Athletic excellence will be honoured in Wallaceburg in April.

 

Inductees will be added to the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame for 2025, as well as annual award winners, during a banquet at the UAW Hall on April 5.

Here are brief bios of the inductees and annual award winners.

Inductees

Bill MacArthur Jr. Male Athlete

Coming from a lacrosse family, MacArthur started at an early age with a lacrosse stick in his hands. His dad was instrumental in teaching him the game.

MacArthur said he always had good years playing the game and making friends both in Wallaceburg as well as against his competition. One of his highlights of his lacrosse career was being able to play a few games alongside his dad and his much older brother, Lachland, with the Chatham Mavericks Senior B team at the age of 16.

He was also called up to play a few games with the the Senior B Red Devils in 1971 and 1972, which was a thrill for a young kid to be on the floor with the likes of Henry Jaruga, Tom Ayres and Earl Haggerty to name a few.

In 1972 the Junior C Satans were formed and MacArthur joined his his hometown team for the next four years. During this time he collected 173 goals and 109 assists. During another five years of playing senior lacrosse with Wallaceburg, Windsor and Sarnia, he added another 135 goals and 152 assists.

In 1982, MacAthur retired from playing and started coaching. The 1983 Novice Wallaceburg team was elevated to B division by the OLA and were undefeated that year. Teams like Whitby, Toronto Beaches, Guelph could not match the skill and stamina of the Wallaceburg crew, as they were the winners of the B division title that year.

In 1992, MacArthur reffed his first Junior A lacrosse game and continued refereeing Junior, Senior and Major lacrosse until 2004. Highlights were officiating at three Founders Cups and one Presidents Cup. MacArthur officiated the gold medal game in 2001 when Wallaceburg defeated Edmonton for the Canadian Junior B championship.

Deanna Kerkhof Female Athlete

Born and raised in Wallaceburg. Deanna Kerkhof received her introduction to basketball through Basketball Wallaceburg, led by Tom and Lorri Moynihan, and remembers looking forward to Saturday’s when she could spend the entire day in the gym.

Her basketball journey included time with the Wallaceburg AirHawks club team, in high school with the Ursuline Lancers (2004-2009), Northeastern University Huskies (2009-2013) and the New England Trailblazers semi-pro team in 2020.

After leading the Ursuline Lancers to a SWOSSAA title in 2009, Kerkhof accepted a full scholarship to Northeastern to play for their NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball team.

Kerkhof had a successful four years in Boston both on and off the court.

She was captain of the Northeastern Huskies her senior year and was named second-team CAA all-conference. She was named a third-team CAA all-conference her junior year. In 2012 she was named to the all-tournament team at the Florida International Sun and Fun Classic.

Overall, Kerkhof finished her four years at Northeastern 15th in all-time scoring for Northeastern women’s basketball, scoring 1,140 points in her career.

Other accolades include being named the Ontario Baller of the year in 2012 by the Ontario Basketball Association, Athlete of the Year by the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame in 2012,

Academically, Kerkhof was named to the Capital One Academic All-District First Team her senior year, awarded to the nation’s top student-athletes. She won the Jeanne L. Rowland’s Award in both her sophomore and senior years, for an outstanding female student-athlete who excels academically in the health professions.

In her sophomore and senior years, Kerkhof was the Northeastern women’s basketball scholar athlete for most outstanding academic performance on the women’s basketball team.

During her four years at Northeastern, Kerkhof was on the CAA Commissioners List for maintaining above a 3.2 GPA or higher. She was also named to the CAA all-academic team her sophomore, junior and senior years for having a top five GPA in the CAA.

Kerkhof also earned the Dean Leroy C. Keagle Scholarship her senior year, which goes to some with academic stability and soundness of character.

Chris Bergeron Coach/Official

Chris Bergeron, and his family, moved to Wallaceburg in the summer of 1984. His local hockey journey began with Wallaceburg youth hockey coached by Dale Irwin, continued with the Jr. C Lakers coached by Gus Lalonde and on to the Chatham MicMacs.

Bergeron then took his talents to NCAA Division 1 hockey at Miami University (Ohio), where he played from 1989 to 1993, becoming one of the program’s all-time greats.

At Miami, Bergeron recorded 120 career points and earned All-CCHA Honorable Mention honors. In his senior year, he helped guide the RedHawks to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. As a two-time captain, his leadership and skill laid the groundwork for the program’s rise on the national stage.

