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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.

1900 - 1929, 1980 - 1989, All, Hockey, Male

TOM COLLINS

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One of the most colourful hockey players in the history of the town.

Tom played on  Collingwood’s second Ontario Hockey Association’s team for ten years around the
turn of the century.  He was a member of the 1907 Intermediate Ontario
finalists.  He played professional hockey with Portage La Prairie and
Minneapolis.  He was also a star lacrosse player.

1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, 2010 - 2019, All, Hockey, Male

TOM COLLEY

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The Collingwood Shipbuilder’s began their climb towards ‘Senior A’ supremacy with the arrival of Tom Colley for the 1981-82 season.

At the age of 8, Tom’s tasted his first of 6 consecutive league championships in AAA
in the Toronto M.T.H.L. During each season, Tom’s reputation as a goal scorer
grew as he tallied 55 to 92 goals per season.  TC’s goal scoring continued throughout a two year stint with the Weston Dodgers in Jr. B followed by another two years of 20+ goals in the OHA playing for the Niagara Falls Flyers and Sudbury Wolves.

Eventually, Tom Colley was the fourth choice of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and turned pro in 1973 with the New Haven Nighthawks, where he would spend the next seven years. Colley played one NHL game in 1974.  During his illustrious AHL career he earned the nickname as Mr. Nighthawk as he routinely potted 30+ goals while wearing the “C” from 1977 through 1980. This consistency was recognized in 1998 when he was honoured by New Haven as one of the city’s greatest hockey players.

In 1981, Collingwood welcomed its first legitimate goal-scorer in many years. Immediately, goaltenders across the Georgian Bay loop felt the warmth of the ‘red’ light behind them as Tom averaged 1.5 points per game for the next 5 seasons. He led the league in scoring during the 1982-83 while the Shipbuilder won the Major Int. “A” Champions coming in second place in the province behind Timmons.

In 1985-86, upon the completion of the Shipbuilder season, Tom was signed by the Dundas Real Coys to compete in the Hardy Cup. Not surprisingly, Tom provided some clutch short-handed and power-play goals as the Real Coys captured the the Hardy Cup. Like most champions, Tom ended in competitive hockey career going out in style by winning the OHA Senior “A” title 4-games-to-2 against the Dunnville Mudcats of the Southern Ontario league.

Fortunately, Tom Colley stayed in the Collingwood area upon his retirement as chose to share his talents as a Collingwood Minor Hockey coach progressing to the coaching staff of the Collingwood Blues – Ontario Tier 2 Provincial Jr. ‘A’ , serving as an assistant in two separate stints with the club. Consistent with his playing career, Tom coached his teams to multiple Silver Stick Championships and league titles. Not surprisingly, his induction supported by many heartfelt testimonials from his coaching career.

Away from the rink, Tom’s baseball prowess resulted in an invitation to the 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates training camp. Following his hockey career, Tom was a valued member of the Provincial Champion – Collingwood John’s Car Wash Slo-Pitch team that represented Ontario in the 1989 & 1993 Slo-Pitch Nationals.

Alongside his son Kevin Colley, Tom Colley’s induction marks the fourth time a parent-child has been represented in the Collingwood Sport Hall of Fame.

1990 - 1999, 2000 - 2009, 2000 - 2009, All, Hockey, Male

KEVIN COLLEY

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Kevin Colley began his hockey career in the Collingwood Minor Hockey Association playing from Novice through to Midget upon his arrival from his birthplace – New Haven, Connecticut.
As the celebrated sniper, Kevin’s Atom Hockey Club – Pepi’s – won the International Silver Stick Tournament.   During this high profile tourney, Colley collected 22 points with 11 goals & 11 assists.

As a member of the Collingwood Bantam Rep. Legionnaires, he was a key  ingredient as they captured the Ontario Minor Hockey Association
“BB” championship.

In 1997 , Kevin participated in the most prestigious major junior hockey tournament in this country  – Memorial Cup Tournament  – during his active playing career with the Oshawa Generals  from 1996- 99.  Following his Junior career, Kevin played for
the Hartford Wolf Pack in the ECHL between 1999 -2000; graduating to the AHL for the 2001-2005 seasons.

Kevin’s enthusiastic play resulted in his call to the NHL’s New York Islanders in
2005. Again, it was Kevin’s playing style saw his playing time increase with the Islanders until a career-ending   injury halted Kevin’s promising hockey playing career.   

