Category Archives: 1990 – 1999

1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, 1990 - 1999, All, Female, Skiing

KELLIE CASEY

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In 1973, at the age of 8, Kellie Casey moved to the
Collingwood area with her family and promptly began
training for a career in freestyle skiing.

She attended school in Thornbury and Meaford before transferring to Collingwood Collegiate for Grade 12 and 13. At age 12, she decided that her main skiing interest was not freestyle but rather the challenging downhill events. She began competing in the Toronto Ski Club racing programs, her firm goal now was to be an Olympic downhiller.

In 1980, she made the Southern Ontario Division team. She graduated in 1982 to the Ontario team and began racing
internationally. Her top finishes in the Pontiac Cup series of 1982 and 1983 earned her a place on the development squad of the
national team in 1984. In 1985, she became a member of the Canadian
National Alpine Ski Team and began a regular tour of competition on the prestigious World Cup circuit. She competed and trained throughout the world, proudly carrying the name, Collingwood through many countries in Europe and America as well as into numerous major ski centres in North America. Injuries prevented her from a serious run at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo. In 1985, she placed 4th in Canada in the downhill. In 1986, she won the overall downhill title in the Nor-Am International series. In 1987, she vaulted into the 1st seed in the World Cup Downhill standings with 5th, 8th and two 12th place finishes in Europe just prior to the Olympics. She capped her bid for Olympic selection later that year with a 2nd place finish in the Canadian Championships.

At the Calgary Olympics on February 18, 1988 she was 7th out of the
starting gate. On a steep twisting high speed turn at the top of Mt. Allan she lost visual contact with the terrain and crashed heavily into a safety net. The resulting torn knee ligament ended her quest for an Olympic medal. Following surgery and extensive knee rehabilitation she returned to World Cup competition in 1989, still ranked in the first seed on the World Cup tour.

In 1990, during a downhill training run in Argentina, she sustained a back injury. This latest problem along with a still-imperfect knee was enough for Kellie to heed the medical advice, and call it a career.

Kellie attended the University of Guelph for a Bachelor of Commerce
degree, and Brock University for a Bachelor of Education. She has been a
special education teacher and a local ski coach for two decades. Her
passion is teaching youth at-risk and teaching Indigenous youth to
reconnect with their Indigenous ancestry while she does the same. She is devoted to her three children and still spends as much time as possible skiing with them.

Kellie still proudly calls the Collingwood area her home.

1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Female, Hockey

CAROL BROPHY-COLLINS

Carol was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame on June 20, 1992, in the Builders’ category. Carol is a former member of the Collingwood Blue Mountain Figure Skating Club. From there she moved on to bigger and better things teaching power skating at a professional level.

1974- Studied at the Institute of Sport and Physical Culture in Moscow, U.S.S.R. and with the Red Army Sports Club, majoring in hockey.

1981- Was the guest coach at the National Hockey League’s officials’ training camp in Toronto.

1985- Coached players of the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League and the Oshawa General of the OHA.

1995-1990- Ran Power skating camps for professional of the AHL and International Hockey League, as well as players from college and junior organizations.

1990- Named the skating coach of the Toronto Redwings Midget hockey club. She helped take the team to the Air Canada midget regional title and the national championship in Quebec.

Her career place her as coach of some 1,800 hockey players from age seven to professional for more than 20 years at the time of her induction.

1950 - 1969, 1990 - 1999, All, Female, Skating

JOANNE HOUGHTON

Joanne was one of the original founding members of the Collingwood Blue Mountain
Figure Skating Club. Her hard work and dedication to the sport of skating helped establish the Blue Mountain Figure Skating Club. In addition to designing the clubs crest and pin, she was the clubs first amateur coach. She was also the first Collingwood born member of the club to teach as it’s professional.

Joanne skated as an amateur from 1951-1959. During which time she and Pauline Piitz
were the first club members to pass Canadian Figure Skating Association tests.

In 1956, 1957, 1958 Joanne skated in the ice dance competition in the Western Ontario Sectionals. Skating with Don Pherson, Joanne placed third and had two second place finishes in Senior Dance. This qualified her and her partner for Senior Dance at Canadians. In addition Joanne also competed in the Senior Ladies singles. She managed again to qualify to skate at Canadians.

As well as skating Joanne also was certified as a low test amateur judge in
figures, free skating and ice dance.

Joanne turned professional in 1960 to teach in Collingwood with triple fold test qualifications.

Joanne taught professionally from 1960 to 1977 in Collingwood, Fergus, Stratford, Ingersoll, Tavistock and London.

1930 - 1949, 1990 - 1999, All, Baseball, Female

IZORA MUSSELMAN

Izorz (Keith) Musselman attended King George Public School and Collingwood Collegiate Institute. She was an outstanding athlete and was always considered a team player.

From 1942 to 1944 Izora played for the Clyde Aircraft sponsored baseball team. They played in a league with Thornbury, Wyeville, Barrie and Base Borden. Izora was the teams number one pitcher as well as an excellent outfielder.

