Sports Hall of Fame

On June 4, 1885, Richmond Hill's "Young Canadians" Lacrosse team trounced Brampton in three straight games to win the Western Division Championship. The match took place on the village's "New Park Ground," before a grandstand "packed with ladies" and noisy Cornet Band that blared forth "during play stoppages"

The Richmond Hill Lions were a unique team. They were composed of local players from Richmond Hill, which at that time, had a population base of only 22,000 people. The regulations of the day allowed the team to draw players from within the boundaries of the Town only. In their march to the premier Championships in Canada, they were able to defeat and eliminate teams from much larger centres including, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa and Boston. In the Quebec tournament, competing teams came from all over Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and the northeastern United States. In the Central Canada Championship, teams came from all over Ontario. Their exploits will never be duplicated due to changes in regulations now allowing additional players to be drawn from a wider area.

The 1989 Richmond Hill Raiders girls soccer team achieved youth soccer's highest possible Canadian honour by capturing gold at the Canadian Soccer Association's Under 18 National Championship Finals in Fredericton in October 2007. Gaining entry into the gold medal match with a 3-1 round-robin record, the Raiders scored on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute of overtime to claim the National Title in a 1-0 victory over Manitoba.

The 2007 National Championship capped an undefeated season and remarkable career for the team, which included three consecutive Ontario Youth Soccer League Championships from 2005 to 2007 and the Ontario Cup Championship in 2007.

Doug was born in Toronto and moved to Richmond Hill when he was six years old. He played through the minor ranks and his potential became apparent in his Bantam year playing for the North End Cleaners, who won the prestigious Riverside Tournament. After his Midget eligibility he went on play for the Toronto Marlboro organization from 1965 - 1969. He was a member of the Memorial Cup Team of 1966 -1967. In 1968 - 1969 he led the OHA in scoring with 55 Goals. During this time he also played with the Marlboro Senior "A" team on call up. 

Doug played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1969 - 1970 and was sent to the Tulsa Oilers and further to the Phoenix Roadrunners in 1970 - 1971 in the World Hockey League. Doug finished up his fine career in 1975 -1976 with the Barrie Flyers in the OHA Senior League.

During this busy time Doug was able to graduate from Richmond Hill High School and York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in physical education. He attended teachers college at the University of Toronto. 

Doug was born in Toronto and moved to Richmond Hill when he was six years old. He played through the minor ranks and his potential became apparent in his Bantam year playing for the North End Cleaners, who won the prestigious Riverside Tournament. After his Midget eligibility he went on play for the Toronto Marlboro organization from 1965 - 1969. He was a member of the Memorial Cup Team of 1966 -1967. In 1968 - 1969 he led the OHA in scoring with 55 Goals. During this time he also played with the Marlboro Senior "A" team on call up. 

Doug played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1969 - 1970 and was sent to the Tulsa Oilers and further to the Phoenix Roadrunners in 1970 - 1971 in the World Hockey League. Doug finished up his fine career in 1975 -1976 with the Barrie Flyers in the OHA Senior League.

During this busy time Doug was able to graduate from Richmond Hill High School and York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in physical education. He attended teachers college at the University of Toronto. 

Nathalie's rugby career began in 1995 when she played her first game at Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill.  Over the next 14 years, Nathalie would move on to play for the Aurora Barbarians, the University of Guelph, the University of Toronto, team Ontario, and team Canada - including representing Canada in the 2009 Rugby World Cup.  Nathalie continues to give back to the community and the sport through teaching and coaching - she loves the game and loves sharing her passion with those new to rugby.

Learn more about Nathalie in our video interview. 

Russell Donald Cripps or "Casey" as he is also known, was involved with baseball for many years. He was a player in his early years in the 1930's through the 1940's. By 1960, Casey was now coach and manager of the Wimbridge Cleaners in the men's Intermediate "A" Fastball League with all Richmond Hill Players, such as Len McLean, "Sonny" Needham and Stan Thornington. They won the All Ontario Championship that year - a first for Richmond Hill.

• Mercantile hockey, 1955-1959
• Minor hockey, 1955-present
• Minor baseball, 1955-present
• Minor soccer, 1955-present
• Dynes Jewellers Softball/Fastball, 1956-1980
• Junior "B" Dynes Hockey, 1974-1979
• Junior "B" Dynes Hockey, silver medal winners, Ontario Winter Games, 1977 
  
  Some of Vern's achievements include:
  
  
• Ontario Bicentennial Award for Volunteers, 1984
• Richmond Hill's Corporate Citizen of the Year, 1995 
  
  The Dynes fastball teams won many championships, and through Vern's support, Richmond Hill continued to have a world class fastball team for many years. In 1972, the Dynes team won the World Championship in Manila, Philippines, becoming the only club team to ever win the World Championship. Over the years, the Dynes team gave the citizens of Richmond Hill the opportunity to be part of a high quality and entertaining sport. In fact, the rivalry between the Dynes, Newmarket Rays and Oshawa Tony's is legendary.
  Vern has four children and 12 grandchildren. In his limited spare time he regularly visits Dufferin County, where he was raised and where he owns a farm, to attend community events and to renew old friendships along with harvesting potato crops.