Oshawa Highlights

1996  Oshawa’s 3rd Round pick (43 overall) in the OHL

1997  Memorial Cup vs. Lethbridge

Plays for TeamUSA at World Juniors in Finland

1998 Scores winning goal – OHL All Star game in North Bay

1998-1999  Leads Oshawa Generals in regular season scoring

OHL All Star game in Sarnia & receives Most Outstanding Player
for Oshawa

Nominated for the OHL Red Tilson Award (Outstanding play                   & Gentlemanly conduct)

Professional Hockey Career Highlights and Awards

2002- 2003      ECHL All Star Game in Estero, Florida (2 Assists)

2002-2003       Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies win Kelly Cup in ECHL. Playoff MVP

2003-2004       AHL Bridgeport – Sound Tigers Fan Favourite

2004-2005-      AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers “Godsy Award” (Favourite Enforcer)

Jan 2005          AHL Bridgeport Sound Tiger Captain

Oct 27, 2005   First NHL game for NY Islanders vs. NY Rangers at Madison Square Gardens.

Captain Courageous Award (Annual award named in his honour)

2005-2006    New York Islanders – Received Bob Nystrom Award for Leadership, Hustle & Dedication

Feb 24, 2006   Announces his hockey retirement after breaking his neck in a headfirst crash into the boards on January 31, 2006.

September 2008 Named head coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, a minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders.

Kevin’s rise to become a NHL player was the result of his endless pursuit to become an on-ice presence during every shift. The entire community cheered his arrival to the
“Show” in 2005 and shared the disappointment of his career ending injury. Kevin’s hockey story will teach our future hockey generations that every dream can be achieved through hard work and tireless commitment.

1900 - 1929, 1930 - 1949, 1970 - 1979, All, Hockey, Male

ARTIE CLARK

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His playing weight hovered around 150 pounds but he hit like a heavyweight and
stickhandled in the fashion of the legendary Rabbi Fryer. Artie Clark was a
forward but his body checking ability had just as much effect on opposing
players as a hitting defenseman. Defensemen stopped them at the blue line-Artie
dropped them at centre ice.

His athletic capabilities were not confined to hockey. He was equally adept in the games of baseball, softball and lacrosse and he even played creditable game of cricket. He pitched, caught and played the infield in baseball. We can recall many ball games back in the twenties when Artie caught the first four innings and then finished the game on the mound. He just turned fifteen when he made the Collingwood junior team in 1920. In 1921, he was a member of the exceptionally good Collingwood junior club that almost beat Howie Morenz and the Stratford Midgets in a sudden death semi-final game in the old Toronto Mutual Street Arena. Stratford went on to win the Dominion title.

He was still with Collingwood when they lost out in the O.H.A. semi-finals to Aura Lee and University of Toronto in 1922 and 1923. He moved up into the intermediate ranks with Collingwood the following year and then helped
the Grimsby Peach Kings win the Ontario title in 1925. That was the year the Peach Kings stunned the amateur hockey circles by beating the Soo Greyhounds in the first round of Allan Cup play. He stayed with the Peach Kings another year
and turned professional with the old Chicago Cardinals in 1927. In 1928, he was up with the leading scorers with the Kitchener Millionaires in the International League and had another good year with Teddy Oakes’ Toronto Millionaires in 1929.

The following year he signed with the Cleveland Barons where he teamed up with three other Collingwood born players, Reg Noble, Bern Brophy and Mike Brophy. Artie had a season with Syracuse and finished an eighteen-year in Oklahoma City in 1935.

1970 - 1979, All, Builder, Male

WILLIAM “SCOTTY” CARMICHAEL

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Scotty Carmichael became the 25th member of the Sports Hall of Fame. He was nominated and inducted by his fellow members of the selection committee, without his knowledge, at the first induction ceremonies.

He is credited with the establishment of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame.

A sports reporter for various daily newspapers, radio and television stations, he
has been connected with many sports organizations for fifty-five years.

During this time he served as president of the Collingwood Senior Hockey League, the
Collingwood District Fastball League, Collingwood Junior Football League and
served as secretary and on and on the executive of Collingwood Intermediate and
Junior O.H.A. teams and the Collingwood Minor Hockey Association. He also
coached junior baseball teams and was actively engaged in long distance running
back in the mid-twenties.