Following his collegiate career, Bergeron embarked on a seven-year professional career in minor leagues across North America. He played 424 games, amassing 483 points (201 goals, 282 assists). A two-time league champion, Bergeron hoisted the Riley Cup in 1994 and the Ray Miron President’s Cup in 1998. He was also a multiple-time all-star.

After retiring as a player, Bergeron transitioned into coaching, where he has excelled at every level. He began as an assistant coach at Miami University in 2000, helping the program reach unprecedented heights. During his tenure, the RedHawks earned eight 20-win seasons, six NCAA Tournament appearances, and back-to-back Frozen Four berths in 2009 and 2010. His work was recognized when he and his staff were named the American Hockey Coaches Association National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2010.

In 2010, Bergeron became the head coach at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Tasked with reviving a struggling program, Bergeron orchestrated a remarkable turnaround. He led the Falcons to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 29 years in 2019, a testament to his leadership and ability to develop talent. Under his guidance, BGSU achieved multiple 20-win seasons and reestablished itself as a competitive force in college hockey.

In 2019, Bergeron returned to Miami University as head coach, bringing his career full circle. In 2024, he transitioned from college to pro by joining the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) as an associate head coach. Cleveland is the top farm team of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.

Rob McLachlan Builder

 

Rob MacLachlan spent 32 years at Wallaceburg District Secondary School taking the football program to new heights.

Starting with the spring season in 1992, MacLachlan coached 25 junior football teams and 31 senior football teams. His teams won 14 Kent/LKSSAA championships, three SWOSAA titles and one OFSAA ‘AA’ championship (2012).

Although he officially retired in 2023 and stepped down as head coach, he is still involved in the Tartans football program.

In 2012, MacLachlan was honoured as the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year. In 2009, he was named the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame Builder of the Year.

Also in 2009 he was selected as one of five finalists for the NFL high school football coach of the year
that was presented during the Super Bowl. For being named a finalist, WDSS and the football program received $5,000

A memorable part of MacLachlan’s time coaching football at WDSS, were the numerous trips he took with the team to play schools in United States. The football team went on numerous football trips where they would go to school for the morning with the other school then play under the lights on Friday night. They were even the homecoming game twice which was such a unique experience for the players to be involved in.

Trips included Canton McKinley in the 90’s who were ranked in the top ten in the country at the time and whose quarterback was a Grade 9 student named Josh McDaniels who went on to win Super Bowls as a coach with the New England Patriots.

Other locations included Tennessee where Wallaceburg was the first Canadian high school to play a
game in that state, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

Despite winning only once, the Tartans played in some incredibly competitive games and gained lifetime memories being part of Friday night lights that only American highschool football can offer.

Another memorable experience was taking part as an assistant coach on Team Canada that played three games in Scotland and England in 1995.

Getting his start as a teacher in elementary schools, where he taught for five years, MacLachlan coached elementary girls basketball among other things, winning numerous city championships. He also coached the football team at Chatham Collegiate and Tecumseh for a year each.

He moved to Wallaceburg District Secondary School in 1991, with intentions to run the girls basketball program. During his time at WDSS, MacLachlan coached six basketball teams to Kent/LKSSAA championships, with the most recent one in 2023 with the junior boys team. He was also a long-time coach with the Basketball Wallaceburg program. MacLachlan also founded the Chatham Flag Football league in 1987 and operated it for 15 years. He played in the league until he was 50. The league still exists today.

MacLachlan attended Tecumseh High School in Chatham. An accomplished violin player, he began playing the violin at the age of five and played competitively in competitions until the age of 17, winning numerous awards. His other passions included playing football and hockey.

After graduating from Tecumseh, MacLachlan spent a year at Graceland College in Lamoni Iowa, where he was on a music scholarship and played on the school’s football and hockey teams. Knowing that his path was most likely becoming a teacher, he then attended the University of Western Ontario , obtaining a degree in kinesiology, and then went on to the University of Windsor for his Bachelor of Education.

2006/2007 Wallaceburg Minor Midget Hockey Team

It was a “Triple Crown” season for the Wallaceburg Minor Midgets in 2006/2007.

The team had a trio of remarkable accomplishments. They had an undefeated regular season. They won every tournament they entered including both Midget B Regional Silver Stick and the Midget B International Silver Stick and were crowned OMHA Minor Midget B -CC champions.

