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Cornwall Sports Hall Of Fame Class Of 2012 Announced By Staff
Twelve inductees representing eight sports will be part of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012. The induction dinner is an event that is always looked forward to with much anticipation. “It’s the one night the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame has (every two years) to truly recognize the great athletes, coaches and builders in our community from a wide range of sports,” said Dinner Chairman David Murphy. “The Class of 2012 is a collection of talented athletes and builders that have made Cornwall and area a better place for their respective sports.” The athletes, and their respective sports are as follows: Wayne Froats - Softball Donald Roy “Twig” McElhone - Lacrosse Jerry Bruyere - Broomball Steve McGillis - Softball Frank Chartrand - Builder Soccer Merton “Bud” Hanon - Builder Equestrian John Parisien - Softball Claude Regnier - Skateboarding Marc Dupuis - Hockey Maureen Pinkos - Swimming Rae Armstrong - Softball Harold Murphy - Hockey Created in 1968, the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame today boasts more than 300 athletes, coaches and builders who excelled in their sports of choice. The ceremony officially recognizing the selected athletes as “Hall of Famers” will take place at The Benson Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, which is scheduled for Saturday, August 11th, 2012 in the Salons of the Civic Complex. Tickets are available by contacting David Murphy at dmurphy10@cogeco.ca or at Gordon Jewelers 13 2nd St. West.
CLAUDE REGNIER SKATEBOARDING
An active athlete in many sports, Claude Regnier knew the first time he stepped onto a skateboard in the mid1970’s that it was love at first roll. Claude began competing and was soon representing Cornwall in competitions throughout North America and the World. In 1981, Claude won the Canadian Slalom Championship and successfully defended the title in 1982. He would win it again in 1986 and 1990. In ’86 Claude finished 2nd at the Trans World Championships. Claude’s love of the sport has led to him mentoring young skateboard athletes around the world leaving him a legacy as a successful coach and builder of the sport of Skateboarding. Claude Regnier, welcome to the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.
JOHN PARISIEN SOFTBALL
John is a multi sport athlete who would win several MVP awards but it’s the softball diamonds where he made his real mark. John started playing in the mid 1970’s and by the mid 80’s was leading the M&S Masterbuilders to the John Denneny League championship. His catching abilities were sought after and many of the travelling teams of the era recruited him. Known for his screaming line drives and towering home runs, John made five trips to the famed Ausable Forks Tournament from 1987 to 1992 where he was named to four straight All Star teams while also winning the Alan Douglas Memorial Award for base hits four years running. John was also a fixture on the Crate Ideas teams of the late 80’s and early 90’s winning his second Lions Club Sportsman of the year for Softball in 1993. John Parisien welcome to the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
MERTON “BUD” HANON BUILDER EQUESTRIAN
Merton “Bud” Hanson’s passion was horses. In 1967, Bud made a 200 acre farm in Lunenburg home to the Big Oak Morgan Horse farm eventually turning out World Champion horses. The Big Oak Morgan farm would see championship horses at the Grand National, International, Regional, State and Provincial levels as well. In 1973, Bud became a member of the American Morgan Horse Association, Canadian Morgan Horse Association and Equine Canada. A total of 23 Morgan horses would win world championships thanks to Bud’s commitment of excellence. Merton “Bud” Hanson died in November, 2009. Merton “Bud” Hanson is now a member of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.
MAUREEN PINKOS SWIMMING
Maureen Pinkos had success in competitive swimming from the get go when she attended the 1978 Ontario Championships as a 12 year old winning gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m freestyle events. Later that year, Maureen would win 3 Silvers and Bronze medal at a championship meet in Point Claire, Quebec while following that up with 10 medals at an event in Watertown, New York against girls older than her. She finished 1978 with a trip to Coventry, England to compete against older girls qualifying for two events and taking home a Bronze in the 50m freestyle. A year later, Maureen won 11 medals at the Provincial Championships in Peterborough and was the overall points champion. The Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 welcomes Maureen Pinkos.
RAE ARMSTRONG SOFTBALL
Rae Armstrong is a multi-sports star who was a dominating pitcher in the heyday of Cornwall’s softball leagues of the 1950’s. Known as the “Speedball Merchant” Rae was also a feared hitter. Rae could be and was, called upon to pitch in back to back games over the course of his career. In 1954, Rae was a key player on the Howard Smith Paper Mill team that won the North End Championship. Long time manager of that team, Ralph Gault said of Rae, “There isn’t a hurler in the City who can work as often and as effectively.” Rae Armstrong, the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 awaits you.
