit an infield grounder. Larry Crooke headed home from third and so was the infield throw. Crooke jumped over the catcher, touching the plate.
The umpire called Crooke out for intent to injure… even though there was no contact… and tossed him out of the game.
“I just jumped over him and landed on the plate,” recalled Larry Crooke. “The next thing I know I was called out and thrown out of the game. I went back to the dugout and I was crying and wondering what just happened. Everybody was confused. Even the Quebec fans were booing the call. It was nothing I had ever experienced before.”
Collison had moved to third on the play. When the Sherbrooke pitcher threw a ball past his catcher, Collison came home to score. However, the ump ruled that time had been called as Crooke was still in the dugout and Collison was sent back to third. With the fans yelling and screaming at a fever pitch, Gerry Crooke then followed with a line drive hit to score Collison for the dramatic win.
“It didn’t matter who we were playing we were going to get our hits,” said Collison. “No matter what happened, we just knew, one way or another, we were going to come out on top.”
Brockville then dropped a 10-7 decision to North Vancouver. Brockville beat Alberta 8-3 to earn the spot in the double-elimination finals, needing to beat North Vancouver twice for the Canadian title.
Brockville beat North Vancouver 7-3 in extra innings with a three-run homer by Gerry Crooke as the decisive blow. In the championship 2-0 win over North Vancouver, Collison fired a no-hitter, striking out 10.
“I think after we won the Ontarios and got to the Canadians, I think we thought anything was possible,” said Atkins. “I was just happy to be there and cheering us on.”
While the Brockville team had to fly from Montreal to Williamsport, local fans flocked to the World Series site by bus and car.
Brockville dropped a 3-2 loss to Hawaii in its opening game. Collison gave up the three runs on four infield hits in the first inning and then shut down Hawaii after that. Gerry Crooke hit a solo home run in his first at-bat and narrowly missed another one that would have tied the game in the sixth inning.
“I was thinking this is a dream. It isn’t even normal,” recalled Gerry Crooke of his home run.
In the second game, Brockville lost 5-2 to Puerto Rico and Robertson had what would have been a grand slam home run hauled in at the fence in the fifth inning.
In the consolation game, Brockville beat Kentucky 4-1. Collison earned the pitching win while Gerry Crooke hit another home run but Larry Crooke had a .555 average over the three games.
“We walked with a confidence, not with a swagger,” added Wyatt. “It was outrageous fun. They were a great group of kids.”
For the players, it was a disappointing outcome but the Brockville team was still excited as what it had accomplished.
They went to the White House to meet Vice President Spiro Agnew, met astronaut Neil Armstrong (the first man on the moon) and took in a Baltimore Orioles baseball game where they met Orioles first baseman Boog Powell.
Then, that feeling of being discouraged turned to shock and surprise when they arrived home to the parking lot in the former Zeller’s mall to an awaiting crowd of 1,500 people. The team was then celebrated by a tickertape parade through the downtown streets of Brockville in front of 10,000 people with The Recorder and Times putting out a 14-page special edition for the Canadian champions.
“It’s not about playing the game. It’s about who you meet along the way. We were just out there playing ball with our friends. How can you not be happy playing on a field like that (Williamsport)?” said Gerry Crooke. “I still get excited about it. I can’t help it.”
It was a pretty special group of players, the majority of whom went on to play junior hockey, amateur golf at a high local level, Inter-County baseball, spreading out across the country.
Now, they are always connected to each other by that special summer in 1971.
Mac MacLean
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10th, 2016
Mac MacLean is a CJHL and CCHL legend. He has produced some of the league’s all-time coaching records. Mac has held a variety of capacities from Commissioner, to Owner, General Manager and Head Coach. He Coached the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and Kitchener Rangers. He won four CCHL League Championships in Pembroke, Brockville and Hawksbury.
Mac guided the Brockville Braves to their first league championship in 1985-86. He is the Braves’ record holder for games coached (621) and most games won (324). He established a Canadian Junior A record, going undefeated in 40 consecutive games with Pembroke in 1972-73. He won back-to-back championships in Hawksbury in 1978-79, 1979-80. He is the CCHL record holder for games coached in the regular season with 1,119 games won in the regular season with 611 playoff games coached 189 and playoff wins 99.
Marianne Carlyle
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2015
Marianne Carlyle enjoyed an impressive start in swimming in Brockville. Earning honours at the club. Provincial and National Levels, she won three silver and three bronze medals at the Canadian University Championships. She set school records at Mt. Allison University and was named the school’s Athlete of the Year in 1984 in her CIS All-Star career.
She represented Canada at the World Triathlon Championships seven times in the 1990’s. Along with competing at the Half-Ironman Championships from 2007 to 2009. She helped start the Masters Swim Club in Brockville in 1985 and has coached that club along with the Upper Canada Swim Club.
