Huntsville loves to cheer on, support and honour its local athletes, whether they’re rising stars or their time in the spotlight has come and gone. The most popular sports stories of 2017 featured athletes past and present, and those who help them achieve their dreams.
In June, the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame inducted its latest members, including athletes Larry Ireland and Ken Thompson, manager Roy Oke, builder Dave Russell, and the 1987 Huntsville Taylor Floor Coverings Junior B lacrosse team (pictured above, the team consisted of Gus Liadis, Mike Fisher, Dave Kennedy, Steve Taillifer, Kirby Evans, Andy Long, Mike Graham, Kevin Knox, Jamie Lockwood, Jeff Coleman, Louis Liadis, Jeff Gilbert, Jason Bionda, Scott McPhail, Mike Weiler, Shannon Clayton, Wayne Clarke, Paul Jefferies, Marc Lapointe, Mike Taylor, Tony Henwood, Jason Farnsworth, Mark Quemby and Greg Baumhour).
The event also recognized Bill Kennedy with the Mike Greaves Award for male sportsperson of the year and Justine Brown and Melissa Key with the Jan Glenn Award for female sportspersons of the year. The President’s Award was shared by Tracy and Randy Robinson and Bessie and Dino Georgas for their support of sport and recreation in Huntsville. Read the story here: Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame honours greats past and present.
In July, Mark O’Meara golf club members raised $1,000 for their 23-year-old assistant pro, Adam Morano, to enable him to go for his golf accreditation a year earlier than he had planned. Morano’s dream is to compete some day on the tour and to teach young people like himself the game of golf. Read the story here: Mark O’Meara club members help their assistant pro pursue his dream.
The Muskoka Algonquin Runners (MARS) took on the 121st Boston Marathon in April, going from training in toques and mitts the week before to a hot and gruelling 42.2-kilometre run on race day. It was an unforgettable experience for the 14 local runners, some of them first-timers at the iconic event. Read the story here: MARS takes on the Boston Marathon.
Eleven MARS runners at the 121st Boston Marathon (supplied photo)
Huntsville got a first look at the plans for a new multi-use sports facility spearheaded by the Huntsville Curling Club. The club is now fundraising and hopes to be ready to open at McCulley Robertson Recreation Park by 2022. Read the story here: Curling Club is starting to get an idea of what their new facility would look like.
Local elite hockey player, Summer-Rae Dobson, headed to MercyHurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania last fall on a full-ride scholarship to continue pursuing her hockey dreams. Her post-university hockey goals include a spot on an NWHL or CWHL team, along with qualifying for Team Canada and the Olympics. Read the story here: From Ridley College to the NCAA, Summer-Rae Dobson is one step closer to her hockey dreams.
Summer-Rae Dobson (second from right) in a JWHL game with her Ridley College teammates (Photo: Ridley College)
Do you have a favourite sports story from 2017 not mentioned here? Let us know what it is in the comments!
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