Category Archives: 1970 – 1989

1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1980 - 1989, All, Hockey, Male

DARRYL SLY

Leave a comment

Darryl Sly is not only a hockey player. He is an organizer and an ambassador of good will for the game he loves and plays so well.

Never hesitant to lend a helping hand to young players on the way up, Darryl know the value of good publicity and he has done much to publicize his native Collingwood.

Born in Collingwood, he came all the way up through the town=s minor hockey system and capped off his own minor hockey career by helping the Collingwood Clubs win the O.M.H.A. Juvenile “A” championship in 1956.

From juvenile he immediately jumped to the Major “A” Junior League in 1957 under the guidance of Father Dave Bauer. He developed into one of the top junior defensemen in the nation as a member of St. Michael’s college team.

From St. Mike’s he went to the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Dutchmen in the Senior “A” loop.  As a member of the Flying Dutchmen, he represented Canada in the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley. That was the year that Canada lost to the United States and they had to be content with a Silver Medal.

International hockey seemed to be in his blood and in 1961 he was an outstanding star on another Canadian National team. The Trail Smoke Eaters won the World Hockey championship over a powerful Russian club. Incidentally, that was the last time a Canadian team won a World Amateur hockey tournament.

Darryl was on a red hot winning streak because he came back from the World tournament and helped the Galt Terriers win the Allan Cup that very same year.

After turning pro with the Toronto Maple Leaf organization, Darryl kept hoarding the silverware with Rochester in the American League, winning three consecutive Calder Cups. He moved out to Vancouver when the Rochester club’s franchise was transferred to the wear coast city and once again the silverware rolled his way.  Vancouver won the Western League title and the Lester Patrick Trophy.

Playing on four championship teams in five years has got to be a record.

Darryl was then drafted to the Minnesota North Stars in the N.H.L. and the following season he was back with another expansion club-the Vancouver Canucks.

A year later he decided to look to the future with his family and a business career but kept his hand in hockey by retrieving his amateur status.

Here was a hockey player who looked beyond hockey while he was still playing the game. Already a college graduate, he picked up a Bachelor of Arts degree and carried on with a successful teaching career.

Like Bern Brophy, Roy Burmister, Jack Portland and Eddie Bush, all members of Collingwood’s Sports Hall of Fame, Darryl Sly came back to the old home town to finish his hockey career as a player and coach.

Darryl hooked up as a player-coach with the Barrie Flyers in 1971 and in the next seven years led the Flyers to the Allan Cup finals four times. They won the Allan Cup after a great series with Spokane in 1974.

He came back to Collingwood as a player-coach. He led the Shipbuilders to the O.H.A. Intermediate Championship in 1983.

1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, 2000 - 2009, All, Hockey, Male

DON RICH

Leave a comment

Donald nicknamed “Richie” was born in Stayner, Ontario on Oct.29, 1938 moving to Collingwood in 1943. He is married to Sharon and have 3 children, Mark, Brad, and Lisa. Don was educated at Victoria Public School and Collingwood Collegiate Institute.

A summary of his hockey career is as follows:

1954-55 – Collingwood Midgets / OHA Midget B Finalists
1955-56 – Collingwood Juveniles / OHA Juvenile B Champions
1956-59 – Guelph Biltmores Junior A
1959-60 – New York Rovers Eastern Professional
1967-1968 – Collingwood Kings / OHA Senior A Provincial Finalists
1974 – 2000 – Numerous MVP Awards at Kinsmen/Oldtimer Tournaments
2000 – Collingwood Don Cherry’s Ontario Silver Medallist, Ontario Senior Winter Games-MVP Award

Incredibly, it was during the 2000 Senior Games that Don recorded 5 shutouts without taking gold! An overtime goal during the Gold Medal game was the only goal surrendered resulting in Collingwood taking home the Silver Medal.

As a member of the community, Don has been an Executive Member of the Kinsmen Club and a Past President for the Collingwood Minor Hockey Association. Founding member of Collingwood Beaver Lumber Oldtimer Hockey Club, Organizer of Collingwood Municipal Hockey Team/Tournaments,

This evening June 9, 2000 marks the induction of “Richie” into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in the Players’ category.


	

	
	




	
	

				

			1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, All, Football, Male
		

		
RYAN POTTER

		

			 			Leave a comment
					

	


		

		
Back in 1974, running back Ryan Potter, donning CCI’s gold and black, dominated play in Simcoe County during his high school years, but had to ask for a tryout with the University of Western   Ontario Mustangs.


The first year I was at Western there were 45 running backs trying out for the team.  “It was ludicrous” said Potter.  “They ended up keeping six of us, and I was fortunate enough to be one of them.”  Potter went on to have a five-year career in the Canadian Football League, and at the time was only the second Collingwood resident to ever get that far – the first being Jack Portland.  But it was with the Mustangs that the tailback enjoyed his greatest success.


During his four-year playing career at Western, from 1978 -81, the Mustangs went 35-8 and won three consecutive Yates Cup Championships (emblematic of the Ontario university title).  Potter was awarded the Dalt White Trophy as most outstanding player in two of those championship games – ’79 and ’81.


