Category Archives: All

1980 - 1989, All, Builder, Male

ANDY MORRITT

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There is a popular cliché that goes “Let George Do It”. It is an expression
that is sometime bandied about in a light hearted manner when we are referring
to a person who will take everything you throw at him in the shape of work.

Just change that trite expression to “Let Andy Do It”, and, in the town of
Collingwood, it means only one individual-Andy Morritt of 5 Victory Drive (When you can find him at home).

More suitable addresses for Andy would be the Community Arena or ball park in town.

For almost twenty-five years Andy has been the eye pillar in Collingwood’s Minor
Hockey structure, the Collingwood Kiwanis Minor Softball League and the Blue
Mountain Softball League.

He first became involved in minor hockey in 1958 and since that time had served as
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Collingwood’s representative in the provincial Little N.H.L., equipment manager and the chief organizer for the difficult task of arranging ice time for seven leagues and a hundred or so tournaments.

He was the original organizer of the annual Blue Mountain Pee Wee hockey
Tournament always held during the Christmas school break.

One year the tournament netted fifteen hundred dollars through the sale of programs
and admissions. He was ably assisted by the ladies Auxiliary of the Collingwood Minor Hockey Association.

When he resigned as President, a trophy was dedicated in his honour. This annual
award goes to the person regarded as the most dedicated to Collingwood Minor
Hockey.

Andy, with the assistance of Sam McLeod, founded the Outdoor rink for children on Hurontario Street.

Back in 1957 Andy was a moving force behind the formation of the Collingwood Kiwanis Minor Softball Association under the guidance of Jim Durrant.

It was tough going for Morritt and the Kiwanis Club to keep a couple of dozen
teams in four divisions supplied with coaches, managers and umpires. As the
league grew, the Kiwanis Club found it getting more difficult to keep pace with
the growth and Andy went knocking on the doors for team sponsors. With the help
of the local media and the radio station merchants, service clubs and industries co-operated to keep the association going.

In 1975, a girls’ league was added to the association. Not long ago the  Collingwood Kiwanis Club presented Andy Morritt with and award in appreciation of his devoted efforts in helping the youth of the town.

He was the workhorse behind the Blue Mountain Softball League. On two occasions he rallied support for the league when it was on the verge of folding. He seemed
to be the chairman of every committee. He ran the league canteen, raked the
diamond, dusted off the sears, kept a sharp eye on the treasury and even took
on the duties of a Private Eye to track down the culprits who pilfered a couple
of fifty-dollar home plates.

It was a long time in coming but Andy Morritt is now a member of Collingwood’s
Sports Hall of Fame. No man deserves that honour more.

1900 - 1929, All, Athlete, Builder, Golf, Male, Other

NORM RULE

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Norman Rule qualifies for Collingwood’s Sports Hall of Fame as a competitor and a builder.

This pioneer sportsman passed away in 1973 at the age of ninety-six, a member of Collingwood’s first hockey team organized eighty-nine years ago in 1894.

It was mainly through the organization ability of Mr. Rule that the first team came into being. He borrowed a pair of cricket pads and took over the goalkeeping duties behind such pioneer players as Ed Elworthy, Charlie Norris, a man who later became vice-president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Date Andrews, Reg Brown, later a wealthy business man in British Columbia, Fred Hopkins, who lost his life in Klondike Gold Rush in ’98, and Bill Toner, who had the honor of being elected Collingwood’s first hockey team captain.

Norman Rule could be classed as one of the town’s first all around athletes. He was a better than average ball player, an outstanding golfer and his name is on the Ontario Tankard Curling Trophy won by Collingwood in 1913.

His contribution to hockey alone rates him as a candidate for the Sports Hall of Fame but his real value came in the promotion and organization of sports in general. I have five individual trophies, all won by Norman Rule, stored at my home at the present time.

1930 - 1949, 1980 - 1989, All, Baseball, Male

STAN SWAIN

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They called him “Possum” when he was a nipper and the moniker stuck  throughout his fine athletic career in the fields of hockey, football, baseball and hockey. Born in Collingwood, he was a son of the late Herb Swain, one of this town’s best baseball pitchers for over a twenty year span.

He first gained recognition as a plunging halfback on the Collingwood Collegiate
Junior Football team in 1929. That year the juniors played eight games going undefeated by lop sided scores.

In 1933 and 1934 he was a key player with the C.C.I. seniors, Central Ontario
Secondary School Senior Finalists.

His baseball career started in 1931 with Collingwood. Thornbury lured him away in
1932 but he was back in Collingwood in 1934. His baseball career reached its crescendo in 1935 when the Collingwood Shipbuilders won the Ontario Intermediate “A” championship. Stan was the team’s second baseman, the key man in the Shipbuilders famed double play combination.