1900 - 1929, 1930 - 1949, 1970 - 1979, All, Hockey, Male

LAWRENCE”DUTCH”CAIN

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He was the most artistic body checker ever to perform for a Collingwood hockey
team and must be ranked with the best hitting defensemen of anytime-professional or amateur.

Bon in Newmarket but a resident of Collingwood for forty years, Dutch was the kingpin on the 1935 Collingwood Shipbuilders, winners of the O.H.A. Intermediate “A” championship.

Dutch played hockey under the principle that a good body check should be heard and not seen. There never was a better demonstrator of that principle.

“The bigger they are, the heavier they fall!” said Dutch, and during his career he dropped tons of hockey beef over scorers of arena ice surfaces throughout Canada and the United States.

He weighed only 155 pounds but the answer to his great hitting ability was in the
timing. Dutch never ploughed directly into the path of an onrushing forward. All he needed was a piece of him.

Cain played junior hockey in his native Newmarket and was a member of the Owen Sound Greys, Memorial Cup champions of 1924-25. That was quite a team-Cain, Cooney Weiland, Butch Keeling, Teddy Graham, Hedley Smith and Fred Elliot. The team picture of the Greys is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Weiland Graham and Keeling went on to stardom in the N.H.L.

In the following years, up until 1928, Dutch played with Eveleth and Calumet in the old Central League. Calumet won the title in 1927.

A few years ago Cain was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota. Dutch returned to Canada in 1928 to help South Porcupine win the Northern Ontario senior title and then played on championship teams in the Eastern League with Baltimore Orioles and the Bronx Tigers. He was selected as the most valuable player in the league in the season of 1934-35.

He moved back to Collingwood in 1932 and was about to call it a career when he was
lured back into uniform by the late Walter Robinson, then coach of the Collingwood Shipbuilders. Dutch teamed up with big Jack Portland on the defense. Portland
was a good pupil and went on to a ten-year career in the N.H.L. his last season in 1935 was a winner.

Teaming up with playing-coach Bern Brophy, he helped Collingwood win the Intermediate title for the sixth time since 1910. He died the day after the founding of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame.

1900 - 1929, 1930 - 1949, 1970 - 1979, All, Baseball, Male

WILLIAM “HUCK” CAESAR

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Huck Caesar was only a lightweight in physical proportions but he was “giant” on a baseball diamond. He never weighed any more than 135 pounds soaking wet
but he hit more balls for extra bases than any other Collingwood ball player we ever saw or knew.

He covered centre field like a blanket and ran the bases like a gazelle. As tough as leather, his active playing career lasted thirty-seven years and he spent two decades of the amazing career on Collingwood baseball, softball, hockey and lacrosse teams. He was the driving force on the great Collingwood baseball team of 1935, winners of the John Ross Robertson Trophy and the All- Ontario Intermediate baseball championship – the only Collingwood ball team to win a provincial intermediate title.

Born in the village of Proton in 1903, Huck moved to Alliston with his parents in 1908. He made the Alliston team at age fifteen and helped the club win three
league titles in 1924-25-26.During his career, he played in several hundred tournaments for various teams.

The Bank of Toronto moved him to Havelock in 1926 where he played baseball and hockey. Collingwood claimed him in 1927, but this town had no baseball club that year and Huck signed Creemore and later played with Thornbury for six years.

During his stay in Collingwood he helped organize the Senior Softball League where he managed and starred with the Bankers, five-times champions. He played
intermediate hockey for the Shipbuilders in the thirties and even took a crack at lacrosse, when that game made a brief comeback in the depths of the depression.

When intermediate baseball went into a decline in Collingwood in the late thirties, he played five years with Meaford and helped that town with the Ontario championship in 1939.

Huck left Collingwood in 1947 but he kept playing baseball and was with the Watford intermediate champs in 1947 and 1948. He was still playing at fifty-five and after his retirement, he wound up his diamond career by coaching his home town Alliston team to Ontario Midget title in 1957.