He had 1,172 yards on just 130 carries and ranks 10th on Western’s all-time yardage list, despite being the only player among those top 10 who had less than 200 carries.


Ryan started his career at Western with two fellow-freshmen running backs, Greg

Marshall and Mike Kirkley, who would form over the next four years perhaps the

most dynamic threesome in Canadian university football history, said Larry Haylor, long time head coach of the Mustangs.  “We have always been motivated at Western by team goals and it’s testimony to Ryan’s character that he always placed team before self.”


In the 1982 CFL Canadian College Draft, Potter was chosen in the third round by

the B.C. Lions, who would later draft a couple of other Collingwood residents,

Scott Lecky and Reinhardt Keller.  He played for four years with the Lions

and one more with Calgary before calling it quits.


At CCI, Potter was the captain for two junior teams, yet he played only one year

of senior because of his age.  A two-way player, he won CCI’s athlete-of-the-year on two occasions.


Potter is married with two daughters and is a sales trainer for a pharmaceutical

company.  He recently moved to Toronto from Vancouver. Ryan Potter was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

	

	
	




	
	

				

			1930 - 1949, 1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1980 - 1989, All, Hockey, Male
		

		
ROBBIE SANDELL

		

			 			Leave a comment
					

	


		

		
Robbie’s hockey career spans an active period of some 40 years counting his seven years with the Collingwood Old-timers squad.


He played on three championship teams in Public school; Juvenile in 1941; Junior “A” with Barrie; Intermediate and Senior with Collingwood, and was a member of the All-Ontario Kinsmen Hockey Club.


Robert Sandell was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, in August, 1984.

	

	
	




	
	

				

			1930 - 1949, 1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, 1990 - 1999, All, Golf, Male
		

		
CHARLES REEVES CONNOLLY

		

			 			Leave a comment
					

	


		

		
Charles successful golf career spanned 5 decades from the 1930’s through the 1980’s.


As a champion track, football, rugby, basketball, curling and hockey player while attending Collingwood Collegiate, he was awarded the Senior Athlete Award in 1940. On the course, he won seven club championships + 20 tournament victories throughout his 50 year golf career. He finished 2nd in the Ontario Senior Championships in 4 consecutive years between 1964-67. In 1973, he won the International Senior’s Golf Society event at Gleneagles, Scotland.


In 1984 and 1985, Charles won the Canadian Senior Golf Tournament for golfers 70-74 years.


Connolly joined the Canadian Air Force before working with Ontario Hydro and the Credit Union bank.


Throughout his golfing travels, Charles recorded 3 holes in one!

	

	
	




	
	

				

			1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1980 - 1989, All, Hockey, Male
		

		
PAUL SHAKES

		

			 			Leave a comment
					

	


		

		
Born in Collingwood, Paul Shakes scored one hundred goals in the novice division of Collingwood Minor Hockey, and that record still stands. Paul hockey skills caught the attention of our local junior team where he played at the midget age of 15.


Shakes was chosen 38th overall by the California Golden Seals (NHL) after accumulating 170 points in three seasons with the St. Catharines Black Hawks of the OHA. After scoring 20 goals in 1971-72 the young rearguard was voted on to the OHA  first all-star team.


A recognized fine playmaker, Paul played defense for Salt Lake City in 1972-73 where he registered a decent 42 points as a rookie pro with the WHL’s Salt Lake Golden Eagles. The next year he played 21 games for the California Golden Seals but was relegated to the minors for the last two years of his career before he retired in 1976 after surgery for a herniated disk.


He now has an interest in Harness Racing where he and son Brad have co-owned and trained many champions including 2002 Ontario Sires Stakes champion Meadowview Sunny.  In the same year, Meadowview Sunny was a recipient of the O’Brien Awards as the premiere 2 year old cold trotter in harness racing over a given year.


Paul was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.







	

	
	




	
	

				

			1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, 1990 - 1999, All, Golf, Hockey, Male
		

		
DON COOK

		

			 		

	


		

		
Don Cook has enjoyed success on both the golf course and hockey arena.  At the time of Induction, Cook has played in eight (8) Ontario Amateur Golf Championships and four (4) Canadian amateur tournaments over the years, and qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Rochester, New York’s Oak Hill course in 1994.


Along the way, Cook has won over 25 club championships across Ontario and holds several local course records including his home course – Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club.


During his hockey career, Cook helped the Collingwood Juvenile Cubs win an Ontario title as a defenseman in 1955-56 and went on to play several games for the Jr. “’A” Guelph Biltmores under coach Eddie Bush in 1957.


He went on to captain the Waterloo Jr. ‘B’ Siskins for three seasons (1958, ’59 & ’60) and then played pro in Holland for a couple of years.


Don Cook was inducted into The Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in May 1996.


In Dec 2022, Don Cook passed away suddenly in Collingwood leaving behind many friends.

