New members to join Niagara Falls wall of fame
Hockey, swimming and rugby will be sports represented
Three hockey players, a swimmer and a rugby player are the newest inductees on the Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame.
David Conte, Mike Macgillivray, and Todd Simon will go up on the wall for hockey while Larry Gardner gets the nod for swimming and Ray Barkwill for rugby. Conte and Macgillivray were selected as builders. The others are athletes. Conte, Gardner, and Macgillivray are from the pre-1990 era. Barkwill and Simon are from the present era.
Induction on the wall “recognizes the significant athletic achievements and contributions of those in our community who has brought fame to our city.”
The 2019 Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 26 at Gale Centre, where the Sports Wall of Fame and Virtual Sports Wall of Fame are located.
Conte played pro hockey in Europe for five years and worked with the New Jersey Devils, winning three Stanley Cups.
He was also a pro scout with the Vegas Golden Knights and is currently working with the New York Islanders as a special assignment scout.
Gardner participated in the 1977 Canadian Games for the Physically Disabled as well as the World Amputee Summer Games 1979, where he won his first international medal with the Canadian Amputee Swimming Team. He also won the 100-metre breaststroke silver in the 100-metre butterfly. In 1980, Gardner competed in the 1980 Olympiad for the Disabled in the Netherlands and won a silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke.
He is also a mentor to many through his Canadian amputee support website and Facebook support group.
Mike Macgillivray was a hockey referee and linesman for 25 years at the highest levels in Ontario. He was recruited by the OHL as a linesman and served on the sports governing sports bodies over the years. He was the Niagara Falls Minor Hockey referee in chief and Ontario Hockey Association’s supervisor of officials for five years.
Ray Barkwill was a member of the Canadian National Rugby Team member and played with the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby. His career accolades include three Canadian Rugby Championships with Ontario Blues and a Major League Rugby title with the Seattle. He was the winner of the 2017 Shield Award as the Most Inspirational Player on Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team as voted by his teammates.
Todd Simon played professional hockey player career for more than 16 seasons in the NHL and the minor leagues. He scored more than 1,000 points in his career.