They won every Midget B tournament they showed up for. Champions of the Alymer Midget tourney, Champions of the Southpoint Midget tourney, Champions of the Midget B Regional Silver Stick beating Seaforth in the final and then winning the International Midget B Champions against a Schomberg team that did not see it coming.

The Wallaceburg boys lost to Schomberg, early on a Saturday morning, in the round robin play, on the big ice of the Sting arena in Sarnia. When Schomberg met Wallaceburg again in the championship game, they played against a different team that soundly claimed the International title to the shock of the Schomberg players, coaches and fans.

The final crown, in their Triple Crown year, was there OMHA Minor Midget B-CC win against Oro-Menodite. The Lakers won the six-point championship in three games straight, on Wallaceburg ice to a very loud and sold out Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.

It was a story book year in 2007 for these Wallaceburg boys, one that still has not been matched since.

 

Annual award winners

Emma Gorski and Megan McCarter Co Outstanding Achievement,

Emma Gorski

Emma Gorski was born June 14, 2001, in Hamilton, Ontario, grew up in Wallaceburg, Ontario.
Her early hockey career included playing goalie for the Chatham Outlaws, setting a record at the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association in April 2012 for 156 minutes of overtime (just 20 minutes shy of the infamous 1936 NHL game). Gorski helped lead the Chatham Outlaws to the Midget AA Lowerlakes FHL Division Championship in 2016.

Gorski played junior hockey with the Barrie Junior Sharks during her Grade 10 and 11 years, before finishing her junior career with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves, where she helped lead the team to a league championship (2019).

She attended Team Canada U18 Camp and OWHA U16 High Performance Camp. Gorski won gold at the Ontario Summer Games for ice hockey in 2016.

Internationally, Gorski competed for three years with the North American Select Women’s Ice Hockey team, winning medals in international tournaments: second place in Finland (2013), first place in Italy (2014), and third place in Prague (2015).

Gorski played women’s NCAA Division I hockey for five years at Merrimack College and Robert Morris University. She was HockeyEast Goaltender of the Week three times, surpassing 2,500 collegiate saves. She set a program record at Robert Morris University with 66 saves in a game against
Penn State.

Her college hockey highlights include:
**2023-2024:**
– Appeared in 16 games, posted a career-high 66 saves vs Penn State (2/10), and served as assistant
captain.
**2022-2023:**
– Started in 25 games, posted a career-high 56 saves at Northeastern (2/25)
– Hockey East Goaltender of the Week (Nov. 7)
**2021-2022:**
– Started 33 games, posted first collegiate shutout with 51 saves at UConn (10/29)
– Four-game win streak and two-time Hockey East Goaltender of the Week
– Helped lead the team to their first playoff series in program history as a Division I program
-Awarded Team’s Player MVP
**2020-2021:**
– Started in 15 of 16 games, made 469 saves, and had a .895 save percentage
– Recorded 44 saves in a win vs Holy Cross (12/12)
**2019-2020 (Freshman):**
– Made 9 appearances, recorded first career win against Rensselaer (10/5)
– Made 47 saves in a season-high performance against Northeastern (2/7)

Gorski graduated with an undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Science with a minor in Psychology from Merrimack College ‘23, She earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Analytics from Robert Morris University

Currently, Emma is a goalie coach for the Robert Morris University women’s ice hockey team and a Clinical and Population Health Analyst at Highmark Health.

Megan McCarter

Megan McCarter is a fifth-year small forward for the Nipissing University women’s basketball team. She was born on October 26, 2001 and grew up in Wallaceburg.

McCarter’s journey began at Wallaceburg District Secondary School, where she was coached by Janine Day who guided her passion for the sport and developed her skills for basketball. Under Day’s coaching in the 2018-19 school year, the senior girls basketball team took home gold at the AA OFSAA championship.

During her time at Nipissing, McCarter has become the school’s all-time scoring leader, surpassing the 1,000-point milestone. She leads the school’s historical records in multiple categories including rebounds, assists, free throws made, and steals. She has maintained captainship for the past three years under the guidance of head coach Rachel Van Woezik, who has been instrumental in her development as both a player and a person.

In the summer of 2024, McCarter expanded her basketball career by playing semi-professionally in Canada’s first paid women’s basketball league.

Academically, she completed a Bachelor of Physical Health and Education (BPHE), and is currently finishing up her Bachelors of Education (BEd). While maintaining the balance of student and athlete, she has been an Academic All-Canadian for the past six years.