	

	
	




	
	

				

			1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, 2000 - 2009, 2000 - 2009, 2010 - 2019, All, Golf, Male
		

		
BRIAN JEFFERY

		

			 			2 Comments
					

	


		

		


Considering all of the accomplishments in the golfing career of local resident Brian

Jeffery, one figure stands out when all of the numbers are compiled. Twenty-Eight (28)

holes-in-one! He’s done it at the famed Turnberry links in Scotland, twice

within two weeks earlier this year while wintering in Florida, and several

times on his home Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club. “There has to be

some skill involved, but largely it’s a lucky shot,” said the 60-year-old

Jeffery, who placed 12th at the 2004 Canadian senior amateur championships in North Bay, prior to his Induction.


Some luck and a lot of practice has helped Jeffery become the top-ranked senior amateur player (55 yrs. & up) in Ontario. He was introduced to the sport at the age of two by his grandfather, Bill Thompson, at the old Collingwood Golf Club. As a teen, he won several area tournaments and captured the Simcoe County Invitational four years running (1964-67). His father Don managed the Collingwood arena for 25 years and is in the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame for his years of hockey at the OHA Junior and Senior levels.


At just 140 pounds, Brian played junior hockey but preferred sticks of the iron variety. Jeffery would go on to work 30 years and one day at Bell Canada before retiring and getting into the senior golf ranks. Among his golfing achievements, was runner-up at the 1999 Canadian Senior Match Play Championships, 3x Ontario senior amateur title (2002, 2005 & 2008) and taking the National Senior Association title in 2003. Locally, he has claimed the Scenic Caves Invitational and Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club titles seven times each.


Jeffery credits long-time playing partner Don Cook for pushing him to be a sharper player and competitor.  “I tend to get ahead of myself sometimes,” joked Jeffery. “Just because you can see the clubhouse, it doesn’t mean you’ve won anything yet. I remember I was leading a tournament in Midland by five strokes with five holes to play and then made a 10 on one hole. Sure I lost that tournament, but I learned a lot from the experience and it helped me later.”


This evening, October 23, 2004, the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Brian Jeffery as an enshrined member for his Athletic achievements.

	

	
	




	
	

				

			1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, All, Male, Skating
		

		
MICHAEL KOSHILKA

		

			 			Leave a comment
					

	


		

		
Michael was born in Haileybury, Ontario April 19, 1964, moving to Collingwood in 1970, and at the time of his election to the Hall he was living in Collingwood. Michael’s schooling took place in Collingwood at Connaught Public School followed by Collingwood Collegiate Institute, Oshawa and Preston.


The reasons for naming Michael to the Hall of Fame are many and show strong dedication to his sport of figure skating.


In figure skating, he skated in the free-skate and later as a member of the free skating pairs’ team.  From 1975 to 1978, he represented Collingwood within this region, from 1979 to 1982 h e was in competition at the regional, provincial and national level.  As well as being an outstanding competitor and an asset to the sports community of Collingwood, he also excelled in the Canadian Figure Skating Association’s test system.


He has obtained his gold medal in free-skate, Canadian and American gold in dance, silver in free dance, novice competition, silver pairs and seventh figure test.


To continue his skating he left Collingwood and became a pairs competitor.  He continued to train in both Oshawa and Preston.


– 1980-81 Received a gold medal in the Ontario Sectional event and qualified to go                    Ontario Divisional’s where he and his partner qualified for the Canadian        Championships in Halifax.  They finish ninth overall.


– 1981-Michael was named to the City of Oshawa’s Outstanding Achievement Award.


– 1982-Michael and partner went to the nationals again and this time finished 7th.


At the time of his induction into the Hall, he was still active in his sport as a professional coach, coaching in and around Collingwood.  He also served as the area’s senior dance coach.  Because of his dedication to the skaters in this area, they did not have to leave home to train and progress at the senior dance level.


Michael was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame on June 20, 1992, in the players’ category.

	

	
	




	
	

				

			1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1980 - 1989, All, Golf, Male
		

		
DAVE TAYLOR

		

			 			Leave a comment
					

	


		

		
Davey Taylor received his first golf club on Christmas Day, 1905, in Alloway, Scotland. The club was in his stocking and he was just five years old.


He started knocking a golf ball around from that very day, and, he was still at it just 75 years later.


His greatest thrill came at 14 years of age when the family moved to the town of Troon, on Scotland’s west coast. Troon was surrounded by no fewer than six golf courses.


After serving with the First Highland Light Infantry Regiment in World War II, Davey came to Collingwood to work in the shipyard in 1923.


Since that time he has been a legend and a landmark on Collingwood golf courses. Always available, Davey never spared himself when it came to lending a helping hand to young golfer.


His golfing can be attested by the shelves of cups and trophies that adorned his comfortable home on Moberly Street. During his career in Collingwood he has won the Collingwood Senior Golf Club championship ten times.


He won the Saugeen Open in 1963, the Wasaga Beach open twice and the Collingwood Legion Trophy three times. Add the annual Shipyard tournament awards and a dozen local cups and shields and you find Davey Taylor sitting on top of a stone boast load of silver. He has ringed the cup many times on his tee shots but only once did he realize the golfer’s dream- a hole in one. His first and last ace came on a Toronto golf course back in 1931.


Par for the old Collingwood Golf Club is seventy. Mr. Taylor did not remember how many times he has pared that course. He shot a 64 at the age of 63.


He died in 1981.