In 1936, he went to Penetang but came back to play with Meaford in 1940 and
Collingwood in 1941.

He commenced his hockey career with the East End Fishermen in the old Collingwood Junior Hockey League and played five years with the Collingwood Juniors before going back to Penetang to play Intermediate in 1936. He finished off his hockey career with Kirkland Lake Bird Goldmine and Omega in 1937-38-39 in Senior O.H.A. Stan starred at basketball at the C.C.I. for 5 years. The 1933 senior team went to the Central Ontario Secondary School Senior basketball final.

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

FRANK COOK

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Frank Cook was the greatest goalkeeper of his time stated Bill Hewitt, secretary of the O.H.A. for 60 years, when Frank died on June 6th, 1931, in his forty-second year.

Born in Midland in 1888, he was a member of the Midland Junior O.H.A. champions in 1907, lured to Collingwood in 1909 to lead the Collingwood Shipbuilders to their first Intermediate championship in 1909-10 against London. Three years later, Frank backstopped Collingwood to another Championship in 1913 followed by 3 consecutive titles in 1918, 1919 & 1920. In total, Frank played on six O.H.A. Intermediate title winning teams between Midland and Collingwood.

Near the close of the 1919 season, Cook and Rabbi Fryer, were both offered pro contracts with Montreal Canadians.

“It may be your last chances to make the big time” said Darcy Bell, manager of the Collingwood team.

“We can’t leave Collingwood with the team in the finals” said Cook and the Rabbi agreed.

After retiring in 1924, Frank rose from his sick bed to backstop the Collingwood Oddfellows win the 1931 Senior Town League title. The opposition scored three goals off him in seven play-off games.

It was, perhaps, a sentimental gesture, but it stuck in the hearts of Collingwood fans forever. From that day, the names of Cook and Fryer have been spoken in reverence.

Lou Marsh thought he was born twenty years too soon and said. “Had he chose to turn pro he would have been rated as one of the best N.H.L.”

As it was, Frank Cook dominated the amateur hockey scene for seventeen years from 1907 to 1924.

Less than 3 months following Frank’s return to the ice in 1931, the town was collectively shocked to learn of Frank Cook sudden passing, truly Collingwood’s greatest goalie and one of the town’s most respected citizens.

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

JIM GEORGAS

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Jimmie is an ageless sports legend, a lifelong advocate for physical fitness and not surprisingly, a tenacious, fearless, no-quit competitor.

His athletic talents spans numerous decades as he dominated the sports of skiing, cycling, duo-athlete and runner.  He has won 200+ duathalons including 10+ world & 14 national and provincial masters duathalon championships.

Jimmie has won an astonishing 209 out of 257 masters cycling events that feature hill climbs, time trials, criteriums and road races. As a runner, he participated in 39races ranging from 5-10 kms. taking home 30 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals.

In addition to his membership in the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, Jim’s accomplishments are honoured in the Owen Sound and Ontario Ski Pro Hall of Fame.

 

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

DON KEITH

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We have often heard it said that Donnie Keith is one of the most mild-mannered gentlemen in Collingwood, until he puts on a pair of skates.

When he puts on a hockey uniform, it’s a different story.  He plays the game for keeps, gives no quarter and asks for none.  It has been like that for nearly 20 years since he helped the old West End Wildcats win the town league championship under Coach Reg. Westbrooke back in 1947.  He was the policeman on two great Juvenile teams when the Cubs went to the Ontario finals in 1948 and then won the title in 1949 without losing a single contest.

He jumped into the Junior “B” ranks with Guelph the following year and then spent two star-studded years with the Guelph “A” team in a league that boasted such coming NHL stars as Harry Howell, Lou Fontinato, Andy Bathgate and Dean Prentice.

He gained great respect in his knock-down, drag-out duels with the all time tough Fontinato.  Keith backed down from nobody and he took as much as he handed out.  Eddie Bush lured him back to Collingwood in 1951, and he was instrumental
in helping the Shipbuilders win a pair of OHA Intermediate “A” Titles.

He stayed with the Shipbuilders until the end of 1953 and then went over to the strong Meaford Knights.  His rugged-checking and accurate-shooting were the main cogs in Meaford’s OHA Senior “B” Championship.

That season he led the league in scoring and penalties.

Donnie played the last 10 years of his active career in senior company with Shipbuilders.  His OHA career spanned 20 years, but he is still starring with the Old Timers well into the 1990’s, along with such other old time Collingwood stars, as Robert Sandell, Don Rich, and Don Cook.

Don Keith was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, in 1986.

The local sporting community was saddened when Don passed away 2010.

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

REG NOBLE

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A Sports Hall of Fame in Collingwood would be vacant without the name of Reg Noble.

