Cobourg

 

LAYTON DODGE’S ENDURING IMPACT ON HIS COMMUNITY

 

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A SCORESHEET

 

In general, most longstanding members of the Cobourg and area sports community are aware of Layton’s prodigious production of sports news, his widespread volunteer contributions and his personal generosity to those he knew.

 

There is no need to recount all of Layton’s accomplishments that led to his most deserved induction into The Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame. The record is clear and eloquently preserved in the articles, testimonials and accolades Layton Dodge has received since his passing.  

 

When I was young and living in the centre of Cobourg, I came to know Layton quite well. He had an easy rapport with young people that became regularly evident in his sports news articles that grew from once a week publications to a 2 page spread that was produced 5 days a week.

 

His respect for the accomplishments of even ordinary athletes was clearly evident in the topics he chose to write about and the manner in which he elevated so many young people’s sense of accomplishment.

 

I hope that Layton appreciated how his contributions had a ripple effect in his community. Each article provided an athlete, coach, manager, local business sponsor, umpire, referee or service club with an elevated and positive profile in the community. The bonds that Layton strengthened through his writing, embraced the wide spectrum of individuals that lived in the area.

 

Farmer, doctor, factory worker, nurse, business owner, high school teacher or student all knew about and respected the contributions and achievements of those who were part of the broader sports community. Whether we met at the rink, soccer pitch, lawn bowling club or ball diamond, we gathered in larger numbers because we saw the games as community events.

 

On a warm summer evening, Layton’s voice, projected by a loudspeaker from Victoria Park, would echo through the old part of Cobourg summarizing a half inning scoring summary for the Angels or Town League. Perhaps, more than anything I can remember about Layton, the sound of his voice provided me with a comforting sense that we lived in the best of places, and during the best of times.

 

Something that always amazed me was how Layton was able to craft an enjoyable article from the simplest information garnered from a score sheet or summary. Despite the fact that it seemed like he was everywhere at the same time, he surely was not. His capacity to enlist his imagination, employ his expressive language and express his deep affection for sports and apply those skills so often and so well, were remarkable talents.

 

His skill was equal to or perhaps exceeded some of the best national and international sports writers in the print media of his time. It is not beyond the scope of possibility to imagine that Layton Dodge could have sought and obtained a national profile in the print media.

 

How lucky we were that Layton loved his community  so much that he stayed and gave us such a precious and remarkable gift.

 

By: John Hayden

 

 

 

FOND MEMORIES OF BILL O’NEIL 

 

Since Bill O’Neil’s well deserved induction into the CDSHF, I have revisited his story featured on the website. As a youth who was very interested in fast pitch softball, I watched and listened to Bill from the vantage point of Layton Dodge’s scorer’s table, the stands or behind the screen. Even then, I was surprised by how Bill was so quiet and unassuming compared to most coaches I had seen or had up to that point in my life.

 

Many years later, I watched Bill apply his understated approach to coaching the quite successful OASA Juveniles and Juniors. He had not apparently changed one bit! If there was ever a unique meeting of opposites between a coach and his/her players, it came to pass with Bill coaching older adolescents.

 

I had started coaching quite a bit at that stage in my life and I had the same impression of Bill as I had earlier. Almost magically, he used his calm and respectful manner to enhance all aspects of the games that he was involved in, including his interaction with umpires. 

 

The only formal sports contact that I can recall with Bill, other than a congenial hello or chat, was when he tried very hard to save me from ejection at Legion Fields in front of the home town fans during a Junior Angels tournament game. The dispute with the home plate umpire (Bill was on the bases) had started prior to the game and had escalated over a disputed call concerning a rule interpretation and application.

 

As the dispute was reaching its climax, I felt a gentle hand on my left shoulder and his quiet voice telling me, in effect, that right (Of course I was!) or wrong (Perhaps...), it didn’t matter. The argument had deteriorated from a rules dispute to an ego contest between two participants that I could not win.

 

It would be great if I could complete this anecdote as a good news story about successful damage control. Unfortunately, Bill failed in his effort to rescue me. Afterwards, I thought about Bill’s reputation. One thing for sure was I wish Bill O’Neil had tossed me because I would have gone quietly. 

