By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Announced last March, a sixth group of inductees was welcomed to the Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame June 20.
The tradition continues of piper Mary Ito leading the march of the inductees into the ballroom at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre, with a town crier getting the evening started.
Alnwick-Halidmand Township crier Liam Cragg did the honours with ringing voice and bell.
“The deeds of our honourees impact not just their family and friends, but also members of their community. Their accomplishments are discussed in detail, with much pride,” Cragg sang out.
“There is nothing do heated as rivalries between rural teams and schools, only miles away from each other. Great competition makes for a wonderful catalyst to succeed.”
Jennifer Ashley Dalgarno
The recipient of the evening’s only standing ovation, Dalgarno was nicknamed “Cobourg’s Ms. Everything” by Ron McLean.
Her sports career in her home community encompassed playing, coaching, teaching, serving on executive committees, mentoring and volunteering – and it all began on the Tony’s Pizza all-star fastball team that, in 1977, captured the Ontario Bantam B Championship.
In 1980, she began her 11-year stint with the the renowned Cobourg Angels, helping them to four provincial championships.
She started her rep hockey career in Cobourg, before joining the Rice Lake Rebels and winning two provincial OWHS championships with them in the 1980s. She was valedictorian in the CDCI West Class of 1982, then on to the University of Toronto to get Physical and Health Education and teaching degrees.
At the U of T, she played varsity hockey with the Lady Blues and won four OUAA provincial championships – she also rowed varsity in her first year. Post-university, she won eight more provincial OWHA hockey championships with Cobourg teams (four as player, four as coach).
She has coached hockey for more than 30 years, as well as such sports as track and field, fast pitch and basketball.
Her CCI girls’ team earned the OFSAA Sportsmanship Sward in 2016 and finished fourth in the province.
In Master Sports, she had been a three-time gold medalist in women’s softball with the Canadian Free Spirits (in Australia, Italy and New Zealand). She won an Ontario 55+ provincial hockey championship and three track-and-field gold medals at the 2024 Canada 55+ games (shot put, discus and javelin).
She was the 2024 Ontario Masters Throws Triathlon champion and won a Master’s Women’s slo-pitch provincial championship. She has also competed provincially in broomball and volleyball.
Dalgarno volunteers he time for countless events, initiatives and executive boards, and some of her proudest moments have been her major volunteer roles at events like the Parapan Am Games, Invictus Games, World Junior A Challenge, RBC Cup, 55+ Ontario Games and officiating at OFSSS.
In 2015, she won Cobourg’s Layton Dodge Athletic Award for her “contribution to Cobourg’s Athletic Community in terms of skill, sportsmanship, participation and leadership.”
Dalgarno shared memories of the Cobourg Legion Softball organization, which was the first team she played on. Her parents later put together the Creighton Heights Smilies.
“I would never have had such a rich athletic experience if not for you both,” she said.
“We were amazing – such an athletic family,” she added, listing such pursuits as biking, swimming, fishing and fort-building in the woods in addition to organized sports. She paid a special tribute to one of them.
“Hockey! Oh hockey, how you have enriched my life. You have been a constant in my life since I was 10 years old. The countless friends in my life is mainly because of you.”
To her three daughters, she said, “My years coaching you were among the richest years of my life,” adding that she now had a grandson staring his own pursuits.
She began coaching community sports 30 years ago, as well as during her years teaching at CDCI West, calling the experience “one of the greatest blessings of my life. The people I have volunteered with have touched my heart in ways I cannot even begin to convey.”
Her final thought was to share thing she has learned.
“Take a chance – my whole life would have been so different if I hadn’t.
“Be yourself. Enjoy the moment, and don’t get hung up on people who can’t love you for being you.
“Given the choice between doing something and not doing something, do something. It will enrich your life.
“And finally, experiences are made great by the people you share them with.”
Bruce Covert
Chances are, if you played a competitive game of basketball in the last five decades – locally, provincially or even at national level – Covert refereed at least one of them. As a CDCI East student, he loved football and basketball, but eventually turned his attention to the officiating side of things in a distinguished 50-year career.
He was one of the founding members of the Cobourg Board of Basketball Official and, over the year, served in a variety of executive roles as well. Provincially, he was a 30-year member of the OUA Basketball Panel and a designated crew chief for 24 of them.
He refereed more than 600 OUA league and exhibition games, more than 75 OUA playoff games and 12 Wilson Cup OUA men’s provincial championship games.