Representing the Lakers and wearing jersey number 13 has been both an honor and a privilege for McCarter. Her accomplishments both on and off the court have solidified her legacy at Nipissing University.

Ferrah Blackbird and Lucas Laprise Co Athletes of the year

Ferrah Blackbird

Ferrah Blackbird was born on March 30, 2003. Blackbird is a 22-year-old athlete from Walpole Island First Nation who has made a powerful impact in both lacrosse and basketball.

Ferrah attended Wallaceburg District Secondary School, where she first began to realize her potential as an athlete. Growing up surrounded by the close-knit community of Walpole Island, Ferrah was inspired by her parents’ unwavering work ethic and accomplishments. Now, as a mother to her two-year-old son, Ross, he has become her biggest source of motivation, pushing her to strive for excellence in all that she does.

Lacrosse Accomplishments:
Though Ferrah didn’t start playing lacrosse until a later age, her passion and determination quickly propelled her to the top. In April 2024, she earned a spot on Team Ontario for the second time, showcasing her continued growth and dedication to the sport. She previously helped the team secure a bronze medal and earned recognition as one of the top players in the nation. Her outstanding performance also led to a First Team tournament all-star selection, solidifying her place among Canada’s elite lacrosse players.

Ferrah’s lacrosse career reached a new milestone in June 2024, when she earned a spot on the first ever Haudenosaunee Women’s World Team. This historic team, the first-ever women’s squad to compete on the global stage, saw Ferrah co-lead with 24 points in seven games at the 2024 Women’s Lacrosse World Championship held in Utica NY, including 13 goals and 11 assists. Her efforts helped the Haudenosaunee team secure a bronze medal, and Ferrah was ranked 18th out of 161 players worldwide, an impressive feat given her relatively short time in the sport.

Lucas Laprise

Lucas Laprise was born in Wallaceburg, January 28, 2007. He is a multi-sport athlete who is currently a Grade 12 student at Wallaceburg District Secondary School. He spends most of his time on the baseball diamond or in hockey arenas, but has also been a member of the basketball, golf, and tennis teams in high school.

In Grade 9, he was named Male Junior Athlete of the Year and was also a part of the Junior Boys LKSSAA basketball champions in Grade 10. Out of his four years playing varsity baseball at WDSS, the team won three LKSSAA baseball championships. He was awarded Coach’s Choice honours in both baseball and basketball.

Lucas has spent most of his baseball career as a Port Lambton Pirate, where his teams have won four Ontario Baseball Association championships. In 2015, his U10 Rookie team won the OBA ‘D’ Championship. They won the ‘B’ championship again in 2021, and ‘C’ championships in 2023 and 2024.

Lucas began his hockey career in the Wallaceburg Minor Hockey Association before moving on to play AAA with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones. He was named captain of his team each year that he was eligible and also received the MVP award in his U15 and U16 seasons. During those two years, he was also selected to participate in the Alliance All-Star games. The Cyclones organization named him Most Outstanding Forward in the 2021-2022 season. In 2023, Lucas joined the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks AAA team where he once again was selected to participate in the Alliance Top Prospects game. That same season he was second in the league in scoring.

During his U16, and U18 seasons, Lucas was an affiliate player for the Chatham Maroons and Sarnia Legionnaires Junior B teams respectively. Last summer, he was invited to participate in the London Knights and Sarnia Sting OHL main camps. He signed with the Strathroy Rockets Jr B team and was once again selected for the GOJHL Top Prospects game.

Elric Builder of the Year

Elric Contractors of Wallaceburg Limited is a local company that has served Wallaceburg and the surrounding community for more than 48 years. Prior to Elric the company was Called Mac Construction which began in 1943.

Elric has carried out the construction of industrial, commercial, institutional, educational and residential building projects for new buildings, additions, renovations and repairs; as well as subdivision development throughout Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Essex and Middlesex Counties. Some of their projects over the years have been the construction of the Wheels Inn in Chatham, Southwest Regional Credit Union, Oaks Retirement Village, Fairfield Park Nursing Home, Wallaceburg
Memorial Arena, Sydenham Pool and Sydenham Hospital.

Some of their current and recent projects include renovations for the Wallaceburg Drop-In Centre, renovations to many Lambton Kent District School Board and St. Clair Catholic School Board schools, renovations and maintenance to many provincial government buildings, renovations to Subway
restaurant locations, renovations to many municipal buildings.

