Chatham Sports Hall of Fame Announces Inductee Nominations: Team

The Chatham Sports Hall of Fame has announced their candidates for the 2011 Induction class. Over the next few days, the Chatham-Kent Sports Network will release the nominees for each category.

Below you’ll find the four nominees for the Team category, which will be voted on in June. The nominees are the 1979 Chatham Erie and Huron Midget Baseball team, the 1984-1985 Chatham Maple City Ice Crystals Precision Skating Junior team, the 1986-1987 Moose Lodge Major Peewee “AA” hockey team, and the 1987 Chatham McDonald’s peewee baseball team:

 1979 Chatham Erie and Huron Beverages Midget Baseball Team

The 1979 Midget team, under Manager Mike Bennett and Coach Paul Denomy, consisted of a collection of fine athletes who excelled in baseball but in other sports as well. The team was a definite underdog in the All-Ontario Elimination Tournament held in Hamilton as they competed against 25 other teams many of which were higher ranked and were from much larger centres. Backed by strong pitching and timely hitting, they won their first 4 games before losing to Windsor Athletic Association. Facing elimination, they beat Toronto Riverside in the semi-finals and then beat the same Windsor club 11-5 in the finals. As a result of winning the Elimination Tournament the midgets represented Ontario at the Canadian Midget Baseball Championship held in Niagara Falls. After going 2-2 in the round robin, which included a 7-4 victory over the Quebec All Stars who were the eventual champions, the midgets were relegated to the third place game. In the bronze medal game, the midgets lost to the host Niagara Falls team 8-0 and ended up fourth in the tournament. The Quebec All Stars beat Delta BC 3-2 in the gold medal game. Team members were Blake Alward, Bob Arnold, John Bink, Keith Blackford, Barry Brackett, Wayne Burey, Rod Couture, Dale Dunlop, Jeff Green, Bruce Hickmott, Chris Kelly, Steve Kenney, Rick Kucera, Todd Langstaff, Scott Ruttle, Frank Stoof, Mike Torrie, John Wall, Mike Bennett (manager), Paul Denomy (coach), and Dave Charbonneau (batboy).

1984 & 1985 Maple City Ice Crystals Precision Skating Junior Team

Until the 1984 season, the Maple City Ice Crystals Juniors had very limited success. However, that year under the coaching of Ester Polacek, they had a breakthrough season. They won medals in every competition they entered and ended up with the Canadian National Bronze Medal at their very first national event. In that year, they won Gold Medals at the Mid American Precision Skating Championships, as well as competitions in Syracuse, New York and Bowling Green, Ohio. In addition, they won 4 Bronze Medals in their other events. At the Mid American Precision Championships, there was a friendship trophy named after the Ice Crystals to commend the team for their good sportsmanship. In 1985, they won Bronze Medals at the Western Ontario Championships, the Central Canadian Championships, and at the Nationals for the second consecutive year. Also that year, they won Gold Medals at the Mid American Championships and the Bowling Green competition. In total, over the 2 years, the team won 13 medals in 13 competitions. Team members were Cherie Anakin, Jennifer Arnold, Alleta Brodie, Anita Carrier, Danielle DeNure, Jacquelyn DeNure, Lisa Devos, Krista Dixon, Elizabeth Kominek, Cheryl McDonnell, Chantelle Newman, Barb Perkins, Rhonda Rennie, Delynn Riddell, Crystal Robbins, Fiona Scade, Kelly Scarlett, Paula Stefina, Christine Thievens, Heather Van Roboys, Janice Van Roboys, LeeAnn Webster, Marnie Perkins (manager), and Esther Polacek Bordenuk (coach).

1986-87 Moose Lodge Major “AA” Pee Wee Hockey Team

The 1986-87 Major Pee Wee Hockey team had a victorious, exciting, and exceptional year. They started the year by hosting the Maple City Christmas Tournament and winning all 4 games including a 4-2 victory over Windsor in the Gold Medal game. In the Silverstick Tournament in Port Huron they lost in the semi-finals to Marquette, Michigan 2-1 in overtime as a result of a weird bounce off the protective wire behind the Chatham goal. In the OMHA Playdowns, the Pee Wees defeated Riverside in 2 straight, defeated Stratford 3-1-1 in the quarterfinals, defeated Georgetown in 3 straight in the semi-finals, and defeated Pickering 4 games to 1 to become the first Chatham team to win an OMHA title in 9 years. Coincidentally, in the evening of that same day, the Branch 28 Legion Major Bantams also won an OHMA title. The All Ontario “AA” Tournament featured the championship teams from OMHA, Northern Ontario, and Greater Toronto. The Pee Wees went undefeated in the tournament beating Toronto Aeros 5-4 for the championship. This was the first All Ontario Championship in CMHA history and this accomplishment was duplicated by the Branch 28 Legion Bantams later on the same day. During their way to the OMHA and OHA crowns, the Pee Wees record was 15 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. Team members were Jim Babcock, Kevin Barnard, Warren Clark, Jeff Fancy, Darren Koole, Bruce Legue, Shane McGivern, Ed Novacco, Simon Protopapas, Ryan Reid, Jamie Suitor, Mike Symanski, Paul Tewkesbruy, Jason Vandernaalt, Dwight Wakabayashi, Jim Williams, George Pappas (assistant coach), Cor Koole (assistant coach), John Vellinga (assistant coach) and Gerry Leschyshyn (coach)

1987 Chatham McDonald’s Pee Wee Baseball Team

The 1987 McDonald’s Pee Wee Baseball team, with manager Murray Peterson and coaches Carl Snelgrove and Bill Twigg, had an exceptionally fine year with an overall record of 50 wins and 9 losses on route to winning the OBA “AA” championship. It was part of a 3-year successful run by most of the players and coaches. In 1985 they won the OBA “AA” Tyke Championship, in 1986 they lost to Oakville in the final game for the OBA “A” Pee Wee Championship, and then won again in 1987. During that year, they won tournaments in Wyoming and Strathroy, and were Western Counties regular season and playoff champions. They also lost in the finals in tournaments in Corunna and Chatham and won the consolation championship in Southwest London. In the championship tournament held in Sudbury, Chatham, behind the pitching of Jon Stairs and Chris Peterson, beat Streetsville 2-1 in the final game to win the Ontario “AA” title. Team members were Sean Abe, Mike Baker, Jeff Crowell, Dan Duphette, Dave Hamilton, Dan Martin, Steve Oliphant, Chris Peterson, Matt Phipps, Mike Rylett, Jon Stairs, Shadd Smith, Duane Snelgrove, Brad Twigg, Bill Twigg (coach), Carl Snelgrove (coach), and Murray Peterson (manager).