Category Archives: 1990 – 1999

1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Male, Wrestling

RALPH SNEYD

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Ralph was born in Vancouver BC in January of 1945 and spent his early years of school competition moving from Montreal, Daytona Beach Fla., Port Hope and Toronto.

He participated on several championship teams in high school and represented his school at the Ontario Athletic Leadership Camp where he was introduced to the sport of amateur wrestling. He competed in wrestling’s early years as a
high school and university sport. In 1969 he started his teaching career in North York’s, Northview Heights SS where he began his coaching career and convened and won several Team Championships with three Canadian Champions and six OFSAA medalists.

Ralph moved to Collingwood in 1976 and began the Collingwood Wrestling Club that saw just fewer than 3,000 members in its 30 year operation. His high school wrestlers collected 26 OFSSA medals and 51 GBSSA Championships. The club continued to compete in Canadian Amateur events and won 18 Ontario Team Championships and 7 Canadian team titles. 147 wrestlers won Ontario Amateur Wrestling Medals and sixty two of them winning Canadian medals. Three of his wrestlers went on to win silver and bronze medals in World Championships. Fourteen former wrestlers of the program are now coaching wrestling in other programs across Canada. Ralph was the Team Leader for several Ontario teams who all won Gold at the National Championships. He coached Canadian teams at World Championships in France,
Hungary and Washington DC.

He hosted 148 wrestling tournaments including 9 OFSAA Championships, 16 Ontario Championships, 7 Canadian Championships including 4 in Collingwood and the World Youth Wrestling Championships held in Collingwood in 1987. He retired from teaching in 2000 but still is involved with the sport of Wrestling in Ontario and committees such as the Multiuse Committee in Collingwood.

– President of Central Ontario Wrestling 1979-1992 and member of OAWA Board of Directors

-Member of OFSSA Sports Advisory Committee for Wrestling 1983-1998

-Founded Wrestling Drawmasters Association of Canada in 1988

– Wrote all 3 OFSSA Rulebooks on Wrestling

– Was a co-founder of Ontario Youth Wrestling and Canadian Youth Wrestling and
chaired the committee for 12 years.

– Established Simcoe County Elementary School Wrestling program for boys and girls

-Assisted in the development of Women’s Wrestling as an OFSSA and Amateur Olympic Sport

– Chaired committees in Ontario, National or World sporting events held in Collingwood 1989-2003

– Founder and Chair of the Federation of Collingwood Sports Inc (transportation support to sports teams)

– Creator of the Black and Gold Society to honour outstanding alumni at CCI and first Chairperson

Understandably, Ralph has been recognized with numerous awards for his dedication. Some of these include:

– Ontario Special Achievement Award 1988

– FILA Gold Star 1987 (the sport of wrestling’s highest international award)

– Ontario Coach of the Year Awards 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994

– Inductee Canadian Wrestling Sport Hall of Fame 1998

– OFSSA Leadership in School Sport Award 1992

– Simcoe County Excellence in Education Award 2003

– Order of Collingwood 1987 and Companion to the Order of Collingwood 2004

 

1990 - 1999, All, Football, Male

SCOTT LECKY

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Scott was born in Staten Island, New York, U.S.A., December 9, 1964, and at the time of his 1992 election to the Hall he was living in Collingwood.

Following his schooling in Collingwood and Cameron Street Public School, Collingwood Collegiate Institute and at the University of Guelph, football
became his life.

A summary of his playing career is seen in the following:

–  1979-1982 -Played football, and other sports, at Collingwood Collegiate Institute

-1979-80 Scott was the junior boys’ athlete of the year at Collingwood Collegiate
Institute

-1980 He was the MVP on the CCI junior football team and played on the midget
basketball team.

– 1982-MVP senior football at CCI and winner of the Robertson-Titus Football
Award.

– 1982-83-Competed in track and field and as of his induction to the Hall of Fame
still held five records in that sport at Collingwood Collegiate Institute.

-Played football at the University of Guelph 1983-1985

– 1983 –was named the University  of Guelph’s ‘Rookie of the Year’

-1984 – Played with the Ottawa Schooners Junior Football Club and won the  Canadian Championships.