In 1945 Clyde Aircraft closed and Izora was recruited by the Stratford Krochler Team. The Krochlers played in the Provincial Women’s Softball Association League. The other teams were from Brantford, Preston, Hespler, Waterloo, Kitchener and London.

Izora was a much valued member of the team. Her personality and team value were always held in high regard by her teammates as well as management. During Izors’s term with the Krochler’s they won five Provincial Championships in 1946, 49, 50, 53, and 55. Izora was very versatile, playing both infield and outfield, but was very outstanding as a right fielder.

Izora moved to Stratford with her husband Stan where they raised their son who served in the Canadian Navy.

 

 

1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Female

ELSIE CRUIKSHANKS

While her son Clyde only played in Collingwood for a couple of years, most parents would be humbled at the minor hockey volunteer service record of Elsie Cruickshanks. Along with her late husband Frank, an Inductee in 1994, the 79-year-old Cruickshanks will enter the Builders’ category of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame. Well-known in the community for her continuing tireless efforts as a volunteer at the Royal Canadian Legion, Cruickshanks is also occasionally stopped on the street by grown-ups who remember her for what she did at the hockey rink. “They haven’t forgotten us!” she muses. “Like they say, you’re only going to be rewarded with what you put into something. We enjoyed spending time with the children.” A ticket taker, raffle draw seller, registrar and an organizer of the annual Huronia Tournament for 25 years, Cruickshanks assisted Frank with the youth teams he coached. For these efforts, she has been recognized with the 2003 Order of Collingwood alongside a certificate presented by Mayor Terry Geddes for her service to youth in 1999.
Cruickshanks recalled an exhibition game hosted by Collingwood Minor Hockey in the 1970s against a touring midget team from Finland. Her family billeted four of the opposing players and the teams quickly made friends, despite the language barrier. Collingwood had been chosen to be a site for the game because of its reputation for hosting tournaments. “I know the Finnish boys had a great time here, because the next night they had another game in Markham. Clyde and a carload of boys who had played against them the night before went to Markham to watch the game. When (the Finns) came out on the ice, the fans booed them. What a disgrace! They treated those boys horribly. That would have never happened in Collingwood.” When asked about her favourite part about being a minor hockey volunteer, Cruickshanks recalled the massive breakfasts whipped up daily at the Huronia Tournament. “Frank Sheffield and a bunch of other people did such a tremendous job in the kitchen,” she added. “We never seemed to have trouble getting teams to come to play in Collingwood.”

This evening, October 23, 2004, the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Elsie Cruikshanks as an enshrined member for her role as a Builder of our athletic community.

1950 - 1969, 1990 - 1999, All, Hockey, Male

RON “KING” TAYLOR

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In Collingwood’s rich sporting history, Ron’s nickname “King” is acknowledged as one of the most used sports’ monikers in Collingwood. Born in Singhampton on November 6, 1936, Ron has lived in Collingwood since 1946. Ron has one daughter Polly and three grandchildren who continue to reside in Collingwood with Ron. A graduate of Victoria Public School and Collingwood Collegiate, Ron continued his studies at the Ontario Fire College – Gravenhurst where his distinguished firefighting career included Fire Chief for the Town of Collingwood. Ron’s passion for sports ensured his year-round participation. However, he excelled in hockey and baseball where his triumphs have resulted in his induction as a member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame on June 12, 1998 in the Players’ category.

In 1965, Ron was a member of the Collingwood Shipbuilders OHA Senior B Championship. On the ball diamond, Ron’s Stayner Motormen won the 1957 OBA Intermediate A Championship. Ron’s active interest in the fine details of the game allowed for his easy transition as a coach of the 1976 & 1977 Kinsmen Midget baseball teams. Additionally, Ron has worked behind the sporting scenes as a 17 year member of the Collingwood Parks and Recreation Board, Past President and Life Member of the Collingwood Kinsmen Club, and original member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame acting as a Director for many years. Ron played an instrumental role in the creation of Old-timer Hockey and the Masters Division Slo-pitch in Collingwood.

 

1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Male, Skating

JOHN THOMAS

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“Men weren’t supposed to figure skate back then”, said Thomas, “I just went about my business and did what I had to do, and what I wanted I wanted to be. I had a wonderful career. I met a lot of wonderful people over the years”.

Thomas was 1955 champion in the Northern Ontario Junior Mixed pairs. He was a 1956 Bronze Medalist for the Northern Ontario Junior Men’s competition. He was also champion of British Columbia Junior Men’s competition and a British Columbia Bronze champion in 1958.

Nationally, he won the Western Canada Silver Junior Men’s Championship in 1958. Thomas started the Stayner figure skating club in 1959 with the Stayner Lions Club. During his 19 year professional career, he spent a lot of time coaching and teaching in several towns. He said somewhere along the line he and his coach decided that mentally challenged children deserved the chance to skate. “We devised a method of teaching them, and it gave them something to strive for” said Thomas, “after being all over it was nice to give something back”.His aunt and cousin are also in the Hall of Fame as volunteer “builders” of sports clubs.