 

Bill O’Neil was a wonderful individual. Since his passing, my appreciation and affection for him has only grown.

by John Hayden

 

 

Cobourg Yacht Club – The beginning

 

In the early summer of 1964 the Mayor of Cobourg, the honourable Jack Heenan, was informed by A.E. (Ted) Walker, vice-president of the Toronto District Cruising Race Association, that 27 yachts would stop in Cobourg on July 26^th. This would be the first stop in a race that would continue to Sodus Point and then back to Toronto. The winner of the race from Sodus Point to Toronto would be awarded the Freeman Cup. The Mayor asked the Cobourg Chamber of Commerce, who in turn approached ten men to host the visiting sailors.

 

Dr Edmond Gendron directed the group who were Ted Prosser, Theo Kraumanis, Philip Calnan, Dr William Richards, Dr Graham Stratford, Dr John Rose, Jack Koyle, Edwin Haynes, Don Macklin and Sol Margles. In order to appear properly nautical, the ten named themselves, “The Great Pine Ridge Marine Association” and decided to have a steak barbeque on the adjoining back lawns of the lakeside homes of Dr Richards and Theo Kraumanis.

 

In late afternoon of the 26^th when all the boats had arrived, the visiting yachtsman were transported to Lakeshore Rd, where they were most royally wined and dined. Of the approximately 150 visitors many of the names of the sailors appeared in later years as principals of C & C Yachts. These were George Cassian while Ed Lawless pf Toronto sailed “Italia” formerly owned by J.W. Morch of Belleville. Perry Connally skippered “Carousel” and Peter Robinson “Mir” a 80 foot ketch with a mainly female crew.

 

The sailors sailed away to Sodus and Dr Gendron decided to keep his want-to-be-sailors busy. After asking Senator Roebuck’s assistance, he took a carload to Ottawa, where they met the Minister of Transport, Jack Pickerskil. For a $2.00 bill from his own pocket (still outstanding) a deal was made to rent the harbour.

 

The hosts had done a good job of welcoming the visitors but the real work was cutting off the steel pilings along the centre pier and trying to get rid of the residue of the coal piles along the north side of the harbour. The group however, enjoyed working together and the next year (1965) they incorporated the “Cobourg Yacht Club”. Soon Dr Stobie, Geoff Rolph, John Spragge, Jim Moses, Alex Pratt and many other sailors came on board and the club started to grow.

 

By Philip Calnan

 

NEIL CANE

 

Neil Cane was born in Cobourg on January 12, 1934. He lived most of his life in Baltimore, with his wife Shirley and five children, John, Laurie (Dynes), Peter, Cathy, and David.

As an athlete, Neil excelled at baseball, track and field, and hockey.

The earliest recollection of Cane's athletic ability started in 1948-49 when his Junior softball teams were crowned the Cobourg Rotary League Champs and also the Cobourg Labour Day Tournament Juvenile champs. In 1950, he was a member of the OASA Juvenile B Softball Champs.

He also won the Field Day Cup as the Junior Champion in Track and Field at CCI in 1948. Neil's track and field prowess was again evident at the Ontario Police Games One Mile relay. He was part of the winning relay team along with Art Round, Harry Sirrett, and J. Campbell.

Starting in 1959 Neil racked up hockey championships and personal awards. He was the Mercantile Hockey League MVP, and the teams he played with were league champs in the Hamilton Township Men's League. Twice he played on championship teams while playing in the Mercantile Hockey League.

Neil's actual job was manager of the Baltimore Recreation Centre for 22 years. When he started, there was only one baseball diamond. When he finished there were three additional fenced in diamonds, plus Neil got the old lights from Victoria Park for night games at Diamond #1.

He also added a playground, canteen and washroom facilities, a basketball court, and two volleyball courts. It became a first-class facility.

As many people have mentioned over the years, that although Neil worked for the Baltimore Recreation Centre, he practically lived there and did an incredible amount of work as a volunteer at the facility.

Not only did he do that, he was involved in many other aspects of the community. I always said jokingly, “If you added up the number of hours Neil actually worked at the park, he probably made a dollar an hour”.

I remember telling him that as part of a Millennium Celebration I wanted to build a conservation/educational area on the unused portion of land behind Baltimore Public School. It was a dream of mine that Neil turned into reality!

My first order of business was getting solid benches for the students that would last the test of time. Neil ordered six sturdy benches and I assisted (I watched) in cementing them into the ground. I made a cedar pathway around the entire area and we were pretty well done… or so I thought.