Bob is a Junior Figure skating Canadian Champion (1967), a coach to multiple Canadian, Olympic and World champions and is the founder and Director of the Richmond Training Centre (RTC) - an international elite figure skating program in Richmond Hill.  Through coaching, mentoring, and founding RTC, Bob has shared his passion for skating and has helped develop some of the world's best figure skaters.  Throughout his career, Bob has made a significant contribution to the sport and continues to inspire and encourage young athletes to become the best they can be.

Learn more about Bob in our video interview. 

Rene and his family moved to Richmond Hill in 1963 and his impact upon the community and the sport of hockey was almost immediate.  For over 30 years (1963-1994), Rene was involved in providing and developing hockey programs for the community - from coaching, teaching, officiating, and scheduling, he did it all.  Rene was also instrumental in the development, instruction, and supervision of local referees, providing free clinics and training to young referees and was one of those unsung people that helped mentor and develop a whole generation of officials with little or no recognition.  

Learn more about Rene in our video interview.

Marion Fox has a long-standing affiliation with baseball in Richmond Hill. Throughout her career, Marion was a role model for hundreds of ladies in women's softball. Here are some highlights from her outstanding career as a pitcher:

Ontario Championships

• 1950 & 1951- pitched in the Ontario Championships 
  
  World Championships
• 1953 - at age 17, pitched 30 innings, facing 123 batters, allowing only 7 runs for a 0.23 Earned Run Average (ERA) with a 3 - 1 record and 19 strikeouts
• 1955 & 1956 - winner of pitching trophy and a World Championship All-Star Selection
• 1956 - pitched 32 innings, striking out 38 and giving up only 2 runs for an ERA of 0.62 and a record of 2-2
• 1957 - pitched 27 innings and struck out 26 of 93 batters
• 1958 - pitched 31 innings (93 batters), giving up 4 unearned runs for an ERA of 0.00
• 1959 - pitched 28 innings (69 batters), had an ERA of 0.75 and .333 personal batting average
• 1960 - faced 94 batters, striking out 40 for an ERA of 0.76 and had a .313 personal batting average
• 1961 - pitched 41 innings and had an 0.17 ERA
• 1962 - pitched 28 innings (91 batters) and had an 0.50 ERA
• 1973 - led Richmond Hill intermediates to the semi-finals of the Canadian Women's Championships 
  
  Marion's athletic career was interrupted for a period of seven years. From 1963 to 1970 Marion was recovering from a serious, life-threatening accident and, miraculously, she returned to the game she loved. In November 1977, Marion was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Sports Association Hall of Fame.

• Senior Canadian Pair Champions, 1975 and 1976;
• Members of the Canadian World Team in Colorado Springs, USA, 1975;
• Members of the Canadian World Team in Goteborg, Sweden, 1976;
• Members of the Canadian Olympic Team in Innsbruck, Austria, 1976;
• 3 World Professional Championships; and 
• Won 14 International Proskate events including those in Japan and Africa.

Lynton Friedberg has often been referred to as the father of Slo-Pitch in Richmond Hill. For the better part of three decades he made Richmond Hill a field of dreams for himself and others like him. 

Lynton grew up in Montreal, where he was heavily involved in organized recreation throughout his youth. In 1962, he was introduced to the game of Slo-Pitch or 'Lob' Ball, as it was often called. It didn't take long before he was hooked.

After graduating from the Recreation Leadership Program at the University of Guelph and Centennial College, Lynton moved to Sault Ste. Marie where he worked for the City as a Recreation Assistant. In his spare time, he started a Slo-Pitch League, that in eight years, grew from eight teams to 64 teams and still operates today.

In 1974, Lynton moved to Richmond Hill and became the Town's first Superintendent of Recreation. He also continued organizing recreational leagues in his spare time. Richmond Hill had traditionally been a Fastball town, but Lynton wanted to create a Slo-Pitch League where anyone who wanted to play could play, regardless of ability. After all, Lynton himself was known much more for his passion and fierce competitiveness than his blazing speed around the base paths. 

