Commitment to sports celebrated
Seven individuals, 3 teams inducted into Welland Sports Wall of Fame
Technically, the program promoting the induction of the Welland Sports Wall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Sunday afternoon at Seaway Mall was correct.
Yes, 10 plaques would be added to the city’s sports shrine located inside the shopping centre: seven individuals, including four going on the wall as athletes, and three teams.
Yet the invaluable contributions of a team, from parents driving a rower to practices at the crack of dawn or to hockey tournaments and judo competitions throughout Ontario, were emphasized in introductions and acceptance speeches.
Lauren Aiello, an E.L. Crossley Secondary School graduate who won three conference championships while rowing at the University of Central Florida on a full scholarship, thanked coaches from the high school, club, and university levels for her development as an athlete.
“Your belief in me and your dedication to pushing me to my highest potential by working with me was transformative,” she said. “Your mentorship in a learning pursuit not only shaped my career but ultimately the person I am today.”
Dan Girardi, who played 11 seasons with the New York Rangers, two with the Tampa Bay Lightning and now works for the Buffalo Sabres as assistant to the NHL coaching staff, thanked his hometown for a bluecollar work ethic that helped him overcome adversity throughout his hockey career.
“I love the city; it taught me that hard work pays off,” said Girardi, who retired with nearly 2,000 career hits despite going undrafted. “Welland taught me that hard work, dedication and always earning everything.
“That’s how I approached my hockey career.”
Steve Latinovich, who is going in as an athlete and will be joining his father, Casey, on the wall, thanked his wife, Jan, and their children for accompanying him to Switzerland when hockey took him abroad.
“They were not able to speak the languages, but they turned it into a great experience for all of us.”
Latinovich gave a “special shoutout” to his wife.
“She is, and always has been, the super glue of our family. She is the one who made it all possible.”
Corey Lee thanked his family for driving him “countless hours” to training and tournaments.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for that,” said Lee, who also is joining his father on the wall.
Lee said he would not have won Canadian and Ontario championships without his father’s “actions and motivation.”
“He kept me going when it was difficult at times to make it through,” Lee said.
Chuck Lee was inducted in 2020 as an athlete and builder for judo.
In his acceptance speech, Ray Sarkis, who is being added as a builder following a 45-year career in the Niagara College athletics department, mentioned his late father-inlaw Mike (Mikey) Blazetich, a three-time Hall of Fame inductee.
“If Mike was still with us, he would say, ‘What the hell did you do to receive this recognition? It was your job,’ ” Sarkis said. “I would agree with Mike.”
He also thanked his wife, Marilyn, and their daughters Ava and Hilary for their “unwavering support, es
pecially in the early years when I spent so much time in the office instead of at home.”
Jack Ballantyne, posthumously, and Mike Rao also were inducted as builders for minor hockey and basketball, respectively.
Selection committee chair Gary Talosi credited the community for making the Class of 2024 one of the largest ever.
“Your nominees were quality people; that’s why we have so many inductees today,” he said.
Welland Mayor Frank Campion pointed out in his greetings from the city that he has attended several induction ceremonies over the years. That, he said, is starting to show in the mirror as well as from the podium.
“I’m getting older and some of you are beginning to catch up to me,” Campion quipped.
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch said the wall of fame exemplified “extraordinary commitment” to sports on the field and behind the scenes.
To his federal counterpart, Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey, the wall doesn’t “just recognize individuals who have punched above their weight,” but the people four-square in their corner such as coaches, teammates and families.
“When Welland competes, the opponents know it,” he said.
Rounding out the largest induction class since 1995 were three teams that won provincial championships, including two that took Ontario Baseball Association titles in the 1970s.
The Atlas Steels tykes won it all in 1973, and the Club Richelieu midgets were the last team standing following the final out at provincials four years later.
In 2016, the Jean Vanier Lynx rebounded from a 15-point deficit to defend their Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations single-a girls’ basketball championship. It was the high school’s fourth provincial gold medal in six years. The school was renamed in honour of Saint Jean de Brebeuf in 2020.
The largest Welland Sports Wall of Fame induction class was in 1995 when the plaques of nine individuals and two teams were added to the then-one-year-old wall. Eight individuals and one team were enshrined in the inaugural induction class.
Induction classes numbered 10 on four other occasions: 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2002.
Last year, Dan Paille, as an athlete; Steve and Rose Smith, builders, posthumously; and the 2018 Welland Mustangs peewee baseball, team; were inducted.
This year’s class increases the number of athletes, builders, and teams honoured on the wall to 187.
Upwards of 250 people attended the more than two-hour induction ceremony. Yourtv intends to air three times this weekend on Cable 10, its community-access channel: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.