I asked Neil if he could build a semi-circular bench that could comfortably seat thirty children. That's all I needed to say. He drew up a plan and built the bench single-handedly. Later on he asked me if the area was being used. I mentioned that some teachers weren't able to manage the pathway and it was difficult for them to take their class to the top of the steep hill. Neil and I chatted and he said “You know what, we need to build steps with a rail.”

A week later I was looking out of the back window of my class and I saw two by fours and planks being tossed over the fence. I went back to investigate. There was Neil, alone, throwing the wood over the fence. He then proceeded to climb over the fence and commence working on the stairs.

In no time at all, the beautiful staircase was constructed and there were no excuses for the garden area not being utilized. I dedicated an area as Cane's Corner of the Millennium Garden to Neil and Shirley Cane and had a plaque attached to one of the benches recognizing Neil for his volunteer efforts.

No job was too big or small for Neil. His philosophy was, “Let's just get it done!” He didn't want the fanfare, he just wanted to see jobs completed. Another huge project he undertook was the construction of Jacob's Ladder.

Let's move along, there's so much more to tell.

According to Denine Page, Head Instructor at The Baltimore Figure Skating Club, “Neil was much more than the arena manager at Baltimore. He willingly involved himself with the coaches, skaters, and parents. I often consulted him with new ideas about programming for the skaters and appreciated his input as to how we could make things happen successfully.”

At the end of each season, the club would have their annual skating show. Once again, there was Neil volunteering to help with scaffolding, lights, decorations, and the sound system. He didn't stop there! He also volunteered to be the MC for the show and do all the announcing for the dress rehearsals and both the afternoon and evening shows!

Anne Quigley, President of Baltimore Minor Hockey, mentioned Neil's role in taking charge of lining up 1000 kids at the Cross Border Annual tournament opening ceremonies and offering assistance throughout the tournament.

Even after his retirement, he stayed involved by sitting on the Board with Anne. She noted that “Neil selflessly spent countless hours helping at fund raising events, often behind the scenes in the setup or tear down stage, never seeking the “limelight”. “The saying he was best known for was, “You kids just go home and get some rest before the big event, and I will take care of everything here.” And he never failed us!!”

His volunteering efforts were evident in Grafton, too! He was everywhere! Neil was a player in the inaugural Grafton Fastball Tournament run by Dick and Ann Raymond. “Over the years he would be a coach, an umpire, a groundskeeper, scorekeeper, announcer, and any other person we needed him to be,” according to Raymond.

No matter who you talked to in the Baltimore community and surrounding area, people admired him and respected him for what he did and what he meant to Baltimore. He was a tremendous role model to many individuals, including myself. The legendary Neil Cane was an iconic figure that we'll never forget.

Layton Dodge, Cobourg's sports writer summed it up best, “Neil Cane – Mr. Baltimore.”

Although Neil did not seek recognition, over the years he gathered a lot of hardware for his efforts as a player, as a coach, as an umpire, and as a volunteer.

 

A LIST OF NEIL CANE'S VOLUNTEER AWARDS AND TITLES:

1973 Certificate of Outstanding Service from the Cobourg Church Hockey League

Legion Baseball Awards: 1976 Certificate Of Merit

1980 Peewee Coach Of The Year

1982 Baltimore Minor Hockey Vice President

1989 Baltimore Arena Committee for “Devotion Of Duty”

1995 OASA Outstanding Service Award

1998 OASA Outstanding Service Award

2004 Cobourg Men's Softball League “Thanks For The Memories”

2007 Hamilton Township Senior of the Year

Paul Harris Fellow Award from The Cobourg Rotary Club

Baltimore Sports Complex Diamond #1 renamed signage “Neil Cane Diamond #1”

 

SPORTS AWARDS AS A PLAYER

1948 Cobourg Rotary League Champs Jr. Softball

1948-9 CCI Junior Champion (Track and Field Trophy)

1949 Cobourg Labour Day Tournament Juvenile Champs

1950 OASA Juvenile B Champs

1952 Ontario Police Games 1 Mile Relay Winners

1959 Mercantile Hockey MVP Trophy

1965-6 Mercantile Hockey Champs

1966-7 Mercantile Hockey Champs

1972 Hamilton Township Men's League Champs

By Bryan Marjoram

 

 

 

Gail Johns-Rees was born in Cobourg on February 10, 1955 and has the distinction of being the first female athlete from Cobourg to qualify for OFSSA.

