Chatham Sports Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees

The Chatham Sports Hall of Fame announced their 2024 inductees on July 26.

They include: Ryan Jones (athlete modern), Amanda Anderson (athlete modern), Michelle DeHaan (athlete legend), Noralie Jackett (builder) and the 1962 Chatham Collegiate Institute football team (team).

Below are the inductees’ biographies.

Ryan Jones (modern athlete)

Jones was a multi sport athlete growing up in Chatham and while attending Chatham-Kent Secondary School. His Hawk teams won two gold and a silver at OFSAA tournaments in both volleyball and soccer. But it was hockey that Ryan had his greatest success.

After playing Junior C hockey with Blenheim and Dresden, and Junior B with the Chatham Maroons, Jones chose the United States college scholarship route and had an outstanding four years at Miami of Ohio. Following graduation Ryan entered the professional ranks where he played for 11 years. He spent two years with the Nashville Predators, four with the Edmonton Oilers and five with the Cologne Sharks in Germany for a total of 611 professional games.

Amanda Anderson (modern athlete)

Amanda Curtis (nee Anderson) was a multi sport athlete growing up. She has a long list of championship teams in hockey, soccer, track, cross-country, volleyball and basketball that she was a part of.

In her final season of her illustrious high school career at Chatham-Kent Secondary School, she was the recipient of the Dr. Jack Parry Award for the top-student athlete in Chatham-Kent.

She left Chatham to don the purple and white at the University of Western Ontario where she continued her dominance on the basketball court from 2005-2010. Her awards include: Canadian University Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Canadian, a five-time OUA West Division All-Star, West Division Player of the Year and ended her career as the second all-time leading scorer in the OUA.

She remains the Western Mustangs all-time scoring leader.

Amanda was a member of the Canadian Junior National Women’s basketball team and played a year of professional basketball in Bielefeld Germany.

Noralie Jackett (builder)

Noralie was born in Chatham, attended Queen Mary Elementary School, followed by John McGregor Secondary School and Chatham Collegiate Institute. While a student at CCI she played on several championship basketball teams and twice was the Kent County girls singles badminton champion.

After graduating from the University of Western Ontario she returned to Chatham. Starting in the fall of 1967 Noralie coached CCI school teams during all seasons. In a typical season Noralie would coach all three (midget, junior and senior) girls basketball teams along with cross country in the fall.

She would coach both girls’ volleyball teams and girls’ gymnastics in the winter. And in the spring badminton and track and field for a total of nine teams.

In six years, she coached approximately 54 teams for the Green and White.

In addition to her coaching record Noralie was involved in other facets of sport where she tried very hard to put girls’ sports on equal footing with those of boys by organizing and convening several girls’ tournaments and leagues.

After leaving Chatham, Noralie coached women’s basketball at Western University for four seasons. She was a guest lecturer for many different organizations where she shared her knowledge of sport and fitness. She produced award winning instructional videos in both badminton and dance, and she also wrote a Basketball Instructor’s manual.

All of these were purchased by the Kent County Board of Education and used locally by Chatham teachers and coaches. Even though she was no longer teaching in Chatham her influence was certainly felt.

1962-63 Chatham Collegiate Institute Football team (team)

The CCI football team of 1962-63 made a significant impact on football in Chatham.

The CCI Cougars senior football team went undefeated in league and playoff competition. The most important piece to this stat is that they did not yield a single point in any of those games.

For the league season they outscored their opponents 196-0. No other football team can make this claim.

They were the first Chatham school to win SWOSSAA.

They were part of the first football dynasty in Chatham as they won the Kent and
SWOSSAA championship four consecutive years 1960-63.

They were also part of a three year undefeated streak 1961, 62 and 63 both in league and
playoff games.

Both coaches, who were brothers-in-law, had played high-school football. Ray Martin in Brantford and Gene Dziadura at Patterson Collegiate in Windsor.

Michelle DeHaan (athlete legend)

Michelle was born and raised in Chatham where she attended Chatham Christian School, Victor Lauriston and John McGregor Secondary School.

She was a four-time Kent County All-Star who led her team to four Kent championships three SWOSSA titles and five OFSAA medals including three gold. She was the Panthers leading scorer, top rebounder, block shot leader and the teams best foul shooter.

Her high school coach, Frank Henry, is quoted as saying ‘Michelle’s athleticism was only superseded by her personality, always smiling, a good sense of humour and calm and controlled in games’.

After graduation, Michelle decided on the University of Detroit Mercy. She was the first local female to accept a Division 1 scholarship in basketball. She helped the team to winning records in each of the two seasons she played. She led the team in several categories in each season and was chosen to the All ‘Newcomer’ conference team in her freshman year.

After her second year she transferred to the University of Windsor where she would finish her fine basketball career.

The Annual Dinner and Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre on Richmond Street in Chatham. Tickets for the dinner will go on sale August 1 and may be purchased from any of the Hall of Fame directors.

The cost is $50 for adults.

Feel free to visit their website at www.chathamsportshalloffame.com