Jake Lozon Coach of the Year

 

Coach Jake lives in Port Lambton with his wife, Kylie, and is a proud father to three
sons—Cody, Tyson, and Austin—and a grandfather to two grandsons, Anthony and Beckham.

Today, Jake’s passion lies with the Port Lambton Pirates, but his childhood team was the Wallaceburg Warriors.

Born on April 5th, 1975, Jake was raised in a family that instilled a deep love of sport. His love of baseball began at a young age when he and his father, Robert (Grizz) Lozon, would spend countless hours playing catch in the side yard of their home outside Wallaceburg. In 1981, Jake took to the diamond with the Wallaceburg Leisure Sports Warriors, joining the OBA team where he would play for an impressive 12 years.

Throughout his baseball career, Jake was fortunate to learn from a remarkable group of coaches, including Charlie Masefield, Doug McCallum, Bob Lozon (his father), Jim Hawn, Ken Gordon, Murray Richardson, and Randy McNeil. Of all his influences, Jake credits his father, Bob, with making the most lasting impact. To this day, Jake incorporates his father’s coaching principles with the Port Lambton Pirates, including a no-swearing policy, removing ball caps during post-game handshakes, and always showing respect to umpires and opponents.

Jake is a graduate of Wallaceburg District Secondary School. He ventured off to Sir Sandford Fleming College, receiving a Fish & Wildlife Biology diploma. Jake worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources for several years, and he now co-manages Ontario NativeScape, a local wildlife habitat restoration company.

In 2016, Jake began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Port Lambton Pirates’ 9U OBA team. By 2018, he stepped into the role of head coach for the 9U OBA Pirates. His
leadership has seen the Pirates thrive, with Jake coaching OBA teams in the 11U, 13U and 15U divisions. Throughout the years, he had the help of many assistant coaches that all played
integral roles: Tyler Jacobs, Tim Ritchie, Tom VanDeVelde, Ben Hazzard, Brett Miskokomon, Ian Wigle and Nathan Pelletier. As head coach, the Pirates have earned a stellar record of 82-44-6, reaching the finals three times and semi-finals six out of 12 tournaments since 2018.

Jake, alongside assistant coaches and local friends, helped organize an exciting American vs. Canadian baseball game during the 2024 Port Lambton Gala Days. The Emmett Irish Michigan team faced off against the 15U Pirates in a thrilling match that came down to the final inning.

Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, the Pirates rallied with back-to-back hits, securing a dramatic victory.

In 2024, Jake’s 15U team took first place in Western County, a victory that Jake often reflects on with pride, noting how the Pirates, from their small village, triumphed over much larger cities.

That same year, his team reached the semi-finals in two tournaments, including a heartbreaking OBA semi-final loss to Mitchell, despite being up 7-3 in the sixth inning.
Also in 2024, Jake was asked by WDSS high school teacher and baseball coach, Linda Nethery, to lend a hand in coaching the school’s baseball team. After recruiting his good friend Tyler Jacobs to join him, Jake helped guide the WDSS team to a thrilling LKSSA championship victory over Sarnia Northern. This victory sets the stage for the team’s upcoming battle at the SWOSSA finals in 2025.

Jake’s dedication to the Port Lambton Pirates organization will continue in 2025 as they make another run for an OBA title with the 15U Port Lambton Pirates.

The Ray Aarssen / Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame scholarship Nash Grealis

Born on August 23rd 2006, Nash Grealis grew up in Wallaceburg and later moved to Port Lambton in Grade 8.

He attended Wallaceburg District Secondary School, where he played a variety of sports.
Some of his accomplishments at WDSS include: Jack Parry nominee for Wallacebuurg District Secondary School, Brad Lightfoot Award, Tartan Trophy for male athlete of the year award, Chris Vermette Award for dedication to Tartan football, SAA McFadden Award. Receiving varsity and school letters, Grealis was also Senior Badminton MVP.

At WDSS, Grealis was also on a number of winning teams, including the 2021 and 2022 LKSSAA baseball champions, the 2024 LKSSAA coccer champions, and in football the 2022 and 2023 Bronze Boot champions

The 43rd Annual Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame Awards Banquet will feature guest speaker Christine Simpson, whose broadcasting career has spanned over 20 years with Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada.

Tickets to the banquet are $70 and can be purchased at Desjardins Insurance.