 

Gail was a member of the CDCI West Track and Field Team from 1969-1974.  She set records in the 200M and 400M races at Kawarthas and COSSA, in the 60M, 100M, 200M and 400M at South Kawarthas, and qualified to compete in the 200M and 400M races at OFSSA. 

 

When Gail arrived at CDCI West in 1969, she was sought out by the late Jerry Lawless; having heard of her running accomplishments in elementary school, he insisted she attend track and field training on the back lawn of the high school.

 

   An opportunity that changed her life.

 

Along with the many medals Gail received and the records she set over the years at track events, she also received the “Female Athlete Award” from the Cobourg Legion in 1972.

 

CDCI West dedicated the “Johns Trophy for Outstanding Track Performance” in recognition for her accomplishments. The trophy went on to be presented to athletes for 42 years until it was retired when CDCI West closed its doors. 

 

Gail had the honour of presenting the trophy for the last time in 2015.

 

After high school Gail started distance running, competing for years in 5ks and 10ks, and ran marathons in Toronto, Ottawa, Washington, and Boston. 

 

In 1994 Gail and her family moved to New Hampshire and at the age of 47, she discovered Masters Track and Field and returned to sprinting and her high school habits of breaking records! 

 

As a member of the Mass Velocity Track Club, she has been a nationally ranked masters sprinter for the past 20 years, competing in 50M, 60M, 100M, 200M, and 400M races. 

 

Gail has earned 17 USA National Masters Track medals, one of which she ran a leg of the 4X100 relay with the Canadian team and helped them win gold at the USA Masters National Meet in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2006. 

 

The singlet Gail wore when she represented the Canadian team was given to her by Karla Del Grand, Female Athlete of the Decade, World Masters Athletics. 

 

Gail has set 13 New Hampshire state records in the 50M, 60M, 100M, 200M, and 400M and has received five “Best Performance by a New Hampshire Athlete” awards from New Hampshire state meets between 2010 and 2019. 

 

She also has many state level medals from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine and has competed at venues such as Stanford, Harvard, and Boston universities and the Penn State relays where not only masters compete, but also elite high school students and Olympians.

 

Three records set in September 2021 qualify Gail to compete at the May 2022 Senior Nationals Track and Field meet in Fort Lauderdale.

 

In 2015, while sprinting to the finish line in a 200M race, Gail’s right Achilles tendon completely ruptured a few metres from the finish line causing her to fall and fracture her right shoulder. 

 

After surgery, being in a wheelchair initially, and two years of intensive rehab, Gail came back from that challenge to set five of the records noted above.

 

In 2021, Gail and three of her masters’ teammates were featured on a New Hampshire TV station to promote the fitness, health, camaraderie, and competition benefits of masters track field. 

 

Gail’s masters track life has included many years of competing at college and university meets, not only masters’ specific meets; she really enjoys being with young athletes and they are encouraged by the fact that competing on the track can truly be a lifetime sport.

 

It has been decades since Gail was on the back lawn of CDCI West where it all began, but she says to this day, “As I step onto the track and settle into the starting blocks, Mr. Lawless is still with me.”

 

By Elizabeth Johns-Dickson

 

 

 

COBOURG COUGARS JUNIOR C HOCKEY 1971-1980

 

Making their debut in the Central Ontario Junior C League, the 1971-72 Cobourg Cougars would face Port Hope, Bowmanville, Lindsay, Whitby and Sutton in the 29-game schedule.

They finished the regular season with 13 wins, 13 losses and 3 ties. Under the stewardship of coach Vern MacGregor, manager Bob Olson and leadership of captain, Bruce Sherwin the Cougars stunned the group powerhouse Sutton South Shore Rangers in a seven-game, first round playoff upset.

They ultimately earned the right to represent the league in provincial play downs and advanced all the way to the OHA Junior C finals where they were eliminated in five games by the powerful Leamington Flyers. 

 

The top five scorers in that inaugural season were Jim Flesch (37 points), Ed Clarey (37 points), Terry Lewis (33 points), Pat Cork (32 points) and Brian Connor (26 points). The rest of that first Junior C cast also included Bill Whitelaw, Paul Bevan, Garth Beer, Mike Irwin, Paul Clarey, Kevin Lowe, Fred Dickey, Mike Thompson, John MacDonald, Tom Lewis and John Cane. Eddie Clarey would go on to play for the Quebec Major Junior A Hockey League's Cornwall Royals.

