2010

Franklin Jacob “Frank” Zielski – Inducted 2010

Frank Zielski has been a pioneer in the sport of rowing as a competitor, coach and administrator. Born in 1941 and rowing out of St. Catharines, Zielski was a member of the first-ever Eastern Canadian crew to defeat the powerhouse University of British Columbia for the right to represent Canada at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome. In preparation for that victory, his crew had initiated winter training.

Zielski’s pioneering role in that ground-breaking victory cannot be under-estimated in how it affected the future of rowing in Canada. The success of his St Catharines crew sparked the development of numerous future Olympians from the Niagara region and other parts of Ontario in a sport that had previously been dominated in Canada by B.C. rowers in the 1950s, Zielski’s crew has been honoured several times by the St. Catharines Rowing Club over the past five decades and on June 12, 2010—on the fiftieth anniversary of their Olympic appearance — the SCRC named a boat in their honour. After competing on Canada’s four-man crew at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Zielski captained the prestigious Argonaut Rowing Club in Toronto four years later.

Moving to Belleville in 1981, Zielski co-founded the Quinte Rowing Club in 1987 and coached for several years. The QRC has gone on to encourage several graduates to continue competitive and coaching careers here and abroad. Brian Price, who coxed the Canadian heavyweight men’s eight to an Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008, is a graduate of the QRC. Thanks to Zielski’s input — especially during the early years of the club — the QRC now boasts its own facility on Keegan Parkway, several boats, a thriving high school program and is the only club in Eastern Canada with its own indoor rowing tank The tank is named in Zielski’s honour.

Zielski’s medal collection includes United States National awards, Canadian High School championships, and numerous other rowing titles. Along with his Canadian Olympic Team honours, Zielski is the holder of a prestigious Henley Medal, one of the most cherished awards in Canadian rowing. - 2010, athlete,

Robert Remi “Bobby” Crawford – Inducted 2010

One of three of Belleville’s Crawford brothers to play in the NHL (Marc and Louis were the others), Bobby Crawford was the most prolific of the clan, enjoying a 36- goal, 61-point season with the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes) while playing 80 games in the 1983-84 campaign.

Unfortunately it was Crawford’s only full season in the NHL. Hampered by injuries, he later played for the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals before finishing his professional playing career in Germany where he scored 92 goals over two seasons for Krefeld EV.

Overall, starting with the St. Louis Blues, in 246 career NHL games over eight seasons, Crawford had 71 goals and 71 assists for 142 points.

In major junior, Crawford was an offensive force for three seasons with the Cornwall Royals from 1976-79, increasing his goal total each year from 36 to 54 to 62 along with point totals of 70, 121 and 132. Crawford was selected by the Blues in the fourth round, 65th overall, of the 1979 MIL draft and went on to score 54 goals along with 45 assists for 99 points for the Central Hockey League’s Salt Lake City Golden Eagles in 1981-82, winning the CHL’s MVP honours. In three seasons at Salt Lake City, Crawford led the Golden Eagles to a pair of league championships. Since retiring as a player, Crawford has been no less successful as a businessman — operating rinks in Connecticut — a youth hockey administrator and coach. He was the Atlantic Junior Hockey League coach of the year in 2004 and guided a U.S. U18 select side to a bronze medal in 2006 at an international tournament in Canada. More than 100 players from Crawford’s Connecticut Clippers/Hartford Junior Wolfpack organization have gone on to earn U.S. Division 1, 2 or 3 hockey scholarships. Crawford’s teams have won multiple championships and developed into one of the most outstanding junior hockey programs in the U.S. Crawford has also been a key figure on the board of directors for USA Hockey’s East Coast region. Crawford was born in Belleville on April 6,-1959, the same year his father, Floyd, captained the city’s famous McFarland’s Sr. A hockey team to a world championship title in Prague. - 2010, athlete, hockey, individual,

Dave Mills – Inducted 2010

More than one hundred athletes who have graduated from Junior Golf Programs in Ontario to receive Golf Scholarships in the United States – and some to professional tours – owe some of their good fortune to David Mills. The Executive Director of the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) since 1997, Mills has been instrumental in developing Junior Golf Programs in Belleville and across the province. To date, the GAO Scholarship Program, instituted by Mills, has awarded more than $290,000 to more than 180 students.

