Top 100 most influential sports figures
Don Barrie offers up a look at numbers 1-50.
These individuals, in my opinion are the top 100 most influential sports figures in Peterborough and area in the last 100 years. Undoubtedly, I have missed some who definitely should be included, for that I apologize.
(Today Part 2, No. 1 to 50. The first part appeared Saturday)
1. Bob Allan; lacrosse Bob changed the way lacrosse is played through his career on the floor and later coaching. This created a Peterborough style that was successful and emulated everywhere.
2. Bob Gainey; hockey Bob’s Hall of Fame career in hockey saw him win six Stanley Cups, four Selke awards and a Conn Smythe Trophy. He is now an advisor to the Petes after a long career as an NHL coach and executive.
3. Red Sullivan; hockey Red played 557 games in the Original Six era NHL scoring 346 points. Later he coached the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
4. John Grant Jr.; lacrosse John has won Mann Cups, pro indoor and outdoor titles, world box and field championships. Currently he is a coach at Johns Hopkins University. 5. Ray Judd; softball Ray revolutionized softball in Peterborough with his windmill style of pitching. He led Lakefield to three Ontario titles, averaging over 13 strikeouts per game.
6. Pansy Forbes; synchronized swimming She led the Peterborough Ornamental Swim Club to international fame winning a number of championships. Her efforts gave many young ladies an opportunity to experience world-wide competitions.
7. Corey Perry; hockey Currently with Montreal of the NHL; played in over 1,000 games with near 400 goals. In 2011won the Hart and Richard trophies. He won a Stanley Cup, Memorial Cup, World Junior and Olympic gold medals.
8. Dit Clapper; hockey Hall of Fame member, first NHL player to play 20 seasons, scored 504 points in 915 games. Won three Stanley Cups.
9. Brad Sinopoli; football Hec Crighton winner as top Canadian university player, became receiver in CFL. Played 139 games to date, caught 509 passes, voted most outstanding Canadian player in 2011. Grey Cup winner.
10. Zach Currier; lacrosse Won Mann Cups with Lakers, NLL championship with Calgary, American field pro title, represented Canada at world field championships.
11. Cody Crowley; boxing Professional boxer, won all 19 of his bouts, nine by knockout. Currently ranked No. 10 in World Boxing Association welterweight rankings. Promoted and boxed in events in Peterborough.
12. Moon Wootton; lacrosse Won five straight Mann Cups. last four with Peterborough. Led resurgence of lacrosse in city when he moved here in 1951.
13. Johnny Davis; lacrosse Won Minto Cups with Oshawa and Hastings, Mann Cups with Peterborough. Played professional for Montreal. Top scorer wherever he played. 14. Roger Neilson; hockey
Started eventual Hall of Fame coaching career with Peterborough Petes. Coached 1000 NHL games with Toronto, Buffalo, Vancouver, L.A., New York, Florida Ottawa and Philadelphia. Revolutionized game with video.
15. Neil Harrison; curling Considered one of curling’s alltime best leads. Was a six-time provincial and two-time Canadian and World champion.
16. Steve Larmer; hockey
Played in 1146 NHL games scoring 497 goals; on Team Canada in 1991. Won Calder Trophy (NHL Top Rookie) in 1983, Stanley Cup in 1994.
17. Paul Day; lacrosse Coach of the Philadelphia Wings of the NLL and general manager of the Peterborough Lakers. Won a number of Mann Cups 18. Erica Evans; lacrosse
U.S. college award winning player at Canisius College and University of Maryland. Top scorer in leading Team Canada to its first U19 world field lacrosse championship. 19. Jeff Twohey; hockey
Seventeen years GM of Petes, with club 30 years. Four OHL titles, later GM of Oshawa and scouted with Dallas and Arizona.
20. Cory Stillman; hockey Played more than 1000 NHL games winning two Stanley Cups. Currently an assistant coach with Arizona Coyotes.
21. Shawn Evans; lacrosse Star player with the junior and senior Lakers. Held NLL singleseason scoring record. Currently runs lacrosse camps for youth.
22. Mike Fisher; hockey After playing a year with the Peterborough Bees, Mike played for Sudbury, drafted to NHL 44th overall. Played 1250 NHL games, garnering 641 points.
23. Jamie Batley; lacrosse Coach and GM of Lakers, winning five Mann Cups and six MSL titles. Coached Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, Colorado in NLL. Currently working with Halifax. 24. Jennifer Walinga; rowing On Canadian team from 1984 to 92.Won bronze at Worlds in ’86, gold at ’86 Commonwealth Games and double gold at the 1992 Olympics.