She continues volunteering her time to help youth athletes.
Marjorie Bernier
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2001
Marjorie Bernier, Nee Seargeant, was raised along the St. Lawrence River in Prescott, where swimming was a daily part of life. She was introduced to competitive swimming, debuting at the National Games for the handicapped in 1979. Bernier set Canadian records in freestyle and breaststroke events. The highlight of her career was joining Team Canada for the 1980 Olympic Games for the disabled.
She set world and Olympic records with two gold medals and one silver in the backstroke. She competed in provincial, national and international events from 1980 to 1982. She amassed 16 gold and four silver medals, ending her career at the 1982 national games for the disabled, where she set Canadian and world records.
Mark Bonneau
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2015
Mark was a multisport athlete at South Grenville High School in the late 1970s. Competing in track and field, basketball and volleyball, he is a member of the South Grenville Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the Brockville Braves in 1978 and played for two years before accepting a hockey scholarship to St. Lawrence University in 1980. He won several awards in University, including SLU’s Freshman Scholar athlete of the year in 1980-71. He was their top goal scorer the next season. When he graduated in 1984, it was in the top 10 of SLU’s all-time scoring. He graduated with a BA in economics.
Bonneau is one of a handful of people who helped win and establish the Ottawa Senators franchise in the NHL as Senior Vice-President. Mark’s department was responsible for the sales of corporate partner sponsorships. Premium seating and private suites for the hockey club. He has been a significant contributor to the executive leadership team at the Senators for more than 15 years.
Today, Mark is the Senior Vice-President of Corporate Strategy & Sales with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Mark is a member of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House as well as a committee member for ringside for youth in support of the Boys & Girls Club.
Mary deBruyn
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2003
Mary De Bruyn didn’t play organized fastball until the age of 17 for Elgin in the North Leeds Ladies League. In 1988, she coached the Brockville entry in the Leeds and Grenville Ladies Softball League. An injury ended her playing days, and she turned to umpiring.
She umpired at numerous Ontario Championships, ranging from novice to senior men’s. May also has umpired at three Canadian Championships. She received her international umpiring status in 1996 after umpiring at the Senior Men’s Canadian Championships. In 1998 she umpired at the Canada Cup in British Columbia and then at the Senior Women’s World Championships in Japan. The highlight of her career was umpiring at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Working the gold medal game at the plate between Japan and the USA.
Mary’s sports career also included playing, coaching and refereeing hockey. She retired from hockey at the end of the 2000 season.
Mary Jayne Rashotte
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2019
Mary Jayne Rashotte has been involved in figure skating for her entire life. After skating for 10 years with the Brockville Club. She started coaching in 1974 at the age of 17. Since then, she has coached for clubs in Alexandria Bay, Brockville, Perth, Spencerville, Athens, Cardinal, Morrisburg, and Prescott until retiring after 44 years in 2018. Along with coaching seven days a week for three clubs on numerous occasions in the span. Mary Jayne has served on the Executive of the Prescott Club. Mary Jayne won a Community Leadership Award in 2018. She has coached hundreds of skaters, including Canadian Championship Alaine Chatrand and Matthew Markel. She always brought a positive enthusiasm of energy, and a concentration on the basics to her young pupils in wanting them to have fun with skating.
Mike Toshack
SOCCER
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2018
Mike Toshack was a talented athlete at South Grenville District High School, but he had a passion for coaching soccer. He started as an Assistant Goalkeeping Coach at St. Lawrence University in 1994, where he won an NCAA Championship in 1999. He began coaching in the pro soccer ranks in 2002 with Montreal and then had stints with Boston and Vancouver.
He joined Houston in the Major League Soccer in 2007 as a Goalkeeping Coach. Winning a championship that year, he joined Toronto FC from 2009 to 2011 and then went on to Portland from 2011 to 2015 where he won a second MLS title in 2015. He is now the Head Coach at St. Lawrence University.
Morley Hunt
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2004
Morley Hunt began his sports career in the tiny county community of Escott. Hockey was played on natural ice ponds, and softball was played in farmers’ fields. His hockey career has spanned over 50 years. He is known as a smooth skater and as an excellent playmaker, who was sought out by many teams in the area. He played senior “A” hockey for the Kingston Aces and the Syracuse Stars. He later played and still plays old-timers hockey, participating in many international tournaments and winning a gold medal at the 2003 Ontario Senior Games.
Morley was also an excellent softball player, pitcher, catcher, shortstop and was the playing coach for the Escott Bombers. Later in life, Morley took up golf and managed to bring his handicap down to single digits. Morley has also refereed and coached in the O.D.M.H.A. and the B.M.H.A.
