Main photo: Muskoka Algonquin Runners at the New York City Marathon in November 2019 (from left) Katherine Ahokas, Chris Watson, Tony Marra, Troy Cox, Jeramie Carbonaro, Jeff Irwin, and Mark Sinnige (Lowell Grieb / @muskokaalgonquinrunners on Instagram)
Huntsville’s athletes don’t just excel on their own turf. Some take their skills far beyond our Town’s borders.
They do it for the personal sense of accomplishment, but sometimes they receive greater recognition.
Whether they are setting records, winning medals and awards, or simply giving it their all, they have the support of family, friends and community in Huntsville, cheering them on.
These were your favourite sports stories from 2019.
(Click on each title to read the full story.)
Gus Liadis’ 1984-85 lacrosse team to be inducted to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
The Whitby Warriors, winners of the Minto Cup in 1984 and 1985, in front of Iroquois Park Arena in Whitby. Gus Liadis is fourth from the right in the middle row. (supplied)
Gus Liadis, a local resident, athlete, teacher, and coach, played for the Whitby Warriors Junior A team in 1984-85. The team won the Minto Cup in both 1984 and 1985. On Nov. 9, 2019, the team was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame class of 2019.
Local hockey players to represent Team Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games
Cole Patey (left) and Connor Punnett have been selected for Team Ontario for the 2019 Canada Winter Games (supplied photos)
Two young, local hockey players, Connor Punnett from Huntsville/Powassan and Cole Patey from Utterson, who both play for the North Central Predators, were scouted for Team Ontario to represent the province in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. The games were held in Red Deer, AB in Feb. 2019.
Tom Pinckard finally recognized for historic 114-yard punt—53 years later
Tom Pinckard during his UNB football days, 1963 (Photo courtesy of Dan Pinckard)
On September 24, 1966, Tom Pinckard just did what he was on the football field to do: punt the ball as far as he could. The ball travelled an astounding 114 yards. The CFL record, and until 2019 considered the longest punt ever, dates back to 1977 when kicker Zenon Andrusyshyn logged a 108-yarder. Fifty-three years after making his punt, Pinckard got the recognition he deserves: U Sports, Canada’s governing body of university varsity sports, acknowledged his accomplishment.
Two local runners break top ten in their age groups at New York City Marathon (pictured above)
Seven people from the local running club, Muskoka Algonquin Runners (MARs), headed to New York in early November 2019 for the largest marathon in the world—the New York City Marathon. Chris Watson and three of his fellow MARs runners—Katherine Ahokas, Jeramie Carbonaro and Troy Cox—placed within the top 10 among the more than 1,000 Canadian racers, and both Watson and Cox placed in the top 10 within their age groups.
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