He has officiated for 40 years in the OCAA and worked four OCAA men’s provincial championship.
Covert officiated 10 OFSAA high school championships. Nationally, he officiated 16 championship tournaments. 14 U Sport Men’s, one Premier Men, one Premier Women, officiating four gold medal games and two consolation finals.
As well, from 2010 to 2016, he had a six-year stint with the National Basketball League of Canada.
Internationally, he officiated at the 1985 World Masters Games in Toronto. For 10 years, he refereed games involving Canada against other countries travelling throughout Ontario.
He also officiated the Iqaluit Aboriginal Games, the Barbados Invitational and the Nassau Bombay Shootout.
In 2012, he became only the seventh Canadian official to be awarded IAABO Life Membership.
In addition to on-the-court work, Covert has served a an OUA supervisor, a provincial and national evaluator and, most importantly, as a mentor to fellow officials.
For 25 years, he was the director of all OABO summer camps, training more than 1,000 OAVO officials (including more than 90% of the current OUA and OCAS officials in Ontario, plus countless other officials from outside the province).
In 2016, he received the John A. (Wink) Willox Award from the Canadian Association of Basketball Officials in recognition of “outstanding contributions made to basketball and basketball officiating.”
He also received the Ontario Association of Basketball officials Life Membership, the highest award the association can give.
Such a list of accomplishments may sound formidable, Covert told the audience, but “you hang around long enough, you do enough stuff, it will accumulate.”
In all his dreams of the athletic feats he might accomplish, Covert said, “never once in all those dreams did I dream about being an official.”
Then, after graduating from teacher’s college, he was offered a position in Red Lake that required him to coach and referee as well.
“My training consisted of going to the phys ed office, finding an old rule book somewhere, skimming it two or three days, and reffing my first game Friday night – I found myself kind of enjoying it.
“By the end of that season, basketball reffing was something I wanted to do.”
Covert was able to move back to home base when he got a job teaching at the former Brookside youth correctional facility that offered him flexible time arrangements in order to travel to pursue this new interest of his.
He gave special thanks to three people – Ray Bickle, Roger Wakeman and Jim Bradford.
“They all had a huge, huge passion for living, and we all had a work ethic that we wanted to be as good as we could be. They taught me professionalism. They taught me to be a rules expert, to listen first and talk second, and to be confident but not arrogant.
“Most important, this is a job that needs to be taken seriously, but you need to have fun while you are doing it.”
Covert said the support of his family had made an invaluable difference to his ability to do this important work with their “unconditional acceptance and understanding of my passion for officiating, my drive to be the best and the time it took to get to that place.”
Bill “Cowboy” Elliott
Work brought Elliott to this community in 1964, but he spent his youth near Ivey, Ontario, playing baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter.
In Cobourg, he found a fastball team in need of a catcher, which led him to a goalkeeper’s slot in the Cobourg Mercantile Hockey League.
He would be a fixture on both teams for the next three decades, as well as in countless dart leagues, bowling teams, and horseshoe and golf tournaments.
In demand as a fastball catcher, he played for the Oshawa Tony’s team that won a Senior A Men’s Fastball title in 1978.
Two years later, he was part of the Cold Springs Cats team that won a Senior A provincial championship – then finished in fourth place in the nationals in Saskatchewan, where he set a record for most put-outs in one day.
He also played with the Masters version of the Cold Springs Cats that won three consecutive Canadian Men’s Fastball titles, starting in 1995.
For many, however, Elliott will always be remembered as a tireless advocate for local sports, and his fundraising skills were legendary.
Wherever he was, a 50-50 draw ticket or charitable euchre tournament would follow.
As a result, he raised thousands of dollars for local hockey and baseball teams, various community causes, and individuals in need.
The words “no” and “can’t” were not in his vocabulary, and he would seldom wait for someone to take the initiative on a pressing need if he could fill that role.
In 2021, Elliott was recognized for all his work through the years with Cobourg’s Citizen of the Year Award for giving his talent, his energy and his time to the community.
On Elliott’s behalf, his brother Don, daughter Judy and wife Shelley accepted the honour.
Don called him “a great competitor, a good sport and a great teammate.”
“Here’s to you, Dad – my heart is literally exploding,” Judy said.
“When it came to sport, you were over the top and all in.
“You possess an electrifying and contagious energy that made everyone around you want to take part or witness what you were orchestrating.”
She praised his “endless room and time for everyone.”