Neil McHugh
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Neil McHugh would have loved nothing better than to be a professional play-by-play hockey announcer on a television network.
He was a Junior B Goalie, but his talents were showcased in broadcasting more than 500 league and playoff games for the Central Junior Hockey League in his always entertaining style.
For seven years, starting in 2010, Neil was the face of sports on “Q” a popular sports show on Brockville Cable. He had a wide and in-depth historical knowledge of local sports and was a long-time contributor on the Sports Hall of Fame Committee. He was a lifelong fan of the Montreal Expos, able to recite the lineups in English and French. He was an avid contributor of local sports memorabilia.
In 2018, Neail was honoured with the first-ever broadcasting award by the CCHL. Neil passed away in 2023.
Norm Fortier
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame June 13, 1997.
A guiding force in Minor Hockey in Prescott for more than 30 years. Norman Fortier has been involved in all aspects of the game.
After his playing days were over, he still maintained a keen interest in the game. Behind the bench he enjoyed tremendous success. Coaching a Bantam Team to the ODHA Finals. Later he followed with ODHA Championships with the Prescott Midgets in 1958-59.
His crowning achievements were consecutive ODHA Juvenile Titles in 1960-61 and 1961-62.
A founding father of the Prescott Minor Hockey Club Norm has left an indelible mark upon Prescott through his tireless efforts on behalf on Minor Hockey.
Pat Sheahan
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2015
Pat Sheahan has enjoyed football since his quarterback days with the BCI Red Rams in the 1970’s. He played the offensive line at Concordia University and earned two free agent tryouts with the Edmonton Eskimos in the early 1980’s.
He began coaching after that. Winning a Vanier Cup Championship with McGill in 1987. He was the Head Coach for 11 successful years with Concordia before going to Queen’s University as its Head Coach in 2000, winning a second Vanier Cup in 2009. He is the longest-serving football coach in a Canadian university.
He was named Coach of the Year on three occasions while winning the Frank Tindall Coaching Award in 2008. Hw was inducted into the BCI Hall of Excellence in 2003.
Paula Wiltse
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2018
Paula Wiltse has enjoyed tremendous success in master’s running results since 2003. Her career began when she was the Ontario College Cross-Country Champion in 1999. She became the Canadian Masters Cross Country Champion in 2003.
She has become one of the top women’s masters runners in Canada. Competing and winning in marathon races in Canada and the United States. She coached running groups in Brockville in 2013. She became the Canadian record holder in the 30-kilometre race. She finished in third place in her age category at the Boston Marathon in 2014. In 2017, Paula set the Ontario record for her age group in 5k and marathon races. She set the Canadian Marathon record for her age group in 2017. She was the Brockville and Area Sportsperson of the Year in 2014.
Peter Eadie
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2009
After 30 years as a Football Referee, including 22 years on the Canadian University Football Panel. Brockville native Peter Eadie retired from officiating in 2008. He began officiating before 1980 in the Brockville Men’s Touch Football League and then began doing games at the High School and Minor League levels. Peter Eadie officiated in more than 220 University games, including four Vanier Cups, six Atlantic Bowls, one Churchill Bowl, one Utech and 11 Atlantic University Championship Games. He was on the CFL sticks crew for a number of Ottawa Rough Riders games in the CFL.
Regarded as an official, allowed the players to decide the game. Eadie continued working with young officials to help them improve after he retired.
Peter Hoy
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012
Growing up, Peter Hoy was a talented player in four sports in the Cardinal and Prescott Area. He was a starting quarterback in high school football. A power forward in basketball and a defenceman in Jr. “B” hockey but he was destined for success after pitching for the Brockville Bunnies.
Hoy was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 33rd round in 1988. Worked his way through the minor leagues and appeared as a relief pitcher in five games for the big-league team in the spring of 1992. After several more seasons in the minors, Hoy began baseball at Lemoyne University in Syracuse and began coaching baseball at St. Lawrence University in Canton.
Peter Hoy Anniversary
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PETER HOY ANNIVERSARY
By RON SMITH
Time seems to be flying by. It’s been 30 years since Peter Hoy was in the major leagues.
On April 4, 1992, the 25-year-old rookie relief pitcher appeared in the opening game of the season for the Boston Red Sox in Cleveland against the Indians in front of more than 65,000 fans. The sinkerball pitcher gave up a couple of hits and got himself out of trouble with a double play in his inning of work in what ended up being an 18-inning marathon game.
“It’s hard to believe it was such a long time ago,” said Hoy, who will turn 56 in a few weeks. “No one was even paying attention to me that day.”
It was a good start to what marked a too-short time in the big leagues. In a rainy, soggy spring, with not many opportunities for the rookie to show what he could do, Hoy made five appearances in the first month of the season.