Mills developed a program specifically designed to educate young men and women – and their parents – on how to pursue and land U.S. golf scholarships. He has spearheaded the introduction or growth of numerous grassroots developmental golf programs at the regional and provincial levels – including a Golf in Schools program which reaches more than 200 new schools annually, and CN Future Links which introduces youth to the game of golf.

Mills worked to secure “Official Sport” status for golf by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Sport Promotion and Sport Canada, and facilitated changes to include golf as a provincially funded sport.

Mills was a Non-Playing Captain with the Ontario Junior Boys Team from 1991-1996, including the National Championship Teams of 1994, 1995; initiated and led the process to establish the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame at Wooden Sticks in 2001; and as a Nationally Certified Rules Official served on the Rules Committee for the Canadian Open, Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, numerous Provincial Championships and the Telus Skins Game.

Living in Belleville from 1985-98, Mills founded the Bay of Quinte High School Golf Championships, hosted two major Provincial Championships at the Bay of Quinte Country Club, assisted in hosting and sponsoring the first-ever Canadian Amputee Golf Championship in 1989 and established a junior golf program at the Bay of Quinte Country Club that resulted in seven graduates receiving U.S. golf scholarships. - 2010, athlete, golf, individual,

2017

Chris Valentine – Inducted 2017

His skill at hockey opened the door for Chris Valentine to travel across North America and into Europe. Born in Belleville on December 6, 1961, Chris quickly displayed his talents in the Belleville Minor Hockey system, where he consistently put big numbers on the scoreboard.

In 1978, he joined St. Louis University of the CCHA and in 34 games scored an impressive 27 goals. He was selected to the All CCHA 2^nd Team.

Relocating to Verdun’s Sorel Blackhawks in 1979, he had 48 goals in 72 games, and followed that up with 65 goals in 1980. His scoring prowess earned him a spot the following year with the NHL’s Washington Capitals where he scored 30 goals in 60 games, and established a Capital’s Rookie point scoring record that withstood the test of time until Alex Ovechkin came along. Over a 3-year span, where Valentine split his time between the Capital’s and the AHL’s Hershey Bears, Chris had 43 goals and 52 assists in 105 NHL games. And then Europe came calling.

In 1984, Valentine joined Dusseldorf EG of the German Bundesliga and over a 12-year period set the league on fire. He led the league in scoring 7 times, led Dusseldorf to 5 league championships and had his #10 retired by the team after ending his playing career.

Following his retirement as a player, Valentine coached for 5 years in Germany, after which he returned to Canada, where he is in the financial services business. He is active with the Ottawa Senators Alumni Association.

Chris lives in Stittsville, Ontario, with his wife Laurie. He has 2 children – Mandy and Curtis. - 2017, hockey, individual,

Paula Duggan – Inducted 2017

Paula (Stephanson) Duggan is on a very short list. In fact, there are only 2 people in the world who can claim the same accomplishment as Paula, with the other being the highly-decorated Vicki Keith, who in her swimming career successfully crossed all 5 of the Great Lakes and is a member of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

Paula was born on June 16, 1979 in Belleville, Ontario, and got her feet wet as a member of the Belleville Youth Swim Team, where she was a participant and a coach.

Her monumental achievement of swimming across all 5 of the Great Lakes started in August of 1996, when Lake Ontario was conquered. A 2 year wait occurred before Lake Erie fell in July of 1998, followed by another 2-year span prior to taking on Lake Huron in August of 2000. Amazingly enough, Paula then waited 7 years before Lake Superior was added to the list in 2007. The 5^th of the Great Lakes – Michigan – was added to her accomplishments in August of 2009, allowing Paula to join Vicki Keith as one of only two swimmers in the world to swim all 5 of the Great Lakes.

Throughout her swimming career, Paula also had time to be on the Brock University Badgers Swim Team, coach swimming programs in Ottawa and win the prestigious Lemmet River Race in Switzerland.

Recognition of Paula’s achievements as a swimmer include twice being Belleville’s Athlete of the Year (Robinson Kelleher Memorial Award), being honored by a parade in her home town and receiving the Keys to the City on 2 occasions. She is recognized in Peter Gzowski’s book – Morningside Years – and in the 2010 edition of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Paula was the 2010 winner of the Cliff Lumsden Award of Solo Swims and is a member of the Solo Swim Association.

She now lives in Ottawa, with her husband Andrew and children Oliver and Leah.

