The sports community in Greater Sudbury will come together in June to honour the outstanding athletes and community leaders who have contributed to the success of sports in this city over the years.

The Greater Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2025 at a special breakfast event Wednesday held at Eddie’s Restaurant and Sports Bar on Regent Street.

Organizer and local sports knowledge-keeper Randy Pascal said Sudbury has a rich and diverse history of talented individuals who not only excelled in various athletic events but also people who organized and promoted their favourite sports.

Pascal said if there was one thing that brought city residents together back in the day, it was their love of sports and their enthusiasm for supporting local teams.

“Sports always seemed to be part of the community,” said Pascal.

“It was always something, you know, once your hard day of work was done, then you could throw yourself into a good ball game or a good soccer game. And the fact that Sudbury is so multicultural, it has allowed so many people to come to town and bring part of their sports heritage with them. I think in terms of soccer, I think in terms of the number of different golfers that came from all over Europe, right? All of those things.”

Pascal said it is important to remember the contributions made by athletes in days gone by along with the many others who supported local sports teams and events.

“So I think still being able to have a link today to some of what existed years ago is just important. It’s nice, it’s fun. And, you know, kind of warms the heart for people like myself that have been running around long enough to see a lot of it,” said Pascal.

The names revealed for this year’s Hall of Fame event include:

• Meagan Duhamel, figure skating Olympic medallist and world champion, who is a native of Lively. She was represented at the breakfast event by her mother Heidi Duhamel, but Meagan will attend the formal dinner in June.
• Bob Parker, former hockey player, former fastball player, is being honoured as a community builder for hockey in Onaping Falls, although he is also known as a significant supporter and organizer for many other sporting events in Onaping Falls. Parker is also a well-known former mayor of Onaping Falls.
• Alex and Florence Hurd, speed skating athletes, siblings from Nova Scotia who moved to Northern Ontario in the 1930s and rose to international prominence in speed skating. Alex Hurd was an Olympic medallist (silver, bronze) at the 1932 winter Olympics at Lake Placid. Florence was there too but there was no women’s speed skating event back then. She was an avid skater as well who organized speed skating events in Sudbury in the 1930s and 1940s. Florence’s daughter, Joyce Camus, attended the breakfast event.
• Dave Makela, administrator of high school sports, is another inductee being honoured this year. Makela will soon be closing a career of 30-years plus with the Rainbow District School Board, executive member of the Big Nickel Hockey Tournament and executive director of the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association.
• Doug Bonhomme, administrator for hockey, is being honoured not only as a well-respected former hockey player, but also being on the Ontario Hockey League Central Scouting team for nearly 40 years. His hockey career included coaching Cambrian College to winning the 1997 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championship.
• The Sudbury Hard Rocks / Sudbury Spartans are being honoured as winners of the Norm Mayer Dynasty Award. The organization was a charter member of the Northern Ontario Rugby – Football Union in 1954. The Spartans’ name was adopted in 1967. Over the years, the club has won 18 league championships and some players were able to move on to play professional football. 

The actual 54th annual Sports Hall of Fame gala dinner will be held Wednesday, June 4 at the Caruso Club. Tickets are still available by contacting Randy Pascal by email at info@sudburysports.com, telephone 705-698-1627, or emailing Joe Drago, drago@eastlink.ca or telephone him at 705-207-3475. Tickets for the dinner at $75 each or $25 for children under 12 years.

Len Gillis is a reporter with Sudbury.com.