He skated until 1978, long enough to skate in an annual town skating carnival with his two daughters Sheri and Monica. He said that many things have changed since he last skated. He used to take his own luggage onto a Trans Canada (Air Canada) plane. He also said figure skating used to be an art, now it’s a sport!

John Thomas was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame June 17, 1994. John was honoured for his figure skating career and his work with the mentally handicapped.

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

ALBERT “AB” WALMSLEY

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Albert, or Ab as he was better known, was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame on June 20, 1992, in the players category.

He was born in Collingwood, May 1, 1933 and at the time of his election to the Hall he was living in Collingwood with his wife Gladys.  They had three
children. Albert attended Collingwood Connaught Public School and Collingwood Collegiate Institute.

The list is long for this multi-sports athlete, thus the reasons for naming Ab to
the Hall of Fame.

A summary of his career is seen in the following:

– 1946-1960  Hockey

– 1947-1959 Baseball

– 1948          High school Track & Field

– 1960-1967 Fastball

He played juvenile hockey in 1949-50 moving up to Junior ”C” to be coached by Jack Portland and winning the OHA’s Junior “C” title.  Continued his “C” career until 1953 having played on all four Junior ”C’ Greenshirt championship teams-1949 -50 with Jack Portland; 1950-51, 1951-42, 1952-53 with Eddie Bush. In 1953-54, he played on the Collingwood Intermediate Hockey Team. In 1954-55, Ab was a member of the Meaford Knight’ Intermediate Hockey Club going to the OHA final before being ousted by Tillsonburg in the seventh game.

During the 1949-50 season while playing juvenile hockey he was scouted by Bob Davison, chief scout of the Toronto Maple Leafs and signed to an Option “C” form.
The following year he attended the Toronto Marlboro Junior “A” Hockey Team’s camp at Maple Leaf Gardens.

In fastball, he played on local teams until 1957 when he joined the Stayner Motormen’s OBA Intermediate club helping the team win the provincial title.  In 1958 and 59 he went to OBA finals with Stayner and the Collingwood Lions.  He also played with the Midland Indians and the Creemore Red Sox.  He ended his ball career playing with Collingwood clubs sponsored by GM Motors and the Tremont Hotel.

In 1948, while attending Collingwood Collegiate Institute he completed in junior boys’ track and field becoming the junior school champion in three events (880 yard dash, 440 yard and 220 yard) and finished second I the 100 yard dash.  He was named the overall junior champions.

Ab worked at the Collingwood Shipyards as a draftsman until the yard closed in 1986.

In Jan 2023, the Albert passed away in his hometown, Collingwood.

1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Male

DON PAUL DR.

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Born in Hamilton on March 5, 1933, Don Paul grew up in Pamour, Ontario.  Following his schooling in South Porcupine, Toronto, and University of Toronto, ‘Doc’ as he is known to all, moved to Collingwood in 1961. Don and his wife Joan have raised three children, Margo, Gordon and Douglas.

Unquestionably, Don’s recognition as a ‘Builder” is the result of his ongoing efforts on behalf of the local charities and sports. A list of his contribution to our sports scene is all-encompassing as illustrated by this summary of his involvement.

-Past President and executive member of the Collingwood Shipbuilders’ hockey clubs

-Past President and charter member of the Collingwood Blue Mountain Golf and Country Club

-Member of the management committee of the Ontario Winter Games (1991)

-Chairman of the fundraising committee for the Ontario Winter Games (1991)

-Executive and charter member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame (1974-1990)

-Member of the executive committee for fundraising campaign for the Collingwood YMCA (1978)

-Past Chairman of the Collingwood Recreation Board.

–Player, coach and manager Christies’s Men’s Wear Slo-Pitch Club,(a) All-Ontario finalists 1978-1990; (b) Summerfest Tournament champions three times; (c) League champions three times.

-Collingwood Summerfest Slo-Pitch Tournament chairman (1985-1990)

-Member of the Foundation of the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.

-Past president of the Collingwood Rotary Club.

-Presented the Order of Collingwood, January 1, 1991.

Don Paul was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame on June 20, 1992, into the Builders’ Category.

1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Male

ROBERT RING

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Robert Ring has served as a coach and in several capacities in the Collingwood Minor Hockey Association’s executive.

As a defenseman in his minor hockey years here, he has the distinction of playing on two CMHA teams that won provincial titles. In recent years, Ring has served as Collingwood’s representative on the Georgian Bay Minor Hockey Association and was appointed district rep for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in 1994-95.

The OMHA chose “Ringo” as its prestigious Honour Award winner for 1994-95, recognizing him for his tireless volunteer work in minor hockey.

He has also been an active member in adult baseball as president of the North Dufferin Baseball League in Collingwood and was credited with bringing back minor
baseball to this town in the late seventies.

Robert’s 20 years of dedication and volunteer work with minor hockey was also recognized earlier this year when he received the Order of Collingwood.

Robert Ring was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, in the builders’ category, in 1996.