1964 Hespeler Jr “C” Hockey Club
When the Hespeler Junior C Shamrocks were presented with the Clarence Schmalz Cup at the conclusion ofthe 1964 hockey season, they had achieved all they had set out to do from the start -, namely, win the Ontario championship. They were all smiles as they set out for Lindsay that year to play the final […]
John Rothwell
It was his work that brought Toronto-born John Rothwell to Preston in October 1966 (by way of London and Winnipeg), and from the start, he was impressed with what he saw. On the move in those early years due to his job — he worked for K-Mart — soon after arriving in Preston a couple […]
Amanda Overland
As the younger sister of Kevin (Crockett) and Cindy Overland, Amanda Overland literally grew up on long blades with the Cambridge Speed Skating Club. And while her older siblings eventually moved exclusively into long track, Amanda, though dabbling with long track like most of her clubmates when they had an opportunity, stuck with short track. […]
Andrew Hurd
Cambridge-born swimmer Andrew Hurd had the honour of representing Canada at three Olympic Games as well as swimming in the World Aquatic Championships, the Pan Pacific Games and Pan Pacific Championships. Hurd, whose father swam competitively for Queens University, got his start in the sport as an eight-year-old. Following graduation from Oakville Trafalgar high school, […]
Galt Nationals Little League baseball
It was a memorable summer for all of humankind because of the Moon landing, but for a young group of boys representing the Galt Minor Baseball Association, the summer of 1969 was much more. That was the year the Galt Nationals Little League baseball team became Ontario champions, thrilling their families and indeed, the entire […]
Gerry Hopcraft
A legend in fastball circles, he was perhaps the most talented player to ever play in the Inter-City Fastball League. Record sportswriter Tom Conaway always pegged Hopcraft to be one of the premiere pitchers in the country during his heyday in the Inter-City Fastball League. Teammate Bruce Carswell said Hopcraft was one of the few […]
Rob Hedges
Growing up in Galt, Rob Hedges couldn’t help develop an early attachment to two Canadian sports shrines, both of which were in his hometown. Today, after 40 years of active involvement in minor sport as a volunteer, those shrines remain a big part of his life. Dickson Park has been called Fenway of the North, […]
Galt Robin Hoods Jr. Baseball
How good were the Galt Robin Hoods junior baseball team from the late 1920s and the early 1930s? As good as they get. Managed by Laurie Poore and coached for portions of that era by Robert (Bush) McWhirter — George Heggie was the assistant manager — the Robin Hoods boasted some of the best young […]
Louie DeBrusk
Born in Cambridge, where an earlier DeBrusk (Verne) had made a name for himself in local sports circles, Louie DeBrusk would go on to have a notable NHL career. In 1989, Louie, a fast skating and hard-nosed left-winger, was selected 49th in the 3rd round by the NHL’s New York Rangers and carved out a […]
Nathan Brennan
When Nathan (“Nate”) Brannen retired from competitive running, he had won the respect of competitors the world over, having competed in three Olympic Games. And although he carved out a world-class middle-distance running career, when growing up in Preston it was hockey that first captivated him. He and his friends were all athletic, and like […]