“It was a dream come true,” said Hoy of his time in Boston. “It doesn’t happen to too many players but I wish I would have stayed up a little bit longer. I enjoyed the experience and it’s something you will remember for the rest of your life.”
Hoy was the first area player to reach the major leagues. He was followed in 1997 by catcher Andy Stewart who had a five-game stint with the Kansas City Royals.
The fact that he even made it to the big leagues at all was a longshot.
The six-foot, seven-inch, 220-pound Hoy was a standout at South Grenville High School in Prescott in football and basketball while also starring as a starting pitcher for the Brockville Bunnies.
“Growing up, you’re thinking about playing in the pros,” said Hoy. “I’d watch the (Montreal) Expos play and I was certainly hopeful. I thought I had three or four different options.”
Hoy made his way to LeMoyne College in Syracuse where he amassed a won-loss record of 19 wins and five losses and a 2.30 earned-run average over three seasons, prompting legend Dick Rockwell to call him the best pitcher he had ever coached.
In 1988, Hoy was drafted in the 33rd round of the major league draft by the Red Sox but postponed his professional career to pitch for Canada in the 1988 Summer Olympics in South Korea.
In 1989, he started on his journey in the Red Sox minor league farm system, posting decent numbers in his first two years.
A pitching coach tweaked his delivery a bit, making his sinkerball do a bit more dipping and diving. In 1981, in time between AA and AAA, he pitched in 62 games with a record of five wins and six losses with 20 saves and a 1.69 ERA.
That earned him an invitation to spring training in Florida.
Hoy still remembers when he found out he had made the big-league team.
“It was near the end of spring training and things were going pretty well. I was working in the outfield and manager Butch Hobson came up to me and asked if I thought I could do the same thing in the regular season,” recalled Hoy, who had a humble but emphatic answer for him. “That was it.”
“It was just something you dream about in your whole life to have that happen,” he continued.
Rain put the damper on his career. In May, after a one-two-three inning against the Minnesota Twins, Hoy was returned to Pawtucket and was never called back to Boston.
Hoy spent two more years in the Red Sox system and then two more years pitching in Independent Leagues before he retired. He ended up with a minor league record of 28 wins and 35 losses with a 3.11 ERA in 286 games from A to AAA.
He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after that but became the pitching coach at LeMoyne College from 1997 to 2009 where his pitching staff led the league in earned-run average on five occasions. He became the head coach at St. Lawrence University in Canton in 2010 … earning coach of the year honours in the Liberty League in 2012… before he was forced to retire due to health reasons in 2020.
After losing his wife Lisa to cancer in 2013, Hoy watches his two talented daughters play high school sports in Canton, NY. Madison is in Grade 12, preparing to play basketball at a prep school this fall. Ava is in Grade 10 and has attracted university attention in basketball and as a fastball pitcher.
Hoy was inducted into the LeMoyne Hall of Fame in 1989 and into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
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.
Phil Patterson
Golf
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Phil Patterson grew up playing hockey and became a Memorial Cup Champion with the Ottawa 67’s in 1984. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round in 1982. After his Minor Pro and International Hockey career ended, Phil concentrated his efforts on golf. Becoming one of the most accomplished Amateur Players in Eastern Ontario. He won top tournaments in the area, including the Gill Classic. A three-time Memorial Champion, three-time Whig Standard Champ, and the Ottawa City and District Title. He has been the Club Champion of the Prescott Golf Club on 22 occasions.
Phil has been inducted to the Kemptville and District Sports Hall of Fame on two occasions.
Ralph Davison
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2003
Ralph was an outstanding athlete in hockey, baseball, softball, football and golf. His hockey career included two years with the Brockville Hornets, winning the 1951-52 O.D.H.A Midget Championship. Ralph scored 75 goals that season. He played on natural ice in Athens and Westport, as there wasn’t a covered rink in Brockville. He then played four years with the Brockville Hornets Junior “A” Team – affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Ralph’s hockey career included a stint in senior hockey, and he still enjoys old-timers hockey.
Ralph played high school football for BCI for four years, winning the outstanding player award in 1952. Baseball and softball were part of his summer schedule. Ralph has played golf for years at the Brockville Country Club and ran the Twilight League for 18 years. He won the “B” Championship one year. Ralph Davison joins his wife, Kean, as the only husband and wife team in the Hall of Fame.
Ralph McMullen
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2018
Ralph has been involved for more than 40 years with Legion Minor Baseball in Brockville, Ontario and Canada. He umpired Legion Minor Baseball from 1960 to 2004 and was its Umpire-In-Chief for more than 30 years. In 1985, he was the Umpire-In-Chief at the Canadian Little League Major Championships. In 1985, Ralph umpired in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He umpired the Canadian Junior Baseball Championships in 1993 and the Ontario Senior Baseball Championships in 1994. He umpired in the Canadian Big League Baseball Championships in 1987.