-Member of the Canadian Football League’s B.C. Lions 1986-1989

– 1986-Scott was named the B.C. Lions ‘Rookie of the Year’

-In 1986, in his starting game with the Lions, he played slotback and scored a
touchdown

-In 1988 he helped take the Lions to the Western Conference Finals and played as the starting slotback in the Grey Cup contest played in Ottawa.

Scott was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame on Junes 20, 1992, in the Players’
category.

 

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

RYAN POTTER

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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, 1990 - 1999, 1990 - 1999, All, Golf, Male

CHARLES REEVES CONNOLLY

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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, 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.

1990 - 1999, 1990 - 1999, All, Golf, Male

DON HEWSON

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The Collingwood Collegiate grad moved out of the Collingwood area in his late teens to attend the University of Toronto where he secured a degree in Mechanical Engineering. A resident of Stouffville, Don his wife Sandra havre raised seven children.

Hewson is the President and major shareholder in a Toronto-based engineering firm, and despite his professional and family commitments through the years, has been able to keep his golf game more than up to snuff.

In 1991, he captured the Canadian Seniors’ Golf Association Tournament with a two-round total of 150 at the York Downs Golf Club. He has had a couple of other notable performances, including a first-place in the Ontario Seniors Better-Ball event and a berth in the 1992 U.S. Senior Amateur event a the Oak Hill course at Rochester, N.Y.

In his younger years, Hewson won several club championships including four in Collingwood, three for Simcoe County and other at York Downs, St. George’s and Scarborough.

He also won a few Collingwood Shipbuilders’ Suppliers Tournament in Wasaga Beach, and Collingwood’s John Richards, often a playing partner of Hewson’s said that if Don didn’t win that tournament, his twin brother often did.

Hewson was active in other sports, and played on two Collingwood hardball clubs that made it to the provincial finals.  He was also a member of Central Ontario high
school championship teams in both volleyball and basketball during his stay at
CCI.

Don Hewson was inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

1950 - 1969, 1970 - 1989, 1990 - 1999, All, Builder, Harness Racing, Male

ROBERT STEWART

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Robert Stewart, secretary-manager of the Canadian Standard bred Horse Society, died suddenly after collapsing while playing in an Oldtimers’ hockey game. He was 38.

A native of Collingwood, Stewart had a lifelong involvement in almost all facets
of harness racing and served as the Society’s chief executive officer for
almost 16 years.

In his early teens he trained horses owned by his parents, Ray and Edna Stewart,
including Spencer’s Pride, Muddy Heel, If, Success Curl and Trivia.  During the summer school breaks he worked as a groom at the raceways for Clarence Lockhart and Pat Crowe and also trained horses for Jack Smith and Russ Irwin. He was licensed as a driver in 1969 and drove primarily in races at “B” tracks such as Owen Sound and at fall fair meets in the Collingwood and Barrie area.

Stewart was also licensed as a starter and associate judge from 1970 to 1978 and
officiated in these capacities at various non-extended meetings. In recent years, his Adanac Farms co-owned such outstanding racehorses as Happy Little B, Mon View, Saunders Alpine Label and Trojan Leroy, all winners of more than $165,000.

Stewart was widely known and highly respected throughout the standard bred industry in both Canada and the U.S.  He was primarily responsible for making the
three horse sales conducted annually by the Society among the most successful
in North America and was a strong advocate of having all horses’ blood typed and foals identified by freeze branding to ensure their identity and to verify their parentage.

After receiving his early education in Collingwood, Stewart graduated in Business
Administration from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto and then from
the Akron School of Business Administration where he made the Dean’s List both
years.

1950 - 1969, 1990 - 1999, All, Baseball, Builder, Male

JOHN HILL

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John Hill and his wife Marie and sons Jim and Gary, are lifetime residents of Collingwood.

John has participated in and organized many sports. He has also volunteered  and officiated for numerous sports and leagues.

The following is a list of his personal achievements:

1947……….Ontario Baseball Association Bantam Finalist

1947-48…….O.M.H.A. Bantam Group Champions

1953……….O.H.A. Jr. C Champions (beating Ingersoll 4-1 series)

1954……….Georgian Bay Sr. Boys Basketball Champs

1954-55…….Captain Jr. C Belairs- Won league over Midland Redwings 9-2.