2017, athlete, indiv, swimming,

Rob Ray – Inducted 2017

Rob Ray has put Stirling, and surrounding area on the map. Born in Belleville on June 8, 1968, Ray grew up in Stirling, hitting the ice in the Stirling Minor Hockey system at age 3 and joining a travelling team at age 5. Moving on to the Trenton Bob Cats, Whitby Lawmen, and OHL’s Cornwall Royals, he turned pro with the Rochester Americans. After 2 seasons with the Americans, Ray joined the Buffalo Sabres, staying for 14 years, before ending his career with the Ottawa Senators in 2003-04. He played 900 regular season games and 55 playoff games in the NHL. Regular season totals included 41 goals, 50 assists and 3207 minutes in penalties. As his broadcasting partner – Brian Duff – said, “Rob took the hard way to the NHL, taking on all comers…as evidenced by his position as #6 all time in NHL penalty minutes.”

Ray has a major presence in Buffalo. He received the 1999 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player best exemplifying leadership qualities on and off the ice, while making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. He received the NHL Foundation Player Award the same year.

Rob continues to give back in Western New York through involvement with police and volunteers who work to make Christmas a special time for needy families. Support for the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo has resulted in “The Rob Ray Room”. Roswell Cancer Institute, March of Dimes, Make a Wish Foundation, the Rob Ray Scholarship Program and the Sabres Alumni Program exemplify his community involvement.

Locally, he continues to be a strong supporter of the “Friends of Stirling Golf Tournament” which raises funds for Stirling Minor Hockey and various charities. - 2017, athlete, hockey, individual,

“Shorty” Jenkins – Inducted 2017

C. W. “Shorty” Jenkins was born in Hanna, Alberta in 1935. At age 17 he joined the Canadian Armed Forces, eventually ending up at CFB Trenton.

After retiring from the forces, he became groundskeeper at Trenton Golf Club and, in 1966, became ice-maker at their curling facility. Thus began the career of arguably the best – and best known – ice technician and rock expert the world has ever known.

Self-taught, Shorty developed innovative ice-scraping and pebbling techniques that became adopted universally. Experimenting with rocks, he pioneered blue-printing running surfaces to match rocks and determine optimum size surfaces and rock weights for the best performance. Wearing his trademark pink Stetson, Shorty contributed his knowledge and talents to competitions and clinics world-wide. His suggested standards are now followed everywhere. He also introduced the use of stopwatches to curling.

During all this he was greens superintendent at Trenton Golf Club, then Bay of Quinte C.C. and finally Kingston’s Cataraqui C.C.

When Shorty passed away in Trenton in April 2013, champion curlers called him “the most influential ice-maker ever,” a “legend” who was “years ahead of his time.”

Shorty was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in the Builder Category in 2001. - 2017, curling, individual,

Joel Carr-Braint – Inducted 2017

The Apollo Bar Bell Club has an outstanding record of turning out weight lifters who have succeeded at the highest levels and previously been inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame. The latest is Joel Carr – Braint.

Born in Belleville in 1955, Joel carried on a family tradition in the sport of Olympic Style Weightlifting. His achievements and awards are numerous.

He has been a member of the Apollo Barbell Club for over 25 years.

Joel is an 18 time Canadian Masters Olympic Weightlifting Champion, has represented Canada at the Pan American Masters for 13 years – winning the Gold Medal in 2010, Silver Medals 7 times and the Bronze Medal 3 times. He has also represented his country at the World Weightlifting Championships twice, achieving a pair of 4^th place finishes.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Joel was inducted into the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2007. He has been recognized numerous times by the City of Belleville for “Outstanding Athletic Achievement” and for winning the Silver Medal in the 2008 Pan American Games Masters Weight Lifting Championships.

When not in competition, Joel has given back to his sport by serving as the Vice President and President of the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Association, Secretary of the Pan American Masters Weightlifting Association, representing Canada on the Pan American Masters Management Board, and assisting with the coaching and development of Athletes at the Apollo Club.

Joel resides in Madoc, with his wife Marjorie. They have 3 children – Brad, Katrina and Adam – along with 8 grandchildren.

2017, individual, weightlifting,

1962 Belleville Kenmors – Inducted 2017

In the late 1950s and early 60s, the Belleville Kenmors were a force in Ontario baseball. The team won league and Ontario Championships, and established themselves as one of the finest collection of baseball players in Ontario.

