Cornwall ON – No less than eight sports are represented by the twelve inductees that are part of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2010.
Below is the list of those we are proud to announce that are to be inducted into the Hall at the Benson Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.
Jason Lapierre – Alpine Skiing – Posthumously
Shannon Burke – Basketball
Eric Harps – Broomball
Gerry McKenna – Curling
Barry Smith – Football – Posthumously
Mike Conway – Hockey
Gilles Parisien – Running/Track
Mike Branchaud – Softball
Marcel Leduc – Softball
Jo Ann Lauzon – Swimming
Steve Ouderkirk – Builder – Hockey
Al Wagar – Builder – Hockey
Starting 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 Benson Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, August 14th, 2010 in the Salons of the Civic Complex. Tickets are available by contacting David at dmurphy10@cogeco.ca .
Biographies
Alpine Ski Racing – Jason Lapierre
Jason started skiing at the age two. By the time he graduated from CCVS, he had been a member of the Blackcomb ski team in Whistler,B.C. Jason earned the highest Alpine Ski Racing Certification in Canada and served as Head Coach and Director of the Calgary Alpine Racing Club. Jason was tragically struck by a vehicle in Alberta while cycling in preparation for the Sylvan Lake Half Ironman Championships in July of 2006.
Basketball – Shannon Burke
Championships followed Shannon Burke. Shannon led the St.Lawrence High School girls teams to a gold medal at the Provincial Championships following back to back SD&G titles. Shannon was the leading scorer and rebounder on the CUCBA Lions Juvenile team that won Provincial Championships in 1992 and 1993. Shannon earned Varsity letters all four years of her scholarship to the University of Vermont.
Broomball – Eric Harps
The Harps name is synonymous with Broomball excellence in Cornwall. Eric’s playing career began in the mid 1960’s and by 1970 he was President of the Seaway Valley Broomball League and served as the President of the Cornwall Regional Broomball Association until 1992. Eric was the 1982 recipient of the Jacques Richard Trophy as Cornwall and Area’s top sports personality. Eric joins his son Steve as a member of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame.
Curling – Gerry McKenna
For over two decades, Gerry McKenna has been an integral part of the growth of the sport of curling in Cornwall. Gerry has been the main organizer for the Cornwall Bonspiel, which has been lauded as one of the best in Eastern Canada for more than 20 years. The Past President of the Cornwall Curling Club also won the Curling Member of the Year award at the Cornwall Lions Club Sports Awards Dinner in 2008.
Football – Barry Smith
Barry Smith is responsible for an entire generation of football talent in Cornwall. The former CCVS star resurrected the sport in the early 1990’s after a decade of no football in the area. As a coach, Barry guided a number of teams to championships and as an organizer was instrumental in reviving high school football which as of 2010 now boasts of four teams in SD&G. Barry also helped create scholarships for football players looking to pursue post secondary education.
Hockey – Mike Conway
A hockey playing resume spanning three decades, Mike Conway is better known by his nickname “Crusher”. The former Cornwall Royals standout captained the team in the 1974-75 season earning a Hockey Canada Scholarship. Mike was also captain at McMaster and Queen’s University before joining the Cornwall Senior Flyers in 1981. Mike was also an assistant coach for three season with the CJHL’s Cornwall Colts.
Running – Gilles Parisien
Gilles is the face of running in Cornwall. A runner for the past 23 years, he has run 20 marathons while qualifying for the world famous Boston Marathon 9 times. Gilles has been president or past president for several local running and multi sports clubs. He’s been the coach of the St. Lawrence College Cross Country team since 1997. Gilles also pioneered the Learn to Run program in Cornwall in 2005.
Softball – Mike Branchaud
Mike will forever be remembered as a member of the world famous King & His Court 4-man Softball Team. A fastball clocked at 91 mph is a main reason Mike was a dominant pitcher for more than 20 years. Mike was also a feared slugger who guided his teams to championships at various levels including local leagues including the Sportsman and the John Denneny. Mike was named 1st team All World at the 1999 ISC World Tournament in 1999.
Softball – Marcel Leduc
Marcel’s softball exploits began in 1950 and continued until 1996. Tournament and league MVPs and All-Star nods followed Marcel from the Industrial and North End Fastball Leagues to similar leagues in Western Quebec. Marcel pitched for the New York Café Aces on the vaunted 1958 Ontario Championship team. The Cornwall native also pitched out of Montreal in several charity games including match ups against the NHL’s Canadiens in 1981.
Swimming – Jo Ann Lauzon (Belmore)
Jo Ann was the first and youngest local swimmer to compete at the Canadian Championships. As a 15 year old, Jo Ann was ranked 23rd in Canada. Her diagnosis with a condition similar to Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1975 put a premature end to her competitive career. In spite of that, Jo Ann remains one of Cornwall’s most decorated swimmers.
Builder Hockey – Steve Ouderkirk
A 15 year career as a trainer with the Cornwall Royals paved the way for Steve Ouderkirk’s induction into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame. Steve is credited with single handedly bringing about the much celebrated Royals reunion of 2000 while also being the catalyst behind the jersey retirement of Hockey Hall of Fame member Dale Hawerchuk. Steve also had a six year stint as a trainer with the CFL’s Ottawa Rough Riders.
Builder Hockey – Al Wagar
Al Wagar was the face of Junior A hockey in Cornwall for more than a decade. As coach, general manager and co-owner, Al led the Colts hockey club through one of the most successful decades in the history of the CJHL. Al guided the Colts to one Fred Page Cup championship, four CJHL titles, six appearances in the final and the host of one Page Cup. Al was the 1997 winner of the Jacques Richard Trophy as Cornwall and Area’s top sports personality.
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I was wondering where the information on JoAnn Belmore came from. The reason I remember hearing, about why she left the swim team, was so she could spend more time on her school and have a life outside of the swim team. In all of the years I have known JoAnn I never heard about the health issues mentioned here