Along with his commitment to umpiring, Ralph was dedicated and motivated to ensuring the Youth of Brockville and Area could enjoy playing baseball.
Ramona Braganza
RAMONA BRAGANZA
By RON SMITH
Ramona Braganza has experienced a great deal of fame and success in Canada and the United States.
And, she credits what she learned in growing up in Brockville as providing the background and basics for making it all happen.
After leaving Brockville at the tender age of 21, the 57-year-young Braganza has been an NFL cheerleader for 10 years, a fitness contestant, appeared on the cover of fitness magazines and shows and enjoyed appearances on television.
She’s probably most famous now for making a strong career as a fitness trainer to some high-profile Hollywood actors and actresses while promoting her own successful fitness training videos. She’s heading up her own charity events to empower young women who require much-needed help.
“It’s been a journey and I’m still on that journey and I’m trying to see what is the next step,” said Braganza, when contacted as she was visiting Los Angeles to work on her charity event that took place in early February.
She believes what she has accomplished and achieved points back to Brockville.
“Coming from a smaller city helps when you go out into the world,” said Braganza. “The lessons you learn, the values you still have from being a child… A small town is only so big and you have to get along with everybody. You have to treat everybody the same. When you go to the big city, you need all that.”
That means it all started when she was seven years old at Westminster Public School when Cheryl Mitchell was coaching gymnastics. Braganza became involved in gymnastics in public school, in her years at Brockville Collegiate and TISS and with the Brockville Gymny Krickets.
“It’s a huge part of everything I do now,” credits Braganza. “Gymnastics gave me a leg up on other girls when I was auditioning. I played volleyball, basketball and track but, for me, I was good at gymnastics. It was easy for me.”
Growing up as a child, she dreamed about going to Los Angeles and Hollywood to become a star actress.
After high school, she started by going to Toronto, taking acting classes, looking for roles and being a cheerleader for the Toronto Argos of the Canadian Football League. Once she turned 21, Braganza and a group of other girls headed to Los Angeles.
She worked in restaurants and trained in a Gold’s Gym before she placed in the top-10 against 100 other competitors in a fitness competition. Her ability to do back handsprings made her stand out from the others.
That led her to be a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Raiders for 10 years with another three years as a dance choreographer for the team. However, she still had dreams of pursuing an acting career.
Working at a sports club, a television producer came in, recognized Braganza from her cheerleading and found her appearances in a couple of television shows.
In 2000, another producer asked Braganza if she would be interested in working with and training a young, up-and-coming actress by the name of Jessica Alba. For the next 12 years, Braganza became the fitness trainer for Alba.
“It turned out I was better behind the scenes than in front of a camera,” said Braganza with a laugh. “That turned into my career. I’ve worked with a lot of people since then. That shows me how lucky and fortunate I am to have fitness in my life.”
Since then she has worked with Hale Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, Kate Beckinsale, Ashlee Simpson, Michael Weatherly from Bull and the cast of Fifty Shades of Grey on the sequels.
She owns a condo on the water in Vancouver, travels to New York or Los Angeles to train actors and actresses and owns her own fitness trailer.
As busy as her work schedule keeps her, she still enjoys coming back to Brockville to see her mom and friends.
“You might leave for a while. But, that’s the thing with Brockville. It’s a very nice place. Brockville has a lot to offer,” she explained. “The river (St. Lawrence) is a big thing for me. It always brings me back.”
Braganza is still looking at expanding her horizons.
Motivational speaking is something she’s looking at and that’s certainly a possibility to channel her personality and positive nature.
She still sees her future as wide open for potential and possibilities.
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.
Randy Ladouceur
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12, 1998
Randy Ladouceur knew his ability and made the most of it. He turned that into a 14-year NHL career. He grew up playing junior hockey in Brockville and played OHL in Brantford and Hamilton. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings and began his NHL career there in 1982. Ladouceur played with Detroit until being traded to Hartford in 1987. He was claimed by Anaheim in 1993 and played there for three years as the Mighty Ducks’ Captain before retiring. The six-foot-two, 220-pound defenceman finished with 930 games, scoring 30 goals with 126 assists.
He left his playing days behind to assume coaching duties with the Hartford Whalers, now the Carolina Hurricanes.
Randy Sexton
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2013
Randy Sexton grew up in the Brockville area, playing Minor and Junior Hockey. In 1977-78, with the Brockville Braves. He was named the best defenceman in the CJHL. He earned a scholarship to St. Lawrence University, where the hard-hitting Defenseman was named Captain in his final two seasons, earning team and NCAA Awards.
