Page 25 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 46

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Cornwall Sports Hall Of Fame Class Of 2016 Announced

Continued from page 11

JUANITA COURVILLE DAN BEGG DAVE CRUICKSHANK
BUILDER – SOFTBALL BUILDER – RECREATION BUILDER - SOCCER
•(POSTHUMOUSLY) (POSTHUMOUSLY) Dave Cruickshank’s involvement with
Born Juanita Himmelman, she began “Big” Dan Begg was a farm boy from Moose the development of youth soccer began
playing softball in 1978. Creek who arrived in Cornwall during the late in 1967.
By 1981, Juanita took on the dual role of 1940’s and was involved in numerous sports He began coaching at that time and
playing and organizing the Commercial playing and organizing shinny games at King became coach at General Vanier
Softball League which included creating schedules, meeting George Park. Secondary School in 1970.
with new team reps and oversight on rule changes. His involvement with youth sports began with a meeting with Bob In 1975, Dave became the Commissioner of the City Soccer
In 1985, her efforts were recognized in local media as Turner. League.
Juanita was identified as being responsible for the growth of Dan organized minor softball leagues and took upon himself to He coached his team to the 1985 Men’s Championship.

women’s softball in Cornwall and area. ensure kids playing got the equipment they needed. Dave’s 5 year relationship with the Kinsmen Minor Soccer

She teamed with legendary Si Miller to keep the profile of He began organizing the City’s lacrosse leagues turning a Association as a coach began in 1990 and culminated with a

women’s softball in the public eye and tenacity kept the fledgling endeavor into a success story for the ages, producing championship his final season.
leagues operating and thriving year after year. several eventual members of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame. His next coaching stop was the Cornwall Blazers
Juanita branched out to also organize tournaments and began Dan became President of the Eastern Ontario Lacrosse Association U-14 through U-18 team beginning in 1998 winning
umpiring in 1994 and is recognized by Softball Ontario in which led to bringing the Mann Cup to the Water Street Arena. championships every year.

this capacity until 2011. He was on the first ever executive of the Cornwall Junior B Dave and his wife Nancee moved to New York City in 2008
Her death in 2013 left a lasting legacy as the Ladies’ Hockey League in 1963, becoming Commissioner of the popular where he continued to make his mark.

Commercial Softball League was renamed the Juanita league in 1974. He’s certified as a New York State Soccer Federation referee.
Courville Softball League. Dan held that position until his death in 1976. Dave and his wife Nancee (Class of 2002) are now both
The Class of 2016 of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame is Dan Begg has been recognized numerous times by the City of members of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame.
pleased to welcome Juanita Courville (posthumously) as a Cornwall for his commitments to minor sports and is now a Dave Cruickshank is part of the Cornwall Sports Hall of
member of the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2016 as a
Builder for Softball. Builder - Recreation. Fame, Class of 2016 as a Builder – Soccer.
The Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame has a New Chairman

Submitted Story and retired cop is thrilled about the amazed at the quality of athletes day, perhaps the expansion of the
appointment. who graced our ball diamonds, Benson Centre will include us.
n d u c t i o n “I am proud to follow the rinks, golf courses, and world of It is after all, a more travelled
Ichair Thom dedicated Hall of Fame presidents athletics for the last 125 years. building than the basement at the
Racine will of the past, beginning with Larry. It In searching out the past and Complex.”
follow outgoing is so important that when you take researching the great sports The CSHOF has a work in
p r e s i d e n t over a position, that you pay tribute names, Racine hopes to one day progress, a new website, and
Larry Gabri. to the work and accomplishments fi nd a suitable building to house Racine says it will be more user-
Racine who of the past. Larry was a good the Hall of Fame. “We exist in the friendly and hopes it will include
is best known leader and I hope I can do the job basement of the Complex and the more pictures of the artifacts
as a sports
he was able to do.” city was very gracious in giving and history of our rich sporting

enthusiast, PA announcer, writer, Racine believes the hall is us the space in 1994. We certainly history. Sports Energy wishes
Thom Racine well in this new
memorabilia collector, self important and like many who do not have a budget to buy and
professed ‘wanna be historian’, search the records will attest, “I am operate our own building, but one endeavour.

MURPHY’S SPORTS LAW By David Murphy

What were you doing 25 years ago?
What were you doing 25 years ago? Murphy was still scouring arenas for the “next big thing”.
Have you ever been a part of something for 25 Mario Vien was the first Goaltending Coach. Aside from playing for

years? (Living doesn’t count). his hometown Royals and the WHL, Mario is also known as being one of
Twenty-five year anniversaries don’t happen the visiting goalies in the cult classic hockey movie Slapshot.

as often as they should in the new millennium but Since the Colts came to be a few months after the Royals left Cornwall,
Cornwall can celebrate one. the team resonated with fans immediately. They became the largest
The Cornwall Colts Jr. A team jumped from attended games in the CJHL (now CCHL). That trend continues today
Massena in 1992 thanks to Don & Darleen Derry although Pembroke annually gives Cornwall a good run.

and a slew of supports and volunteers. The Colts Some of the first year volunteers are still with the club including Bob

played their first game at the Ed Lumley Arena on Johnson (who was a key member of the Colts’ Booster Club) and Georges
October 2nd, 1992. There are a number of names Bougie (who has worked as Education Director but is best known as the PA
October 2nd, 1992. There are a number of names
t h a t t still resonate with local hockey fans that were a part of
t h a
still resonate with local hockey fans that were a part of voice of the Colts).
that 1992-93 season. Throw in five Bogart Cups as league champions, two time hosts of

Chad Kilger is one that stands out. He played only one season (as a 15 the Fred Page Cup (Eastern Canadian Championship), and an RBC Cup
year old) in Jr A before moving on to the OHL (Kingston) and, eventually (National Championship), as well as hosting two Eastern Canadian Jr. A
the NHL. Kilger can lay claim to playing more games and scoring more All Star Challenges, it’s safe to say the Colts have made the most of their
points than any other Cornwall born hockey player. 25 years in Cornwall.
Bill Murphy was the team’s Chief Scout. That’s the same Bill Murphy So pop a top, and have a toast for the longest tenured hockey team in
who was one of the original Flying Fathers as well as a former coach at St. Cornwall.
Lawrence College and the OHL’s Cornwall Royals. Until very recently, That’s Murphy’s Law.