Of all the Collingwood born hockey players, the name of “Noble” stands out like a sore thumb because it was Reg who paved the way for the others.

A member of Canada’s National Hockey Hall of Fame, Noble turned pro with the old Toronto Arenas in 1916 but the team disbanded half-way through the season and Reg was snapped up by Montreal.

The Canadians won the Stanley Cup in 1918 that year and Reg was back in Toronto in 1917. Toronto won the Stanley Cup in 1918 and Noble scored 28 goals in twenty-two games schedule. He finished third in the scoring race behind Cy Denneny and Joe Malone. That was the year Joe Malone set the league on fire with 44 goals in 22 games. The Toronto team took the name of St. Patrick’s and in 1922 that team won the Stanley Cup with Noble and the late Harry Cameron, another Hall of Famer, setting pace for the St Pat’s.

He went to the Montreal Maroons in 1924 and helped that team win the Stanley Cup
in 1926. Noble finished his great hockey career with Detroit after eighteen years in the N.H.L. He died in June 19, 1962.

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

STEVE SAMMONS

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In 1981, Steve captured his first Cadet provincial championship in the 84 lb. weight class.  He would go on to win eight consecutive provincial titles and six Canadian Cadet championships in whatever weight class he grew into, which topped off at the 112 lb. mark.

In 1982, he returned from the World Championships in Los Angeles with a silver medal, and then a fourth at the same competition in 1984.  Sammons is also the only wrestler in Georgian Bay Secondary School Association history to win the regional high school title in all five years he competed.  He went on to win two OFSAA championships in Grades 12 & 13.

His career was far from over after high school, however, as he went on to win on CIAU gold medal and two OUAA titles for York University in the late 1980’s.

He was a member of Canada’s national team and placed third in the 52 kg. Weight class at the 1988 Olympic trial for the Games in Seoul, Korea, but a recurring shoulder injury would later put a premature end to his career.

Steve Sammons was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, in June 1994.

 

1930 - 1949, 1950 - 1969, 1990 - 1999, All, Baseball, Hockey, Male

PETE SWITZER

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Born in Collingwood on November 14, 1930, Peter’s accomplishments in baseball and
hockey were quite impressive given his relative short career. A graduate of Victoria Public School and Collingwood  Collegiate, Peter and wife, Grace have two children Bill and Janet. A lifelong citizen of Collingwood, Peter’s untimely passing in 1973 at the early age of 43 continue through the athleticism of his son Bill and Bill’s daughter – Jodi.

Peter’s tutelage in the Collingwood Minor Hockey system returned great dividends for
the town. A member of the formidable Collingwood Greenshirts Junior C team he played a large role in 2 – OHA Championships in 1949-50 and 1950-51. In 1951-52,  he was a member of the Collingwood Shipbuilders – Intermediate A Ontario Champions. His provincial championships were not limited to hockey as Peter was a member of the All Ontario Baseball Association Midget B Champs – Collingwood Cubs.

Peter’s successful playing career is recognized by his induction as a member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame on June 12, 1998 in the Players’ category.

1930 - 1949, 1950 - 1969, 2000 - 2009, All, Male, Track & Field

JOHN WALLACE COOK

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There was also the duty of serving in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1944-45. “In those days, scholarships were not worth that much and you had to work as well as pay a lot for the schooling, and there wasn’t enough to support that at home,” he said. Among his achievements were high school records in the 100-yard, 220-yard, 440-yard, 880-yard and mile races, along with the broad jump and shot put.

He also won several regional and military events thanks in part to the tutelage of local native and star athlete Charles “Bus” Portland. Cook was a keen volunteer and organizer who served as CCI student council president, and with the help of Marion Clarke and Blue Mountain Resort founder Jozo Weider, established the inaugural Collingwood Collegiate invitational alpine ski meet in 1947. He worked, then managed at Walker Stores outlets across Ontario and would settle in the hometown of his wife Mary, Carleton Place, where his family would own a store for 38 years until selling it in 1995.

During this time, Cook also served as a town councillor from 1960-64 and chaired a committee that oversaw business development for this Eastern Ontario region. He has three children, Richard, Mary Jane and Melinda. His granddaughter, Alex Cook, attends the famed Nick Bolleteri Tennis Academy in Florida, and grandson Brock Matheson plays for Brock University’s varsity hockey team after a successful run with the Tier II Jr. ‘A’ Kanata Stallions. “I can’t say my family hasn’t been holding up the athletic end of the bargain,” he quipped. “It’s been enjoyable to travel and see them perform.” In his later life, Cook still rides 10 miles a day on his bicycle, and is an avid skier and recreational badminton player. “It’s not a competitive thing. I just like to stay active and healthy!”

This evening, October 23, 2004, the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Wallace ‘Wally’ Cook as an enshrined member for his Athletic achievements.