In 1990, he was part of a determined group that brought the Ottawa Senators into the NHL. Sexton was the General Manager of the Senators from 1993-95. Involved in sports marketing and back in the NHL in 2007 as the Assistant GM of the Florida Panthers. Taking the GM role in 2009. He has been the Director of Amateur Scouting with the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2010 and was named to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
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.
Rodger Donor
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Rodger Doner was athletic and competitive in many sports. When he enrolled at the University of Toronto in the early 1960s, he was introduced to wrestling, and it became his passion.
After graduation, he began to coach the University of Toronto Wrestling Team in 1964. Rodger was successful in earning one of the four spots on the Canadian team for the Tokyo Olympics, an accomplishment he considers the highlight of his wrestling career. After settling in Brockville, Rodger became an avid and talented sailor. In 1992, in a series of seven excursions over six years, he sailed around the world in his 35-foot sailboat.
He continued sailing until he passed away in 2022. In 2023, Rodge was inducted into the University of Toronto Hall of Fame.
Roger Hodgkinson
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 1993
Rodger won two O.A.S.A. Junior titles as a member of the Brockville Diggers (1963-64). Roger was a pitcher in the K.A.S.A., U.C.F.L., Brockville City League, Dundas League and Ottawa Metro League. He played for Gatineau, Quebec in the Canadian Championships in 1968.
Picked up by the Winnipeg Canadians to play in the 1968 World Championships in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Rodger pitched three wins in helping Winnipeg win the silver medal and hit a home run to drive in the Winnipeg run in the title game. Roger had his own 5 man touring softball team called the Ambassadors. In five games, Roger had 70 strikeouts in 34 innings and threw 2 one-hitters and 2 no-hitters. Roger Hodgkinson – a complete ball player, coach and manager.
Roger Ladouceur
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12, 1998
You could always count on Roger Ladouceur. For more than two decades, he was involved as a Coach and Executive Member with the Brockville Minor Hockey Association. He was a successful Coach at all levels. He served on a number of committees. But his favourite was looking after the minor hockey finances, working as the treasurer in the 1970s and 1980s. The annual 1000 Islands Atom Hockey Tournament was renamed in his memory. Viewed as tough but fair, he also coached the Brockville Braves of the CJHL in 1979-1980. Fielding a team of mostly local players.
Along with hockey, he coached Legion minor boys baseball and volunteered as an umpire in the Senior Little League. He died of cancer in 1991.
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 Hungerford
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2001
In 1976, Ron Hungerford arrived in Brockville from Toronto and immediately revitalized cross-country along with track and field in Leeds and Grenville high schools. In his impressive 25-year coaching career with TISS, the energetic and knowledgeable Hungerford coached the Pirates to an incredible number of LGSSAA, EOSSAA and All-Ontario Championships. He was also the founder of the highly-regarded TISS International Track Meet. Hungerford’s philosophy was encouraging his students to strive for personal excellence in whatever they did.
He was honoured in 1993 and 1996 with prestigious leadership in sports awards by the Ontario Athletic Association. He retired in 2001 to the golf course.
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.
Ron Trussell
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2023
Ron Trussell was a talented athlete in hockey, rowing, baseball and badminton. As a teenager, he played three years of Junior Hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks farm team in Galt in the late 1940s. He returned to Brockville to play for the Inkerman Rockets and played against Jean Beliveau in a playoff game. He played for the Brockville Megadomas.
When he wasn’t playing hockey, he won medals with the Brockville Rowing Club. He batted .474 with the Brockville White Sox before playing senior baseball as a junior-aged player. He became a top badminton player at the Brockville Armouries and is still trying to perfect his game.
Roy Pyke
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10th, 2011
Roy Pyke has enjoyed a lifetime of playing sports. Despite being told by doctors at the age of 10 that he would never play sports again. He was a talented junior hockey player and junior baseball pitcher in his teenage years. After playing semi-pro hockey in the Eastern Hockey League. He was one of the final cuts of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues in 1967. After that played Senior “A” Hockey in Morrisburg for 10 years before winning numerous scoring championships in Brockville.
In fastball in the 1970s to 1990s. He was best known as a tough, hard-nosed catcher for the commercial stars and Cardinal Pats. He also coached Jr. “B” Hockey in Prescott-Spencerville.
Samel (Rusty) Crawford
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2001
Born in Cardinal on November 7th, 1885, played amateur hockey in Cardinal, Verdun, and Saskatoon before joining the Quebec Bulldogs for the 1912-13 season, helping them win the Stanley Cup. Played with Quebec and hockey’s first superstar, Joe Malone, until 1918. Played for Ottawa before joining the Toronto Arenas in 1918, helping them also win the Stanley Cup. Rusty later played with Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver and ended his professional career in Minneapolis. In 192,9 at the age of 45, scored 109 goals in 247 Pro Games.