STEVE MCGILLIS SOFTBALL
Steve’s passion for fastball begin as a youth and a by 1982, he was named Rookie of the Year in the Cornwall Industrial League. Steve’s pattern of winning MVP awards as well as batting and pitching titles began in 1983 and continued for the next 3 decades in several leagues including the Industrial, John Denneny and Cornwall and District Fastball Leagues. Steve was recruited along with CSHOF member Mike Branchaud to play for Milverton of the Toronto Senior Fastball League in 1996 and helped them qualify for the World Championships. In 1999, Steve pitched for Canberra Australia in the McArthur Cup Shootout against Australia’s best players while also being on the championship team for the World Senior Fastball Tournament in North Bay. Steve was a part of two World Masters tournament teams winning a Silver Medal in 2009 in Australia and is a two time (2008, 2012) winner of the Cornwall Lions Club Sports Award for Fastball. Steve McGillis, welcome to the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2012. Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.
WAYNE FROATS SOFTBALL
Wayne Froats was a well known pitcher in Cornwall’s Industrial League. Wayne made his way to the North End League in 1956 and spent three seasons chucking for the Howard Smith Paper Mill team (1961-63). While known for pitching, Wayne was also among the league leaders in batting as well. Wayne played in many leagues including teams like Farran’s Point and Glengarry Transport where he earned league MVP honors in 1968. His career included two no hitters, one in which he had 18 strikeouts. Wayne is also a member of the South Stormont Sports Hall of Fame (2010). Wayne Froats is a member of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.
FRANK CHARTRAND BUILDER SOCCER
Frank starred at soccer and was the backbone of the La Citadelle Patriots team in the 1970’s. Frank was a part of the birth of the Cornwall City Soccer Club and it’s his leadership that has helped the club’s success. Frank was behind the growth of the group and by the late 90’s there were three mens and one ladies competitive teams. The annual indoor soccer tournament had a record 92 teams in 1999 and 2000. Frank was a catalyst to the Cornwall Sport Centre (since moved to the Benson Centre) as he was the person responsible for ensuring the Dome’s viability, the turf and remodeling the clubhouse. Frank Chartrand, the Class of 2012 for the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame welcomes you.
HAROLD MURPHY HOCKEY
A local fan favourite, Harold Murphy was a household name in Cornwall and hockey in the 1960’s. Harold’s accomplishments include backstopping the Byron Gordon Royals from 1962-1967 taking his team to the CJHL finals in 1964-65-66 including a Memorial Cup appearance in 1964. Harold held the CJHL record for lowest goals against average (2.54). Harold spent time with the Tulsa Oilers and Toledo Blades of the IHL. The Toronto Maple Leafs invited Harold to their 1967 training camp. While not big in stature, his heart made up for it. Harold Murphy, the Class of 2012 for the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame welcomes you. Sports Hall of Fame, Class 2012 welcomes Marc Dupuis.
DONALD ROY “TWIG” McELHONE LACROSSE
Donald Roy “Twig” McElhone began playing goalie in lacrosse in the 1950’s. Don’s career in Cornwall began in 1965 when he played for the Mustangs. The following year, Don was the starting goalie for the Cornwall Wildcats and went undefeated for 18 games – he played forward in the other two matches, scoring four goals and two assists. That team, with Donald as the backbone won the Ontario Championship only to fall short against New Westminster in the Castrol Cup (now the Founders Cup). Don spent the next 25 years playing Senior Lacrosse in Nova Scotia as well as coaching at various levels and is a legend Maritimes Lacrosse. In August of 2006, Don played a lacrosse game in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia allowing him to play a meaningful game in six different decades. The Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2012 welcomes Donald Roy McElhone.
MARC DUPUIS HOCKEY
Marc Dupuis’ hockey playing days began in Cornwall and led him across North America. After missing only two games in four seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls, Mark was a 5th round draft pick of the Chicago Black Hawks in 1994. Marc spent six seasons in the International Hockey League and American Hockey League playing in 168 games scoring 10 goals and picking up 26 assists. Coaches maintained Marc was their go to shut down defender. Marc also spent several years playing in the ECHL, CHL and UHL before retiring to Cornwall. Marc came out of retirement to become a regular on the Quebec Senior Hockey League circuit which included a championship season in 2004-05 with the Cornwall Comets. The Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class 2012 welcomes Marc Dupuis.
GERRY BRUYERE BROOMBALL
From the early 1970’s into the 80’s, Gerry Bruyere would become the Jean Beliveau of the game of Broomball in Cornwall. Gerry was a preeminent star in the leagues, all star tournament teams as well as Provincial and Canadian Championship tournaments. Gerry’s strong work ethic along with a deft scoring touch led to more than 400 goals over a 20 year career. Many fellow Broomball stars cite Gerry as the best of his generation. The Class of 2012 and the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Gerry Bruyere.