Lionel “Tut” Gutteridge
When Gutteridge passed away in 1991, Cobourg Daily Star sports writer Layton Dodge (who was among the first group inducted into the CDSHF) wrote that he left “an indelible mark om the fabric of sports in our town…it was his efforts as a volunteer administrator that set him apart from the crowd and led to his touching a lot of people.”
A lifelong resident of this community (aside from his military service in World War II), he racked up an immense list of volunteer positions and contributions.
A founding member of Cobourg Legion Minor Softball in 1957, he also served as the association’s first president in 1960 – and for more than 20 years as their equipment manager.
His time and administrative talents were also put to good use as an executive member of Cobourg Community Hockey League, including serving as president, acting as referee and (with his wife Gladys) being the gatekeeper for Cobourg Cougars home games.
These years of volunteer service earned him the Cobourg Legion Branch 133 Certificate of Merit for 30 years of service to minor sports.
He was also bestowed the status of Lifetime Member of both Cobourg Legion Minor Softball and the Cobourg Community Hockey League (which named its House League coach-of-the-year trophy in his honour).
It should also be noted that he was a skilled golfer, claiming the Dalewood Golf and Country Club’s Senior Championship six times out of the first nine years of the event.
Soon after his passing, based on Layton Dodge’s suggestion, the park near his home – formerly known as the Stuart Street Park – was renamed the Lionel “Tut” Gutteridge Memorial Park.
Dodge also wrote of how Gutteridge had been “miffed” in his later years when the Legion softball executive began not assigning him any specific duties because of his health problems.
“Even then, he still wanted to contribute. That’s the kind of doer he truly was,” Dodge wrote.
“To the very end, we respected “Tut” Gutteridge for all he accomplished and what he stood for.
We were proud to consider him a friend.
We shall miss him. Cobourg will seem a little poorer, a little emptier now that he had gone to a better place, but his legacy will live on here forever.”
On Gutteridge’s behalf, Janice Gervais said that his enthusiasm for young people’s sports was not just because of his own family.
“He thought the more time they spent at the ball field and rink was less time they would get in trouble on the street,” Gervais said.
It meant a lot to him to see his children and grandchildren playing in the program he founded – and now his great-grandchildren are enjoying that privilege as well.
Craig Minifie
If anyone should have his own chapter in the history of Cobourg’s Men’s Town Fastball League, Minifie would be the one with his rare combination of power-hitting and defensive prowess.
In the league’s 48-year history, he is the all-time leader in hits (473), runs (288), home runs (65) doubles (68) and RBIs (274), while ranking third all-time in games played (471).
And then there’s the seven Cobourg Town League championships as well. Minifie won the league’s Most Valuable Player trophy on five separate occasions (1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2000), all while playing for the Grafton Jays. He also played in the Port Hope-Cobourg City League, where he won a championship.
The schedule he kept often saw him playing five fastball games a week in multiple positions, from the pitching mound to the outfield.
In 1981, Minifie was chosen by the Hamilton Township League as the player best combining sportsmanship and ability, winning the Pete Baker Memorial Trophy.
Farther afield, he starred for the Rutherflo team that won the 1994 Men’s Intermediate B championship, the 1995 Men’s Intermediate A championship, the 1997 NAFA World Series AA championship (where he was named to the All-World Team), the 1998 Eastern Canadian Intermediate B championship and the 1999 Eastern Canadian Men’s Intermediate A championship.
With Colborne’s Master Team, he added to his trophy case with the Canadian Master’s championship in 2004 and 2005 and the Provincial Master’s championship in 2006.
He then joined the Cobourg Force and won the Ontario Master’s championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2014, he helped the Cobourg Force win the ISC World Over 50 Tournament.
And when the won the 2015 ASA Master’s championship, Minifie was named to the All-American team as well as leading the tournament in home runs.
In 2017, he had the honour of being elected to the Ontario Master’s Fastball Hall of Fame.
“To the coaches who challenged me, believed in me, you pushed me to be better and encouraged me to get better,” Minifie said.
Looking back and realizing he played softball in six decades, “I was so fortunate to be able to play the game at many different levels, the game I loved.”
“This is just a reminder just how powerful sports can be. It builds character, it builds community and inspires future generations.
If my journey has done that, even in a small way, I consider that an accomplishment.”
Denine Page
Denine Page began her figure-skating career at the age of seven, performing her first solo just two years later at the Cobourg Figure Skating Club’s annual skating show Carnival.