In 1977, he called a meeting of all people interested in playing Slo-Pitch. Only four people showed, but this wasn't game over. Interest increased when Fred Simpson, a sportswriter for The Liberal, began writing stories about the game. In 1978, 56 people enrolled, a draft took place and a four team, Sunday Night Recreational League was born. By 1980, the league had doubled to eight teams. In 2008, the league celebrated its 30th year and is the longest continually running Slo-Pitch League in Ontario.

Lynton was also instrumental in the creation of several other recreational Slo-Pitch Leagues in Richmond Hill, including the Triple X (30+) League, a Women's League and the Five Star League (50+) - all of which are all still operational today. In fact, to date, there are 125 teams playing Slo-Pitch in Richmond Hill. 

In 1994, Lynton, now the Town's Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Culture, was appointed Secretary/Treasurer of the first Board of Governors of the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in establishing the Hall, which opened its doors in 1997. As of 2009, the Hall, now located in the Tom Graham Arena Complex, boasts 29 of Richmond Hill's finest athletes, coaches and builders, among others, representing more than 25 sports.

Lynton retired from the Town of Richmond Hill in January 2009. He now enjoys spending time with his wife, four children and their beloved dogs.

Lynton's influence on establishing the game of Slo-Pitch in Richmond Hill is indeed proof that, if you build it, they will come. 

Tom Graham moved to Richmond Hill in 1955.  Tom has been involved in local sports/arenas in Richmond Hill in a variety a capacities from 1964-present.  Tom started his volunteer work in Richmond Hill as a coach and manager with the Richmond Hill Hockey Association, moved on to become President of the Richmond Hill Hockey Association (1971-1975), Director of the Richmond Hill Arena Association (1976-1985), and Chairman of the Richmond Hill Arena Association (1985-1997).  Tom was also the founder of the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and served as first Chairman of the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame.  Tom continues to contribute to local sports and community initiatives to this day.  

The name 'Hoult' is synonymous with excellence in 5 pin bowling. Richmond Hill native, Jim Hoult used his abilities as a bowler, coach and showman, to help build the sport at the Zone, Provincial and National levels. 

Born in 1930, Jim began his bowling career as a pinsetter. He developed his skills playing in the pinboys league along with his brother, Billy and later through his work league at McLean Hunter and participation in the Toronto City Major League. 

With the invention of the automatic pinsetter, the sport began to grow, and in 1957, Jim became somewhat of a bowling celebrity when he won the first O'Connor Open, which had a top prize of $1,000, an unheard of amount in those days. Jim's success as a player continued with wins at the Master Bowlers Association's Holiday Sweepstakes in 1966, the Northern Classics in 1967 and a gold medal at the Masters National Championship in 1974. 

Jim's accomplishments on the lanes made him a natural selection for Hellewell's All-Stars, a group that toured Ontario for three years, losing only twice. Jim was quite the showman and his popularity led to the formation of the Jimmy Hoult Fan Club. 

Jim also left his mark on the sport as a coach. As chief instructor for Double Diamond, a manufacturer of automatic pinsetters, he was part of a team that conducted clinics for more than 10,000 bowlers. Jim was also a charter member and chief instructor for the Master Bowlers Association, a group that would eventually deliver the instruction and coaching program both in Ontario and across Canada. 

Jim was inducted into the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers Association Hall of Fame as a Player in 1991 and a Builder in 2003. 

Married to Jean (Stark) since 1950, the two are enjoying their retirement with their three children and four grandchildren. 

Michael started bowling in the 1960's and joined the Allencourt Lanes Youth Bowling Council in 1963.  For more than 40 years, he has coached numerous teams (including a 1981 Provincial Championship), held numerous administrative positions (including Program Director for the Youth Bowling Council and Tournament Director and Zone President for the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowling Association), and has received numerous honours for his contribution to the sport (including numerous Zone awards and induction into the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2006).  Doreen started bowling in 1972 at ABC Bowl in Richmond Hill and would soon compete at the provincial and national level (including the 1979 Ontario Open on the Ladies Provincial Team, the 1981 Teaching Ladies National Team, and the 1982 Ontario Open on the Mixed Provincial Team).  In 1979, Doreen began coaching and has been Secretary of the Youth Bowling Council since 1986.  She has contributed much to the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowling Association since 1976 including overseeing Membership and Average Books, and has served as Lottery Chair and Tournament Director.  For her contribution to the sport, Doreen has received numerous Zone awards and a 25 year service award from the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowling Association. 