Most of the players got their start in the Belleville Minor Baseball Association, moving on as age required to higher levels of competition, culminating in playing in the Senior “A” ranks – the highest level of baseball in Ontario at that time. And throughout that time the majority of the players on the various teams were the same group that had started in minor baseball.

The Kenmors won 2 Provincial Championships, the Junior in 1960, and the Senior in 1962. Added to this were 2 Provincial Runner-up’s in Junior and one Provincial Runner-up in Senior. No Belleville Team has ever repeated what the Kenmors accomplished.

The Kenmors Team – then known as the Joyces – disbanded in 1969, after again coming close to an Ontario Championship in the Inter County Baseball League.

The Kenmors Baseball Team was a group of “home-grown talent,” with many of the players still residing in the Belleville area. Their careers after Baseball included significant business accomplishments, contributions to the local sporting scene and accomplishments in a range of sports. Four of the team members have previously been inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame – Larry Mavety, Rick Locke, Ken Soden and Pete Weston.

The Kenmors were truly a great group of athletes who made Belleville proud.

Back Row – Sid Forster, Larry Mavety, Stan Reid, Moe Hunter, Larry Soden, Gary Goyer, Jack Elliott.

Middle Row – Ken Soden, Rick Locke, Gord Vaughan, Bill Latchford, Larry Soule, Pat Asselstine, Vic Morris

Front Row – Bob Follwell, Gary Duggan, David Long, Bill Moxam, Claude Carr - 2017, baseball, team,

2018

James Hurst

James Hurst has a passion for sports. Born in Belleville in 1945, James has spent a lifetime involved in a wide range of sporting activities. His involvement with the Belleville Minor Football League, the Wellington Dukes Hockey Team, the Belleville Bulls Hockey Team, enshrining the legacy of the Belleville McFarlands and in establishing the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 are just part of what has made James one of the best-known sport personalities in Belleville and Prince Edward County. He has been a Coach, a Manager, an Administrator, a Sports Writer and a Sports Historian. His collection of Sports Memorabilia is world renowned and reportedly helped to pay the costs of putting his children through University.

James has written for the Belleville Intelligencer, the Trentonian, the Canadian Sportscard Collector, the Queen’s University Journal and the Picton Gazette. He still writes a weekly column for the Wellington Times.

His volunteer contributions are endless, including with the Canadian Cancer Society, Doors Open Ontario, the Bayshore Credit Union, the Prince Edward Country Marathon…the list is endless. His volunteer efforts have been recognized with the Bruce Dobson Memorial Award, the Canada 150 Medallion in 2017, a Canadian Cancer Society Service Award for the 1975 Terry Fox Run and the Canadian Blood Services and Red Cross Award.

James lives in Wellington, Ontario with his wife Joanne and has 3 children – Arthur, Jane and David.

2018, builder, contributions, individual,

Brian Price

Born in Belleville in 1976, Brian Price went on to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement – a Gold Medal in Men’s Eights rowing in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

He began his rowing career while a student at Moira SS, joining the Quinte Rowing Club in 1995. In 1998 he joined the National Rowing Team. Being slight in stature, the role of Coxswain was a natural for Brian and he was at the top of the world in this position for over a decade.

His storied career includes 3 Gold Medals in the World Rowing Championships, 5 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Medal in the World Rowing Cup, 3 Gold Medals in the Royal Henley Regatta and participating in 3 Olympic Games. In men’s eights, the Canadian Team won a Silver Medal in the 2012 London Games and the Gold Medal in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Brian’s excellence has been recognized by his home town where he was the 2004 and 2008 Belleville Athlete of the Year. He was also awarded the 2007 and 2008 Rowing International Achievement Award. In 2008 his team entered the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, was the CBC Team of the Year and received the Rowing Canada Order of Merit. In 2012 Brian was awarded the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Brian resides in Orangeville with his wife Robbi. They have 2 children – Victoria and Brianna. He currently is active as a Motivational Speaker, his major topic being ‘ Cancer Survivor to Olympic Champion.’