By age 12, she was skating seven days a week, dividing her time between her home club in Cobourg and the Oshawa and Belleville skating clubs (where she would also give solo performances in their annual shows, often as the youngest performer on the program).
This demanding routine continued for a few years as she travelled to skating schools throughout the province and beyond.
In the summer of 1969, she was at the Banff School of Fine Arts, where she attended classes (such as ballet) to improve her skills.
Over the years, she has passed an astounding 24 Skate Canada Dance Tests, as well as four Free Skate Tests.
She graduated from high school in 1973 and began working for her father at the Cobourg Lumber Company, and on Saturdays at the Cobourg YMCA coaching gymnastics – but never giving up skating.
She was hired by the Cobourg Figure Skating Club to coach evenings and weekends in the winter months, which eventually forced her to focus her time and effort on coaching and to join the Y on a full-time basis.
In 1975, she was approached by a group of parents in the Baltimore area for help in launching their own figure-skating club.
She took the lead in working with Skate Canada to get the new club sanctioned (which she accomplished in 1976), and she has been a volunteer with the Baltimore Figure Skating Club ever since, spending countless hours spearheading the organization.
As a coach, Page has received 67 certifications and has seen a number of her skaters qualify to compete at All-Ontario championships.
Her impact on the local figure-skating scene for almost six decades had been enormous, and her impact on so many prospective figure skaters has been immeasurable, providing a lifetime of cherished memories for so many.
“I would not have embraced the sport of figure skating if it was not for my mom, Barbara Gillespie,” Page said – signing her up for figure-skating lesson, helping with the activities, making the dresses and costumes.
“She spent hours in the fabric store.”
Her next-biggest supporter was her husband of almost 50 years.
“He pretty much knew, between September and April, I was pretty much in an arena, coaching skating.”
She also praised the hundreds of parents she has seen give their children the opportunity to learn skating, especially as they head into the 49th year of the skating group.
“And I am very proud to see us going into a season where we are supporting another provincial competition and we have second-generation coming to our group.”
Gerald “Dick” Turpin
Turpin was a quiet man, a simple man one might overlook – but walking in downtown Cobourg, he would bump into countless former players delighted to see him and address him.
And he especially loved it when they called him “Coach.”
Over the course of more than 30 years spent coaching and mentoring hundreds of players in the Cobourg Legion Minor Softball League (as well as serving in an executive role), Turpin spent countless hours on and off the diamond teaching the fine art of softball and lessons in life.
A well-respected and talented player himself, he was well versed in the art of laying down a bunt and using his speed to make his mark.
And he took just as much pride driving the fire engine in the annual Summer Sports Parade as he did coaching his 1967 Winchester Juveniles to an OASA championship and the 1968 Hillier’s Juniors to a provincial championship (to name only two of his many championship teams).
In 1993, the OASA recognized Turpin’s outstanding contributions by awarding him the F.R. Feaver Memorial Trophy.
In addition, Cobourg Legion Minor Softball created the Dick Turpin Award, given annually to a player that best exemplifies sportsmanship and dedication.
Running concurrently with his involvement in local softball, Turpin starred in the Cobourg Men’s Bowling League, excelling in five-pin.
Turpin loved his family, his community, the game of softball and the kids that he coached – all of which were a little richer because of him.
Representing Turpin, Leslie Ahee said, “Dad would have been so proud – giving so much quietly, humbly and wholeheartedly.
“It was about creating opportunity, encouraging growth and instilling values like sportsmanship, teamwork and commitment.”
Justin Williams
There are few more appropriate nicknames than Justin Williams’s Mr. Game 7.
He earned it well by playing in nine Game 7 NHL playoff games in which his team sported an 8-1 record.
He currently is tied for most-ever goals in these games (seven) and has the outright record for most game-seven points (15).
Born in Cobourg in 1981, he was drafted in the first round (28th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyer in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2004, his NHL career blossomed.
That spring, he was chosen to represent Canada in the 2004 HHF World Championships in Prague and returned with a gold medal.
Two years later, with Carolina, he set career highs with 31 goals, 45 assists and 76 points in the regular season – before adding 18 points in 25 playoff games that spring, helping his team to a Stanley Cup.
He made his first appearance in an NHL All-Star Game at the 2007 game in Dallas, and also played for Canada in the 2007 HHF World Championships (in which he won his second gold medal).
Traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2009, he scored 15 points in the 2012 playoffs, helping the Kings win their first Stanley Cup (and his second).
Williams won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the 2014 playoffs, where he won his third Stanley Cup (a second one for the Kings).