Rusty died December 19th, 1971, and in 1962 was elected to the National Hockey League Hall of Fame.
Stacey Dales
BASKETBALL
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 10, 2016
With the TISS Pirates, Stacey won Ontario Golf Medals on eight occasions in track and field and basketball. She attended the University of Oklahoma from 1997 to 2002, where she enjoyed an All-Star and record-setting career in basketball. She was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year and a two-time All-American. Stacey holds the school and Big 12 Conference record for career assists with 764. She is still in the top five in the OU record books in many categories and is the only female athlete in OU history to have her jersey retired.
She played for the Canadian Women’s Basketball Team in the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was drafted third overall in the WNBA by Washington in 2002 and was an All-Star that year. She retired from the WNBA in 2008. Stacey is currently a reporter for the NFL Network. She is regarded as Brockville’s best-ever female athlete..
Stan Smith
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2025
Stan Smith has been dedicated to 10-pin bowling in Brockville for more than five decades, both as a player and a businessman. Smith is recognized as one of the top 10-pin bowlers in the City. For a number of years, Smith has been bowling professionally in Canada and the United States. He has won two USA Senior titles, the first Canadian to ever do so.
Along with winning titles in Brockville, Ontario and Quebec, Smith has maintained a bowling average over 200. He has bowled eight perfect games, including an 854 series, the highest ever recorded in the city. When Cadillac Lanes closed, Smith established the Brockville Bowling Centre and worked tirelessly for a number of years to keep the sport alive in the City.
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.
Sue Pyke
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2014
Sue Pyke has enjoyed a love for figure skating since a very young age with the Brockville Figure Skating Club. After a decorated amateur career, she began a two-year professional stint with the world-famous Ice Capades in 1965 at the age of 18.
In the early 1970s, she began her coaching career at the Athens Figure Skating Club. She went on to coach in Spencerville, Prescott and Brockville. With energy and enthusiasm, teaching and working with young skaters in the community for 25 years. Along with being a mother of three, she committed herself to helping hundreds of the area’s young skaters enjoy and improve in the sport she loved.
Ted Hoy
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 1994
For five decades, Ted Hoy’s name has been associated with excellence in fastball pitching. The Cardinal native is regarded as one of the finest pitchers ever to play in Eastern Ontario. From the late 1950s the the 1970s, Ted Hoy baffled opposing hitters with an amazing change-up, pinpoint control and superior intelligence as he helped establish the Cardinal Pats as one of the premier fastball teams in the province. A member of the Brockville Diggers, Ted Hoy led the team to the Ontario Juvenile A Championship in 1961 and the Junior A Championship in 1963.
Ted Hoy’s name is a household word to any fastball fan in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, and he is still pitching almost 40 years after he made his debut.
Terry Halpenny
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2024
Terry Halpenny was first involved in baseball in Brockville. At the coaching level and then the umpiring. He became involved in the Brockville Minor Hockey Association, coaching a number of teams. In the 1980’s, Terry became the statistician for the Brockville Braves, as well as doing colour commentary on the hockey broadcasts. He won the award for outstanding contributions to the Central Junior Hockey League in 1991.
He became a historian for the CJHL, tracking down stats on players to rebuild the league’s history. He was one of the best experts for league information and stats.
In the early 2000’s, Terry became interested in photography and began capturing photos of every player in CJHL along with some of those in the Ontario Hockey League. Terry passed away in 2017.
Thain Simon
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 1998
Thain Simon has been described as one of the best athletes ever to come out of Brockville. At the Royal Canadian Henley, he won three gold and three bronze sculling medals in three years in the early 1940s. At the same time, he played defence in Junior “A” Hockey and fullback in football. For two years, he was a running back with the Ottawa Hurricanes of the Canadian Football League. In the 1947-1948 season, he played two games with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings before suffering an injury. He continued playing semi-pro hockey before making his home in Pembroke, where he played four years of senior hockey. He is an ardent golfer.
Todd Gill
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 11th, 2004
Todd Gill enjoyed an NHL career that spanned 1,007 games over 19 years with seven different teams. The native of Cardinal played for the Brockville Braves in the CJHL in 1981-92 before playing three years in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires.
Gill began his pro career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1984-85 after being a second-round draft pick in the 1984 entry draft. As a six-foot-one-inch, 180-pound defenceman, he played there for 12 years before donning the uniforms of San Jose, St. Louis, Detroit, Phoenix, Colorado and Chicago in 2002-03. Gill spent the 2003-04 season in the Pro League in Germany.
In his NHL career, Gill scored 82 goals with 270 assists for 352 points. He also added seven goals and 30 assists in 103 playoff games.