1900 - 1929, 1930 - 1949, 1950 - 1969, 1980 - 1989, All, Athlete, Male

GEORGE “CHUB ” BUTTERS

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Chub Butters could be classed as one of Collingwood’s best all around athletes because he excelled in track and field, hockey, football, basketball and swimming.
While attending the Collingwood Collegiate he won the Intermediate and Senior track and field  championships in 1932 and 1933. A foxy broken field runner on junior and senior high school football teams, he was a star half back with the 1933 Central Ontario Secondary Schools Senior champions in 1933 when his team defeated St. Catherines 12-9 in the final. Chub scored the winning touchdown.
In Inter-Collegiate track and field competitions he set school records in the 100 and 220 yard sprints and in the low hurdles.
His long amateur hockey career started in the old Collingwood Junior Town League when he captained the champion East End Club. At the age of 15, Chub made the Collingwood Junior O.H.A. team and after four years in junior company graduated to the Intermediate Collingwood Shipbuilders.
In 1937, he played for Geralton in the Northern Ontario Senior “A” series and then performed two seasons with Timmins in the same league. Returning to Collingwood in 1940, he played Senior “B” and Intermediate “A” for his home town until his retirement from hockey in 1952.
In 1951 he captained the Collingwood Shipbuilders, under coach Eddie Bush, to the provincial championship. He was outstanding in the finals series against Fort Erie.
He was considered one of Collingwood’s most outstanding swimmers and divers and in the summer of 1929, won the first Collingwood Aquatics Cup with five firsts in swimming seconds to Don McMinn, one of this town’s really great distance swimmers. He liked to remember how he played on the wing with Rabbi Fryer
when that great old timer played his last game against Midland in 1934.
He was also a better than average softball player with the Pros in the old Collingwood Softball League and he had a one-season fling at the game of lacrosse when the late Lou Dique tried to revive the game in 1927.

1980 - 1989, All, Builder, Male

ROBERT “ROSE” BUSH

Everybody has a secret dream, no matter how small, and everybody lives for the day the dream will come true.

For many people the dream of a lifetime never materialize but there is always that
hope that lies beneath the human breast.

But a lifetime dream did come true for the late Robert “Rose” Bush on June 23rd, 1978, when Bob Bush cut the traditional ceremonial ribbon to officially open the “Old Village Park” in Collingwood’s east end.

They couldn’t have selected a more appropriate citizen to do the honours because AA park for the east enders’ had long been Bob’s Slogan since he was first elected to council years ago.

The “Old Village” takes in that historic territory between Niagara and Raglan Streets and runs north and south from the waterfront to Shannon’s Bridge. Rose was born and raised in that hallowed section and had been regarded as the unofficial Mayor of the Old  Village for most of his adult life.

An outstanding athlete in his younger days, Bob Bush learned to skate on the east mill pond, learned to swim in the old stone quarry (the exact site of the Village Park) played ball in the rock strewn back lots, speared long neglected gravel road that was Raglan Street. When he was fifteen he vowed the east end kids would some day have a park of their own. That park is a reality now and it can stand as a monument to Robert “Rose” Bush.

The Rose took part in about every phase of sport and he kept the sporting fraternity well informed regarding the sporting scene as a columnist with the Enterprise-Bulletin, and in later years, with the Collingwood Times. He played hockey with the Collingwood Juniors after coming up through the town’s minor hockey system, starred on several championships softball teams and was the prime mover in the organization of that fabulous Collingwood Bearded Softball Team during the town’s Centennial year in 1958.

He was a better than average lacrosse player, a hard plunging half-back with the C.C.I. football team and a talented left handed baseball pitcher. In baseball he was a picture but when he switched to softball he became a left hand catcher-and a good one.

He started out with the old Trinity Live Wires around 1938 in the Senior Softball League but he switched to the Legion club after a couple of seasons and moved over to the Pros and helped brother Ed win two league championships.

Rose handled a pretty nifty lacrosse stick when the game made a short lived comeback in Collingwood around 1937.

Rose acted ad bench manager when the Collingwood Greenshirts were winning O.H.A. Junior “C” titles in the early fifties. His brother Ed coached the Greenshirts at that time and this arrangement created repercussion at times. Ed fired Rose about twice a month but blood was thicker than water and the dismissals lasted only from one game to another.

The Rose pulled on punches in his breezy column “Out on the Limb”. His
newspaper career was interrupted for three years during World War 11 when he served with the R.C.A.F. in North Africa, Italy and France. In later years, before suffering a stroke in 1975, he wrote another sports column in the Collingwood Times.

Bob died in 1980. He was fifty-eight.