25. Tyler Ardron; rugby First Canadian to play in Super Rugby League; played two years in New Zealand and currently in France. Played for Canada, once as captain, at two World Cups and 2015 Pan Am Games. 26. Don McGillis; football, hockey Major sponsor and supporter of local Intermediate football and Senior B hockey teams in the early 1950s.
27. Hannah Darling; rugby Playing for Team Canada she won gold medal at 2015 Pan Am Games and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
28. Dallas Eakins; hockey, After 16 year playing career including 120 NHL games, Dallas has coached Anaheim and Edmonton of the NHL, Toronto Marlies and San Diego Gulls of the AHL.
29. Dick Todd; hockey Dick Todd coached Petes to three OHL titles, won two world junior titles with Canada, in 1990 as assistant coach and 1991 as head coach. Won Stanley Cup with NY Rangers in 1994 as assistant coach. Most wins by a Petes head coach.
30. Norm Dysart; volleyball Teacher at Crestwood SS, he was instrumental in advancing the interest in volleyball in the city.
31. Doug Miller; lacrosse
Doug played in the field and early box eras. He also was heavily involved in organizing and building a lacrosse bowl in 1947, later named after him, Miller Bowl.
32. Lee-Anne Quinn; softball, hockey
Lee-Anne named by Macleans Magazine as one of top 100 Canadians to watch. Played softball at provincial level and hockey for Seneca College.
33. John Epping; curling
Two-time Ontario champion and headed to third Brier in 2021. Finished 2019-20 season ranked No. 2 in the world. Winner of several Grand Slams
34. Mick Magee; lacrosse
As a player Mick spearheaded city’s move from field lacrosse to the box game in the 1930s; then became coach and key executive member of teams.
35. Rachel Seaman; racewalker
Two-time Olympian, London 2012 and Beijing 2008, qualified for 2016 Rio Games but withdrew with injury.
36. Mickey Redmond; hockey
Played 554 NHL games with Montreal and Detroit scoring 235 goals including two 50-goal seasons.
37. John Kindred; golf
Golf scholarship took him to Florida. Later won Kawartha and Pine Crest tournaments before turning pro in Florida. 38. Mark Vitarelli, lacrosse and hockey
Mark played on four Minto Cup championships, then coached four more. He was cocoach of winning Canadian team at world indoor championships. Coached number of minor hockey teams to titles.
39. Don Lech; basketball, football
Played football at PCVS, later for Orfuns and Balmy Beach. Managed Ptbo Jets to Ontario Intermediate basketball titles.
40. Jack Gibson; softball, lacrosse
Jack managed teams in the men’s softball league then later the Peterborough Lakers. He was a longtime chairman of the Sports Hall of Fame and its golf tournament now named in his honour.
41. Bob Curtis; lacrosse
One of leading players of the resurgence of lacrosse in the city in the early 1950s. Later coached minor teams.
42. Greg Knox; football
Two-time Grey Cup champion with Calgary, head coach at McMaster University and now Ottawa Redblacks DB coach. 43. Peter Vanwensem; soccer
Peter, played, refereed then managed soccer in the city. In 1971 he helped found the Lions Youth Soccer Club, giving up to 2000 youngster soccer experience each season.
44. Greg Millen, hockey, media
After three seasons with the Petes (1974-77) Greg played goal in 604 NHL games (78-92) with Pittsburgh, Hartford, St. Louis, Quebec, Chicago and Detroit. In 1995 joined Hockey Night in Canada as colour commentator. 45. Nancy Sharpe; triathlon, squash
Member of Canadian triathlon team; third in event in B.C. Ran Boston Marathon four times. Seven-time Central Ontario squash champion.
46. Jesse Young; basketball
High school basketball star at PCVS, played NCAA at George Mason University and Canadian National team from 1999 to 2011 retiring as captain. Play pro in Europe.
47. Marv Buchan; soccer
Played locally in 1940s and 1950s, later achieved national coaching status and spearheaded local soccer programs.
48. Les Ascott; football From local high school football, Les played for the Navy team during WWII. After a stint with local Orfuns won five Grey Cups with the Toronto Argos. 49. Ann Lang; basketball, softball
Played intermediate and senior basketball at the national level. Selected to Ontario allstar softball team, winning two provincial titles.
50. Gord Minty; swimming Won the Ontario water polo title in 1933. Later organized swimming programs at YMCA that garnered numerous awards.
Don Barrie is a retired teacher, former Buffalo Sabres scout and a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame. His column appears each Saturday in
The Examiner.