Vanessa started refereeing for the Richmond Hill Hockey Referees' Association at an early age.  She quickly progressed to referee at an elite level - officiating at a number of provincial and national championships (including the 2014 Hockey Canada Esso Cup, the 2015 Ontario Winter Games, and the 2015 Canada Winter Games) as well as at the local, provincial, collegiate, national and professional level (in the Canadian Women's Hockey League - considered the highest level of women's hockey in the world).  Vanessa was also instrumental in the development of the RHHRA Mentorship Program and continues to develop the sport through mentoring, teaching and inspiring young referees as a supervisor for the OWHA.

Learn more about Vanessa in our video interview.

In 1970, Jean became a member of the Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club and has won 24 District Championships, 3 Provincial Championships in 1992, 2002 and 2013 and a National Championship in 2003.  Through administration, officiating, and coaching, Jean also has had a tremendous impact upon the growth and development of the sport of lawn bowling in the community.  Jean served as President of the Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club from 1997 to 2008 and between 2005 and 2013, she coached Vivian Berkeley - a visually impaired lawn bowler- to win several national and international tournaments.  

Learn more about Jean in our video interview.

Joanne McLeod is the founder and former director of the York Region Skating Academy in Richmond Hill.  Her many accomplishments as a figure skating coach include coaching at three Olympic Games (2002, 2006, and 2014), 17 World Championships, 10 Junior World Championships, four European Championships, and 17 Four Continents Championships. She has coached at numerous junior and senior national and international championships, where her skaters earned many medals.  She was Central Ontario competitive coach of the year in 1999 and was named Skate Canada National Coach of the year in 2004.  Joanne is a certified level-5 coach and currently coaches in Burnaby, BC. 

Ted was instrumental in the introduction and growth of ringette in Richmond Hill and the development of the Richmond Hill Ringette Association.  Throughout the 1980's Ted helped develop the sport through coaching, refereeing, as well as serving as President and Referee-in-Chief.  Ted was inducted into the Ontario Ringette Association Hall of Fame as a Community Builder in 1987 and was inducted into the Richmond Hill Ringette Association Hall of Fame for his dedication and contribution to the development and growth of ringette in Richmond Hill in 2011. 

Learn more about Ted in our video interview.

His first pair of skates were a gift from a neighbour when he was two years old. At the age of five, he was playing organized hockey. He was a scoring wonder in his early house league years, scoring as many as 150 goals in one season.

Frank moved to Richmond Hill in 1968, when he was eight years old. He progressed through the minor hockey ranks and started to make a name for himself in Peewee and became the team's leading scorer in 1971. In the 1972 -1973 season he played for the Richmond Hill Bantam team that won the All Ontario Championship. At the age of fourteen, Frank was playing Provincial Junior "A", he was drafted by the London Knights of the OHL, when he was sixteen and scored 38 goals and 60 assists in his first year.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him when he was eighteen and Frank attended his first pro training camp in 1979. He was with the Leafs until 1983, but had suffered a vertebrae injury during his career and lost some of the agility and strength that had made him a top prospect. He had scored eight goals and eighteen assists in his abbreviated three years in the NHL.

In 1983 Frank headed for Italy and played until 1993 for Val Gardenia and Milan, winning three National Championships. He ended his hockey-playing career with the Italian National Team playing in the Olympics at Albertville, France. 

Stan Pagonis moved to Richmond Hill in 1985 and spent 29 seasons with the Richmond Hill Phoenix Baseball Club.  Stan has held multiple positions in local baseball - including coach, umpire, President of Richmond Hill Phoenix Baseball Club, Baseball Ontario Board of Directors member, and Vice President at the York Simcoe Baseball Association.  Stan has been an integral part of the growth of baseball in Richmond Hill and has contributed to the development of the sport, the coaches and athletes in Richmond Hill for 29 seasons. 

Both Jack and John Passmore have been actively involved in track and field athletics and both gentlemen are inductees in the McMaster Hall of Fame. Jack and John Passmore have made significant contributions to the development of track and field related events, both at a local and national level. In his years as a student at McMaster University, Jack Passmore competed at the varsity level. He won his letter in football, hockey and track. Jack was considered one of Canada's best hurdlers and won the 1933 Chancellor's Medal for his all-round performance at track and field. After graduation, he continued his interest in Mac Athletics as a builder, playing an important role in the appointments of Ivor Wynne and Les Prince. 

