1997 BELLEVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

  • Laurence "Gilly" Goyer

    ATHLETE, HOCKEY

  • Earnest "Patty" Maracle

    ATHLETE, SOFTBALL

  • Richard "Rick" Meagher

    ATHLETE, HOCKEY

  • Dr. Tom Woodley

    BUILDER, MULTI-SPORT

LAURENCE “Gilly” GOYER

ATHLETE, HOCKEY

The name Goyer is prominent in Belleville sporting history and in the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame. But, “Gilly” Goyer's last name could have been Smith or Jones and his accomplishments would still have earned him a place in the city's sporting memory. His accomplishments on the ice are even more amazing considering the fact he achieved many of them after losing three fingers on his right hand below the knuckle after a duck hunting accident. He would play 11 years in the American Hockey League, at the time just a step down from the National Hockey League. Several of those seasons he would be named an All Star. Goyer began his hockey career in his home town, playing with the Belleville Juniors in 1920 and then junior in Woodstock and Guelph. From there he moved on to New Haven of the Eastern United States League in 1927. Known as Larry, he spent three seasons (1928-30) with the American Hockey League's St. Louis Flyers, amazingly leading the league in scoring each year. Goyer spent the 1931 season with Tulsa and in 1932 returned home to Belleville to coach the city's Ontario Hockey Association junior team to the league playoff finals. He returned to playing in 1933-34 and with the St. Paul-Minnesota team in the Central League again led a league in scoring. It was back to coaching in 1935 with the Belleville juniors, then a year playing minor pro in Pontiac, Mich. Goyer returned to his amateur roots in 1938, playing with the Wellington Quintes of the Prince Edward Hockey League, where, what else, he led the league in scoring. Goyer was a consummate stick handler and playmaker who it can safely be said would have played in the NHL in later years. He was also, like many other fine hockey players, also a top flight baseball player. He played centerfield and pitched with the Wellington team in the Prince Edward County Baseball League when they won a championship in 1929. The outstanding hockey and ball player was also known to be generous to a fault and he also counselled younger players both as a junior coach and after his retirement from the game. Goyer never married. He passed away in 1962.

ERNEST “Patty” MARACLE

ATHLETE, SOFTBALL

Whenever old timers get together to talk about fastball, once Quinte's king of summer sports, the name Patty Maracle is sure to come up. He may well have been fastball's answer to Gordie Howe, and then some. Like the hockey great, Maracle combined excellence in his game with incredible longevity. While Maracle is best remembered as perhaps the finest pitcher ever produced in this area, he was also a fine hockey player who was still lacing on the blades well into his 70's. Born in Belleville on May 4, 1917 he would live his life in the Deseronto area and father eight children, many of whom carried on his athletic endeavours. Maracle pitched at least one perfect game and tales of his match-ups with Peterborough legend Ray Judd tell of two men who were at the pinnacle of the game. The righthander toiled for a number of local teams, but most notably for the powerhouse Point Anne Cementmen who dominated not just locally but across the province. He also hurled for teams in Belleville, Trenton and other area centres. A Mohawk, Maracle also led teams from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory to competitions far afield, always excelling. The City of Trenton, recognizing his contributions both in fastball and hockey, gave him a day and he was feted by local businessmen. Maracle also enjoyed horseshoes, bowling and pool. At the age of 68 he was still pitching, and pitching well, for a team in Kaladar. And, at 73 he was still playing hockey with one of his sons. When Maracle wasn't confounding hitters or defencemen he was a welder for 35 years at the Point Anne Cement Plant. Patty Maracle passed away in April, 1991 at the age of 73.

RICHARD “Rick” MEAGHER

ATHLETE, HOCKEY

First Rick Meagher was too small. Then, he was too old. That's what the critics said, first about his chances of playing in the National Hockey League and then about his chances of sticking later. Of course, Rick Meagher made a practice of proving his critics wrong. Indeed, the Belleville native enjoyed a fine NHL career, capped by capturing the Frank Selke Award as the league's top defensive forward in 1990 and several seasons as captain of the St. Louis Blues. Meagher got his start in the Belleville Minor Hockey Association and then made a name for himself locally with the Junior "B" Belleville Bobcats, being named rookie of the year his first season. Meanwhile, he was starring in football at Quinte Secondary School and on local baseball diamonds. His ability with and without the puck caught the eye of U.S. university scouts and Meagher went on to Boston University, where he would be an All American three times and become a school hockey legend, along with brothers Terry and Tony. He's now in the school's Hall of Fame and was named Athlete of Decade at Boston University for the 1970's. Signed as a free agent by the power house Montreal Canadiens he eventually made the Habs in 1979 after several fine seasons in the American Hockey League. In 1978-79 he scored 35 goals for the Habs farm team in Halifax. From there he went to the Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils and finally St. Louis. In all he would play 12 seasons in the NHL and would be fan favourite in every city he played in for his tireless efforts. In 1981-82 Meagher had his best offensive season in the NHL, scoring 24 times for Hartford. On the baseball diamond he starred with the senior Cornerstone Blues and in the South Hastings Baseball League. As if that weren't enough, Meagher is also a champion off the ice. For the past 10 years he has given his name and time to the Rick Meagher-3M Benefit Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $400,000 for handicapped kids in the Quinte area. Since retiring from the game he's been a coach, radio analyst and scout in the Blues organization. He is the son of Al Meagher and the late Doreen.

DR. TOM WOODLEY

BUILDER, MULTI-SPORT

Where do you begin to describe the accomplishments of Belleville's Dr. Tom Woodley? On the tennis courts? The soccer fields? Or on the ice? What other man can honestly be called one of the founding fathers of not one, but two sports in this city - soccer and tennis. Born in Belleville in 1926, Woodley was educated at Queen Mary and Belleville Collegiate before studying medicine at Queen's University in Kingston. He returned to his hometown after graduation and set up a practice he continues to this day. Almost immediately he became involved in the Quinte Tennis Club and played a leading role in transforming the club's playing surface from crushed rock to clay. In the 1970's he would turn to soccer and specifically the Belleville Youth Soccer Club. When Woodley began about 300 children in Belleville were involved in the game. In 1997 that number had climbed to 1,400. Not just an organizer, Woodley was also a top notch soccer official. Woodley has also worked at just about every level for the Belleville Minor Hockey Association, including acting as a coach, referee and sponsor. He was also an Ontario Minor Hockey Association trainer instructor. From 1975 to 1988 he was president of the Quinte Tennis Club and from 1977 to 1987 he assumed the same role with Belleville Minor Soccer. Woodley was president of the Bay of Quinte Soccer League for two years and a referee. Like many other "builders" in the Hall, Woodley gave of his time freely and asked for nothing in return except his enjoyment of the game, or in his case, games. His family includes wife Frances and sons Brian, Robert, Glen, Scott, Alan, Larry and Mark and daughter Lynne.