1955-56…….Legion Sr. Town League Champs

Jan. 1956…..Received a letter for New York Giants to attend rookie camp in Melborne, Florida

1957……….Stayner Motormen O.B.A. Int. A Champions

1960……….Midland Indians O.B.A. Sr. A Champions-defeated Oakville

1964……….Orillia Majors O.B.A. Sr. A Champions

1968……….Tremont Hotel Blue Mtn. Fastball Champions

1969……….Orillia Majors. O.B.A. Sr. A Finalists

1972……….Orillia Majors O.B.A. Sr. A Finalists

1979……….O.A.S.A. Slo Pitch B Div. Champions, Canadian Mist

The playoffs provided John with the opportunity to lead his respective teams. As Captain of the Jr. C Belairs, John singlehandedly defeated Midland accounting for 5 goals/3 assists in final game.

On the ball diamond, it was during the 1960 O.B.A. Championship Series when John’s baseball talents were put on display as he played and excelled in three positions against Oakville – Pitcher, Left fielder and Catcher. Incredibly, John batted .419 throughout this playoff run.

He was a volunteer member of the Collingwood Recreation Board from 1967 to 1985 and served as its chairman for 6 years.  Working alongside Ron Ralph and Brian Sayer, John was  instrumental in organizing Slo Pitch in Collingwood.

-Pitch, Kinsmen Slo Pitch and Hockey Tournaments along with the Beaver Lumber Annual Oldtimers Hockey Tournament.

John was a long time member of the Collingwood Hall of Fame Selection Committee. His local sports history was often referenced by others and his stories always brought a smile. Until his untimely death in 2012, John was an active Director. The reprint of the 2012 Sports Hall of Fame book was the result of John’s passion to update the original 1978 publication.

He has coached minor hockey and baseball, and has also umpired in Fastball, Baseball and Slo Pitch.  He has refereed Little N.H.L., O.M.H.A. and O.H.A.

On January 1, 1988 the Order of Collingwood was bestowed on him, acknowledging his many years as a community volunteer.

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

LINDSAY MIDDLEBROOK

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Lindsay was born in Collingwood, Ontario on September 7, 1955, the youngest of six children. He began skating at age three on an outside rink at Wasaga  Beach, Ontario.

In the summer of 1962, Lindsay moved with his family toToronto. In the fall of 1962 at age seven Lindsay began his hockey career by joining the Bert Robinson Minor Hockey League at the tyke level.

He played in this league until 1964. After winning the league championship the
first year, he played a second year of Tyke house league hockey for Bert Robinson and a third Tyke year for the Bert Robinson “Hornets”. In 1965, he switched to the George Bell Hockey Association where he played for their M.T.H.L. representative for the next three years of Minor Atom, Atom, and Pee Wee level hockey. Over the next three years, these three teams accounted for three Metropolitan Toronto Hockey League
Championships, three Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championships, a Silver Stick Hockey Championship (Port Huron, Michigan) and a Quebec Pee Wee “AA” Championships (Quebec City).

In 1968, Lindsay transferred to St Michael’s College Arena to play Minor Bantam for Toronto Olympics (M.T.H.L.) the following year playing for Foster Firebirds (M.T.H.L.) in the Bantam division. Lindsay was selected as the Toronto Telegram’s All-Star Goalie in the M.T.H.L. Lindsay enjoyed two successful seasons of Junior “B” hockey, including selection as the Western Division’s All-Star Goalie in the Junior “B” All-Star game and the All Ontario Junior “B” Championships.

In 1977, Lindsay signed as a ‘free-agent” with the New York Rangers. He split his 1st year of professional hockey between the New Haven “Nighthawks” of the American League and Toledo “Goaldiggers” of the International Hockey League, leading the “Goaldiggers” to the Turner Cup International Hockey League Championship while being voted First All Star Goalie.

The second year (1978-79) Lindsay led the New  Haven “Nighthawks” to the Southern Division Championship of the American Hockey League.

The following six years of professional hockey involved being drafted second by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1979 N.H.L. expansion draft. He split his time between the Jets and their central Hockey League Farm Team, the Tulsa Oilers. In 1981 Lindsay was names second All Star Team Goalie in the C.H.L. and in 1982 first All Star Team Goalie. Lindsay played for the Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers.

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.