He scored nine goals and 15 assists during the playoffs, including points in all three of the team’s Game 7s along the way.
2017 saw him return to the Hurricanes, where he was named Captain the following year.
In October 2020, he announced his retirement from the NHL after 19 seasons and, in 2024, he was inducted into the Carolina Hurricanes Hall of Fame.
Despite all his success, Williams has never forgotten where he came from, raising money for Northumberland Hills Hospital, lending his name and time to local youth hockey camps and – most notably – bringing the Stanley Cup to Cobourg in 2006 and 2014 to share with the community.
As inductees are introduced alphabetically, Williams came to the stage last. He said he’d been moved by all the stories shared that evening.
“That’s what it’s all about. We play sports, we enjoy sports, but the ability to do that is because of the love of the sport, because of the love of the family, because of the love of everyone cheering for them, and that’s what this night is about,” he said.
“You don’t do it without a great support system,” he added, relating how virtually every child – if he or she hits a home run or scores a goal – immediately looks to the stands to make sure Mom and Dad witnessed their success.
Along with his parents, he offered special thanks to another group nobody seems to want to talk about – the people who didn’t believe in me “because I wasn’t good enough or fast enough.”
A group, by the way, that includes the Cobourg Cougars.
“They drive us. They drive us to be better.
“You’ve got to have those things. You’ve got to have the talent, and you’ve got to have the will.
“When people say, ‘No I don’t think so, not good enough,’ you just want to prove them wrong again and again and again. And you keep showing up until you do prove them wrong.
“I was just one of those kid who wanted to prove everyone wrong.”
Williams said he is still proud to call Cobourg home.
“The support I have always got in this community is awesome. I am very proud to be from Cobourg, and hope you guys are proud too.”
Emcee Joel Scott conveyed thanks to the Town of Cobourg and Township of Hamilton for space in their arena buildings to display memorabilia, and also to Friends of Grafton Sports for $26,000 donation.
Starting in 2023, the Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame introduced the annual recognition of students chosen by St. Mary Secondary School and Cobourg Collegiate Institute as male and female athletes of the year.
St. Mary Secondary School Female Athlete of the Year Anna Crowley
Anna Crowley is a multi-sport athlete, competing for St. Mary Thunder athletics in fall, winter and spring for the past three years.
In Grade 9, she focused on golf, hockey and badminton.
The last two years, she doubled her sports commitments to add basketball, tennis, and track and field.
Anna was an award winner in Grade 10 for golf and badminton, as well as being named Female Athlete of the Year.
She also qualified as an individual for OFSAA in golf and tennis, while also qualifying as a member of the girls’ hockey team this winter.
With one year of high school to go, Anna is certain to add to this impressive resume.
St. Mary Secondary School Male Athlete of the Year Drayden MacDonald
Drayden MacDonald has been a multi-sport athlete every year of high school, competing for St. Mary Thunder athletics in fall, winter and spring.
He was an award-winner on the Alpine Ski team, leading them to OFSAS appearances in the last two seasons.
He also was a key contributor on the Boys Sevens and Senior Boys rugby teams, and was recognized as the Sevens Award winner this year at the school. Congratulations on his determined effort and many contribution to school athletics.
Cobourg Collegiate Institute Female Athlete of the Year Charlie Evans
Charlie Evans has been a top athlete in her grade each of her four years at CCI, excelling in volleyball badminton, soccer, hockey (as a goalie) and Ultimate.
This year, she was the MVP in volleyball and received a Coach’s Award in Ultimate.
She was a key member of the Ultimate team that just missed out on winning at COSSA this year, earning a silver medal.
This strong and powerful athlete manages to control her emotions during intense game play, remaining consistent and coachable in all types of situations.
She is a comfortable leader who helps and encourages younger athletes on her team.
She also sets an example for others by always giving 100% in the sports she competes in.
Cobourg Collegiate Institute Male Athlete of the Year Owen Harnden
Owen Harnden is an exceptional multi-sport athlete, winning MVPs in baseball and golf and Coach’s Awards in Ultimate, basketball and volleyball this year.
As a key member of the basketball team, Owen helped CCI secure a trip to OFSAA in Kingston this past winter.
He was also the top CCI pitcher on the baseball team that won COSSA and went to OFSAA last year.
The baseball and Ultimate teams won silver at COSSA this year, nearly putting Owen in a place to attend three OFSAA events this year.
He threw a no-hitter this year in league play, highlighting the calibre of his abilities.