Residing in Richmond Hill, Phyllis Rawlinson (1912-1995) was one of the first five women to become involved in the sport of polo in Canada and became a champion five goal player.  Phyllis was the captain of the team that won the Eglinton Hunt Club polo shield, the Polo Bending Race at the Eglinton Hunt Horse Show and scored four of the six goals for the winning team at the Richmond Hill Fair in May 1930.  She also participated in steeplechases, fox hunts and show jumping and was an integral support for many Canadian horsing events, including setting up Olympic jumps for the Canadian Equestrian Team.  In keeping with her love of farm life and interest in the conservation of rural landscape, her 82.5 acre farm called "Tentone" and its historic buildings became a gift of parkland to the Town of Richmond Hill in 1995. 

David Ross is a five time Olympic coach (2000-2016) and was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August 2016 as coach of Canada's trampoline team and Gold Medal winner, Rosie MacLennan.  To date, David has coached six Olympic medallists (including a Gold medal in 2012 coaching MacLennan) and has been the coach of the Canadian Trampoline Teams at every World Championship since 1976.  David is the founder, president and coach of Skyriders Trampoline Place in Richmond Hill. He is the creator of numerous trampolines, corner springs, and bungee belt systems, and is a pioneer of trampoline sports in Canada.  David was named Canadian Coach of the year in 2012.  

Trained and raised in Richmond Hill, Emanuel Sandhu is a two-time Olympian (2002, 2006), a three-time Canadian Champion (2001, 2003, 2004), the 2004 ISU Grand Prix Final Champion and the 2004 and 2005 Skate Canada Champion.  Known for his power, grace and innovation, Emanuel was the first figure skater to complete a triple/triple/triple jump combination in competition and is the inventor of the "Sandhu Spin" (aka A frame).  Emanuel currently gives back to the sport of figure skating through coaching and mentoring young skaters. 

Fred joined the Richmond Hill Liberal in 1965 after having written for the Woodstock Sentinel-Review, London Free Press, Sudbury Star and Kingston Whig-Standard. For the majority of those years at the Liberal, Fred was the sports editor, and the only employee in that section. Not only did Fred do the writing he was also responsible for the layout of the pages. Fred wrote a weekly column on local sports for more then 30 years. 

Marijane Stong is a six-time Olympic figure skating coach (1976-1998) and coached at the World Championships from 1969-1995.  Marijane has coached numerous national and international junior and senior champions and medallists, including winning an Olympic bronze medal in Ice Dancing in 1988 coaching Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall.  Among her many accomplishments, Marijane was named Female Coach of the year in 1992, has been a Skate Canada National Coach Consultant since 1999, and was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2008.  Marijane has 56 years coaching experience, including coaching at the National Ice Dance Centre at Elgin Barrow Arena in Richmond Hill from 1981-1988. 

Born in Montreal, Quebec in 1960, Jane Toporowski enjoyed success in track & field both in Canada and the United States. 

• played bantam hockey in Aurora and helped win an O.M.H.A. Ontario Championship, 1957
• drafted by the Hamilton Tiger Cubs major junior club and named "Rookie of the Year", 1959 - 60
• named Best Defensemen by the Hamilton Red Wings (previously the Tiger Cubs) for three consecutive seasons, 1960 - 62
• won the Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Red Wings, 1961 - 62
• turned professional with the Detroit Red Wings and was loaned to the Montreal Canadians for one year, 1963
• played in the Stanley Cup Finals for Detroit with Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio, 1965 - 66
• claimed from Detroit by the Los Angeles Kings with the 2nd pick in the NHL expansion draft, 1967
• became the first Captain of the Los Angeles Kings, 1967
• played on several NHL teams including, the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadians and the Los Angeles Kings, 1968 - 77

Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall started skating together in 1981. While Tracy was from Port Moody, British Columbia, and Rob from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, their on-ice partnership began in Richmond Hill at the Elgin Barrow Arena. They trained year round in Richmond Hill in preparation to represent Canada in seven World Championships and two Olympic Games.

Their career highlights in the sport of ice dance include:

• Seven time Canadian Champions, 1982-88
• Three time World Bronze medallists, 1986-88
• Olympic Bronze medallists, 1988
• World Professional Champions, 1989
• Awarded the Order of Canada, 1989 
  
  After winning the Olympic Bronze Medal in Calgary, they toured extensively as professionals. Rob was also much sought after in the sport as choreographer, working with Brian Orser and Kurt Browning. The world of figure skating was deeply saddened when Rob passed away in 1991 from AIDS-related illnesses. He is remembered by friends and skating fans, not only for being an immense talent, but for his fun loving sense of humour and warm personality. 
  
  After the Dream Skate Tour in 1991 the Rob McCall Foundation for AIDS Research was founded. Rob's death strengthened Tracy's commitment to AIDS awareness and she has worked hard to share information about the disease.
  
  Tracy went on to a career in sports broadcasting, appearing on both Canadian and American programs.