Tony Dunbar
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 14th, 2013
Tony has been a competitive runner most of his adult life. He had finished at least 15 marathons as of induction day in 1981; he ran a 3:29 marathon and was still running times close to that 30 years later.
Tony was Club President of the Brockville Roadrunners from 2000 to 2008, Club Representative on the California Run Committee for 5 years and race Director for the Thousand Islands Parkway 5K and half marathon from 1997 to 2010. He also developed the club’s website in 2003 and continues as webmaster.
Tony was the founder of the Parke-Davis Soccer Team in 1977 and a player-coach for several years. He also served on the Brockville and District Soccer Association Executive and was President for a number of years. As an age category runner, Tony in 2010 finished 1st in the Utica Boilermaker 15K and 3rd in the Florence, Italy Marathon. In the Toronto Marathon, he was 1st in 2011 and 2nd in 2012. In 2013, he was 1st in the Toronto Half Marathon and in the Kingston 8K.
Tony MacDonald
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 13th, 2008
Tony grew up in Alexandria, played with the Hawksbury Hawks of the CJHL and with Valleyfield, Quebec. He also played intermediate hockey in Prescott after moving to the Fort Town in the early 1970s. Tony coached the Prescott Midget, Spencerville Junior “B”, Brockville Braves, the Windsor Spitfires and Guelph Storm in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.
In the mid 70’s, Tony became co-owner of the Brockville Braves. Later, serving as the Franchise Director of hockey operations. Tony was appointed General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings OHL expansion franchise in 1990, serving two seasons. Tony’s scouting career started with the Brockville Braves and went on to scout for the Cornwall Royals and Kitchener Rangers of the OHL before becoming Director of Scouting for the Windsor Spitfires from 1982-88.
Tony’s NHL Scouting career started with the LA Kings. In 1994, he became a scout for the Hartford Whalers, and when the franchise moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, Tony continued to be a scout for the Hurricanes. He has a Stanley Cup ring for the Hurricanes in 2006. In the summer of 2007, he was promoted to Director of amateur scouting for the Caroline Hurricanes.
W. Ruth Dukelow
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2007
Ruth was a talented athlete who excelled in 5 sports and was the recipient of several All-Star awards in softball. Ruth’s introduction to coaching came in 1962 when she began her 30 years of coaching school teams, where she was a teacher.
Ruth expanded her coaching duties in 1980. Coaching community softball teams and hockey teams. She also acquired her Level III Hockey Trainer’s Certification Programme Certificate, and has been the trainer for many area hockey teams. She has been serving her community in the sports arena for the past 27 years, and still continues to do so.
Wally White
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 9th, 2017
Wally White has been a longtime successful Coach, Manager, Executive Member and participant in a variety of sports in Brockville and Area, for more than 30 years, from the mid-1960s to mid-1990s, at the high school level. Wally coached championship teams in football and basketball at South Grenville and TISS for many years. He coached All-Star football and coached Brockville’s Little League Baseball All-Stars.
Wally was the President of South Grenville Minor Hockey and Vice-President of Brockville Minor Hockey. A shrewd evaluator of talent, he served as the General Manager of the Brockville Tikis and was on the Executive of the Brockville Braves. Wally played fastball, played Brockville men’s basketball and officiated basketball as well, while always enjoying golf and now curling.
Wayne Amyotte
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2009
Wayne Amyotte, also known as “Bullhead”, played with the Brockville Bunnies in 1966 when they won the Eastern Ontario Connie Mack League Championship. They were North Atlantic semi-finalists in Albany, NY. Wayne signed with Lachine, Quebec, in a Senior League where he struck out 8 of 9 batters as a Relief Pitcher. He was offered a tryout with the Detroit Tigers, playing for the Bristol Tigers of the Appalachian League, where he was 8 and 2 with a .236 ERA. His second year was with the Lakeland Tigers of the Florida State League and the following year with the Rocky Mountain Leafs of the Carolina League.
It was in his 4th year that he injured his pitching arm and was released. His arm muscles never healed properly, so his playing career was over. Wayne would run pitching clinics. Helped coach and scout players from 2003 for the San Diego Padres of the National League.
He continues to help young players with the Brockville Bunnies.
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.
Whit Prophet
Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2025
Whit Prophet has embraced a lifelong enjoyment of sports in Brockville and the area. Growing up in Prescott, Prophet played multiple sports and then became a respected coach in minor sports. During his teaching career at three local high schools, Prophet coached gymnastics along with track and field, earning accolades for his work with athletes.
Since 2003, Prophet has been heavily involved with the Brockville Tikis and the Brockville Braves in the Central Canada Hockey League. Prophet has been a leader for the league in broadcasting, announcing, production and media information. His passion for sports and commitment to excellence has left a mark on the local athletic community.