2018, athlete, individual, rowing,

Andrew Raycroft

Born in Belleville in 1980, Andrew Raycroft showed his potential in hockey while advancing through the Belleville Minor Hockey system. He started as a 6 year old as a defenseman in the Belleville House League, moved on to being a forward for 2 years on Belleville’s AA Team, then at age 9 decided that he wanted to be a goalie. A good decision. He played on Quinte AAA teams to the age of 16, then joined the Wellington Dukes before being drafted by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. After 2 seasons with the Wolves, Andrew was drafted by the Boston Bruins. The Wolves traded Andrew to the Kingston Frontenacs and as a member of the 1999-2000 Frontenacs, Andrew made the OHL First All-Star Team, was selected as the OHL Gold Tender of the Year, and won the Red Tilson Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the league. He also made the First All-Star Team for the Canadian Hockey League, as well as being the Goal Tender of the Year.

In the National Hockey League, Raycroft won the 2003-2004 Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year and was selected to the All Rookie Team the same year. Andrew went on to play 280 games in the National Hockey League with Boston, Toronto, Colorado, Vancouver and Dallas and finished his career with seasons in Italy and Sweden. Following his retirement he relocated to the Boston area.

Andrew currently resides in Wellesley Hills, MA with his wife Erin. They have 3 children – Mason, Declan and Everly. He is very active with the Boston Bruins Alumni Association raising money for charity. He also works to promote the game of hockey and appears on NESN as an in-game analyst. - 2018, athlete, hockey, individual,

Terry Wellesley

In 1966 the Quinte Saints Football Team was a force in Ontario, winning the COSSA Championship and leading many to wonder if they were perhaps the finest High School Football Team in Belleville’s history. Leading the team was Terry Wellesley who parlayed his high school career into the opportunity to play NCAA Division 1 football at the University of Colorado and Tennessee Tech.

Following his college career, Terry went on to a solid 7-year career in the Canadian Football League, including 2 years with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and 5 years with the Ottawa Rough Riders. As a rookie with the 1970 Rough Riders, Wellesley had a career game rushing for 159 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns – a Canadian rookie record. The highlight of his football career was playing with the 1973 Grey Cup Champion Ottawa Rough Riders.

Terry retired in 1976 and entered the Financial Services business, spending time in key assignments in Japan and Australia, while being recognized in the Top 25 Business Executives on Business Travel in North America in 2009. He retired from the Bank of Montreal in 2014 and currently resides in King City with his wife Kathy. He is an avid supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. - 2018, athlete, football, individual,

Dennis Stark

Dennis Stark could really run. Born in Toronto in 1961, his family eventually relocated to Belleville in 1975, with Dennis attending Quinte Secondary School. It was at Quinte SS where he began his rise to prominence as a Cross Country runner. At the high school level his accomplishments included 4 gold medals at the OFSAA Track and Field Competitions. He represented Canada in two IAAF Junior Cross Country Championships, finishing as high as 4th in the world.

His success at the high school level opened the door for Dennis to receive a 4 year Scholarship to East Tennessee University, where he won 4 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Races and earned All American honours in 1981, 1982 and 1983. He won 3 consecutive Southern Conference Cross Country Championships and made the All Conference Team each of those years. At the 1983 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship he was selected as the Most Outstanding Athlete.

In 1981 Dennis competed in the Canada Summer Games, winning the 1500 and 5000 meter races and established Canada Games Records in both.

Dennis remains as the most decorated distance runner in the Quinte Region. - 2018, athlete, individual,

1988 Belleville Enright Midget Girls Softball team

Provincial Women's Softball Champions, 1988 national silver medalist at the Canadian Midget Girls Championship

2019

1998-99 Belleville Bulls

1998-1999 was a magical year for the Belleville Bulls Ontario Hockey League Team. Under the ownership of the Vaughan Family and with coach Lou Crawford behind the bench, the Bulls won the Ontario Hockey League Championship and advanced to the Memorial Cup.

On the way to the Memorial Cup the team and individuals won the Bobby Orr Trophy (Eastern Conference), the J. Ross Robertson Trophy (OHL), the Leo Lalonde Trophy (Overage Player of the Year – Ryan Ready) and the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award (MVP of the Playoffs – Justin Papineau).

At the Memorial Cup Belleville went 2 and 1, losing in the semi-finals to Ottawa who went on to win the Championship. Goalie Cory Campbell won the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the top goalie, with Campbell and Glenn Crawford being selected to the Tournament All Star Team.

In 2019 local film producers – Aaron and Angela Bell of LOT48 Film Company – released the Documentary Movie ‘Charging Bulls’ to memorialize the 1998-1999 season.

2019,