He has a strong work ethic, and dedicates himself fully to the sport team he is competing on.
Owen has incredible co-ordination and an effortless ability to move in games, allowing him to compete at a high level.
Owen has earned a scholarship to play baseball at Chesapeake College in Maryland, where he hopes to continue to advance his baseball career.
Another annual spotlight on young athletes comes in the form of the Ross Quigley Youth in Sport Award, named after the athlete (and CDSHF inductee) who actually had the first vision of and did the first work for getting the hall of fame established. This year, there are three winners of the $1,000 bursary.
Ross Quigley Youth In Sport Award winner Abigail Bevan
Abigail Bevan is a graduating student at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Cobourg who maintained a 94% grade average while playing volleyball – and being named co-captain of the senior girls’ volleyball team this year. She also played on the girls’ basketball team in Grade 9.
Coach Drew Quemby praised her skills and thorough understanding of her teammates while competing on high-level community and varsity teams.
“Abigail consistently demonstrates a strong desire to do well, and she ha great skills to motivate and encourage her teammates.”
In her own statement, she reflected on how obtaining the co-captain’s role represents trust.
“Being chosen as co-captain means that my coaches and teammates saw something in me – they saw someone who works hard, who listens, who encourages others, and who stayed focused even when things get tough.”
Abigail also won the Leadership Award while playing Breakers volleyball.
Her resume includes volunteering at Silver Stick tournaments and being a Link Leader for Grade 9 students.
Offered placements at three universities. She accepted the offer from Trent University and will study Forensic Sciences
Ross Quigley Youth In Sport Award winner Emmett Clarke
Emmett Clarke attends Cobourg Collegiate Institute, where his athletic career includes a remarkable five sports, speaking volumes about his athletic versatility.
In 2021-22, he played for the Junior Badminton team. In 2023 and 2025, his focus shifted to Senior Rugby.
Another change happened in 2024 when he was on the Senior Soccer Team.
Sin 2023, he was a Junior player on the CCI Junior Lacrosse and Hockey teams.
Since beginning high school, he has been heavily involved in Rugby and Hockey.
In 2025, he played for the U18 and Men’s Cobourg Saxons teams.
From 2021-2023, Emmett played for the U15 Clarington Zone ASS and the U16 Northumberland Nighthawks hockey teams, and was named Assistant Captain for the Nighthawk squad.
From 2023-2025, he skated for the Clarington Zone AA U18 team and the Port Hope Panthers.
Two award he captured were the Coach’s Award in Badminton and – along with his teammates – a Civic Award for Community Involvement.
He achieved all this while amassing 70 hours of volunteer work and maintaining an 88% grade average.
He received two university offers, a Bachelor of Commerce Major Sport and Event Management from Guelph and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University.
Ross Quigley Youth In Sport Award winner Hunter Wright
Hunter Wright is a Grade 12 student at Cobourg Collegiate Institute and a three-sport athlete, excelling in baseball, hockey and volleyball. While attending high school, he played junior and senior volleyball in 2022 and 2024.
He also played CCI Varsity Baseball from 2021-2025 and still found time to play CCI Varsity Hockey from 2022-2025 – being chosen as captain of the hockey team in his last year. In community athletics, he climbed the baseball ladder beginning with the Northumberland Jacks U15 (2021-2022) and joined the EOBA Ontario Summer Games U15 team in 2022.
He also played for the Peterborough Tigers U15 (2022-2024) and moved on to the Ontario Yankees U18 (2024-2025).
When winter arrived, he played hockey for the Northumberland Nighthawks AA U16-U18 (2021-2025).
Also, for three years (2023-2025), he was an AP player for the Junior C Port Hope Panthers.
He volunteered with the Northumberland Jacks as an assistant coach working with players in the U12, U10 and U16 divisions.
He garnered a lot of individual awards over the years at the secondary school andU18 MVP community levels.
Starting in 2023, he was awarded the CCI Athletic Character Award, the CCI Junior Volleyball MVP and the CCI Varsity Boys Baseball MVP.
That same amazing year, he won the Northumberland U16 AA MVP award and the Steve Smith Top Defence Award.
In 2024-2025, he brought home more hardware as Northumberland Hockey U18 MVP and captured Steve Smith Top Defense in the U14 and up category.
Hunter will be attending Chespeake College in Maryland on a baseball scholarship.
With another year in the books, the CDSHF looks ahead to 2026, and reminds everyone that the deadline to nominate someone for that next group of inductees is Sept. 30.
