Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame 35th annual induction ceremony at the Algonquin Theatre

Community members gathered at the Algonquin Theatre on September 20, 2025, to celebrate eight new inductees into the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame (HSHF) and three award recipients.

The ceremony marked the 35^th annual presentation to local athletes who uphold the highest standards in sports achievement. Included in the ceremonies, three special awards were presented to individuals who demonstrated the core sports values of commitment, teamwork, and excellence.

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Melissa Candelaria, this year’s celebration was notable for its move to the Algonquin Theatre.

In her opening comments, HSHF President Wendy McConnell emphasized the continued support of the Town of Huntsville and the depth of sports activity that the Huntsville community embraces, beyond its flourishing reputation for hockey and lacrosse. Moreover, she praised the robust participation of innumerable volunteers who support athletic endeavours on the field and in the background.

The Huntsville Sting U11 Black Hockey Team, fourteen young ladies, were awarded the 2025 Jan Glenn Award for their outstanding work and accomplishment to spread kindness and joy in their community as participants in the Canada-wide Chevrolet Good Deeds Challenge. The team finished second out of 59 teams, winning $20,000 for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. The girls spread kindness and goodwill through a number of initiatives, including volunteering at local food banks, shovelling a neighbour’s driveway, leaving random notes of encouragement in dressing rooms, and much more.

Tyler Gevaert, who was unable to attend, was presented with the 2025 Mike Greaves Award for his triumphs in Slalom Whitewater Kayaking as a two-time Junior Pan American Champion at the 2025 Pan American Championships in Montgomery, Alabama, as well as representing Canada at Senior World Cups in Spain and Junior World Cups in France.

After his seventeen-year-old son wanted to play competitive baseball but wasn’t able to because of a lack of coaching staff, Peter Haynes started a program for baseball in 2009, the Muskoka Hornets Baseball Team. A Toronto resident, Peter commutes to Muskoka on weekends to support the organization as coach and primary cheerleader. In 2025, the Hornets fielded seven competitive travel teams, and from 2013, the Hornets assumed the management of the Huntsville Minor Baseball Association house league program. Peter Hayes was awarded the Peter Jacob Award for his accomplishments. He thanked the “village of volunteers” that make these actions possible year in and year out.

Huntsville Sport Hall of Fame Class of 2022, coach of “The Huntsville Honey’s,” Dan McConnell, was remembered in a minute of silence before a brief intermission.

Bringing the Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies to the Algonquin Theatre promises to add a dimension and accessibility to the proceedings that the HSHF has long strived for, with a suitable setting to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Brad Rhiness set a record when he scored three goals in 28 seconds against the Windsor Spitfires on November 2, 1975, in one of his career highs with the Kingston Canadians (now Kingston Frontenacs), in Major Junior A hockey. He played with the San Diego Mariners of the World Hockey Association and the Vancouver Canuks in the NHL. Reflecting on his hockey career, Brad recalled his father’s sage advice to give it 1000% every time you go out there.

Mary Spring, a former elementary school teacher, was inducted for her contribution to cross-country skiing and for founding the Huntsville Jackrabbit Program, now part of the Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club. Inspired by Mary’s hero, Herman Smith-Johansen,’ Jackrabbit,’ who pioneered the development of cross-country skiing in Canada, and was still active in the sport at age 100. Spring established the program in 1982 in Huntsville and has since nurtured its continued existence. “Teach them to love the outdoors,” was Johannsen’s message to Spring, who remains an ardent enthusiast of the sport.

Thanking the induction committee for his inclusion, Dr. Robert Litchfield, a specialist in Sports Medicine and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Western University in London, Ontario, stated warmly that Huntsville provided an “amazing upbringing” which he attributed to his lifelong success in sports medicine. In 2009, Dr. Litchfield participated in a research team awarded the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s Top Achievement for ground-breaking work in the surgical management of knee arthritis.

In his emotional acceptance speech, Barry Brear, a recognized successful lacrosse athlete, offered his gratitude and remembered his departed sister. He acknowledged friends and colleagues alike for their ongoing support in his sports life and professional career at Rolston Home Building Centre. Bear played with the Huntsville Hawks from 1974 to 1978, Junior B Hawks until 1981. He finished his athletic career with the Senior A Brooklin Redman from 1987-1989, during its strongest period, with a record of 84 straight wins. Brear attributed his success to family and love – “where life begins and love never ends,” and emphasized the deep importance of attitude, the daily choice each individual makes toward facing each and every daily challenge. He quoted Charles Swindoll’s famous statement that personal attitude is the key to success in life.

Bill Waterhouse and Ed Seagram were both venerated for their visionary construction of Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area in 1965. Waterhouse is renowned for his transformation of Deerhurst Resort into an internationally acclaimed resort and golf course. Ed Seagram, inspired by a ski trip in Europe in 1960, at the suggestion of his brother, began a discussion with Bill Waterhouse to exercise an option he held on property adjacent to Deerhurst. Seagram, with his brother, Campbell, invested the initial funds to start the project. With Bill Waterhouse managing the operations and Seagram raising funds for equipment, Hidden Valley became a special jewel for winter activities in the Huntsville and the Near North area. Ed Seagram, now 96, recalled some hilarious details about the premises. Jeremy Waterhouse thanked the Hall on behalf of his father and family.

Two childhood friends shared an induction as part of the 1964-1969 Ladies’ Doubles Badminton Team. Cheryl McKenzie and Brenda Hoffman Walker have held a lifelong friendship that began in the Utterson Badminton Club through their tournament wins in the Muskoka Parry Sound and GBSAA during their high school years. Both have remained passionate and competitive players throughout their lives.

The Huntsville Forester was inducted for their engaging and long-lived support of Huntsville sports from 1877 to 2005. In an age of digital information overload and the demise of local newspapers, the Forester survived as a staunch local publication with a primary focus on local activities, especially hockey and lacrosse. The newspaper, which is no longer published, was honoured for a period of five generations of the Rice family ownership and the principles it thrived on, reflecting community events and achievements. Liz Rice, accepting on behalf of the Rice family, acknowledged the paper’s 125-year history and the pride with which it served the community of Huntsville.