 

The 1972-73 Cougars would join Bowmanville, Lindsay, Markham, Oak Ridges, Penetang, Port Hope, Port Perry and Sutton in the Central Ontario Junior C League. They would finish the regular season with a record of 22 wins, 6 losses and 4 ties.

The top five scorers in the regular season were Ed Clarey (49 points), Terry Lewis (49 points), Garth Beer (38 points), Allan Bush (38 points) and Doug Choiniere (32 points). John Cane had a 3.46 GAA in net while Bob Stevenson posted a 3.26 GAA.

Members of the 72-73 Cougars included Trev Baxter, Garth Beer, Paul Bevan, Allan Bush, Ed Clarey, Paul Clarey, Doug Choiniere, Brian Connor, Jim Flesch, Charlie Fraser, Jon Greer, Bill Hazelwood, Terry Lewis, Gary Oliver, Ian Rundle, Bruce Sherwin, Mike Thompson, Stu Watson, Bill Whitelaw, John Cane and Bob Stevenson.

After the 1972-73 season Ed Clarey would go on to play 137 games, from 1973 to 1976, with the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. During his 1975-76 season, Ed would rack up 75 points in 63 regular season games and pick up 6 points in 10 play off games. The Hockey News Draft preview issue listed Ed as the QMJHL’s #10 prospect for the 1976 NHL draft. In the 1976 NHL draft, Ed was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 4th round, 72nd overall. He was also selected in the 9th round, 97th overall by New England of the World Hockey Association.  

 

Schmalz Cup Winners
In 1974, the Cougars achieved what no other Cobourg OHA team had ever accomplished - winning the OHA provincial championship in their category. 
The Cougars would top the Central League regular season against Bowmanville, Frankford, Lindsay, Port Hope, Port Perry and Sutton with a record of 25 wins and 5 losses going on to become league playoff champions and winners of the Cougar Cup.

After disposing the Kingston Voyageurs in seven games on the strength of four home-ice victories in the opening round of the provincial playoff train as the Central Ontario league representative, the Cougars flirted with disaster in the semi-finals. Trailing Bradford Vasey's 3-1 in games and behind by a goal in the waning moments of a do-or-die struggle at the Bradford bandbox, they staged the mother of all comebacks inspired by the most famous goal in Junior C Cougar history. Terry Irwin triggered the life-saving goal with only three seconds left in regulation time to tie the score and send the game to OT, in which Cobourg prevailed. Thereafter, the Cougars also won games 6 and 7 to advance to the Ontario Junior C final against the Simcoe Jets.

Dropping the series opener to Simcoe, the Cougars recovered to reel off four straight wins, winning three in a row by a single goal before clinching the coveted crown on home ice by a 9-6 score. The celebration lasted for hours!

Terry Lewis, the Central League's scoring king with 88 points, would add 71 points in group and provincial playoffs to cap a sensational year. Other players leading the regular season scoring parade were Jim Flesch (64 points), Garth Beer (61 points), and Terry Irwin (59 points). Besides leading the team in scoring points, Terry Lewis would also garner 162 minutes in penalties during the regular season.

Goaltenders, Ron Fowler and Bob Stevenson would face a total of 1104 shots during the regular season averaging 36.8 shots per game for a combined Goals Against Average of 4.83.

Provincial champions included Garth Beer, Paul Bevan, Alex Calder, Doug Choiniere, Brian Connor, Randy Fife, Jim Flesch, Terry Irwin, Terry Lewis, John Pollock, Pat Rutherford, Stu Watson and Bill Whitelaw. Also contributing to the cause were Rob Dunn, Pat Kelly, Kim Linton, Dwight Beer, John Roffey and Garth Grosjean.

On December 30th, 1988, a 15-year reunion game was held at the Cobourg Memorial Arena. Over 1300 fans took in the match-up between the Schmalz Cup winners of 1973-74 and the 1988-89 Cobourg Cougars.

The 1974-75 season saw the Cougars regain the Central Ontario league title at the expense of arch rival Lindsay Muskies. Despite leading the round 2-1 and 3-1 against the Dunnville Terriers in the provincial quarter-finals, the Cougars eventually surrendered in game seven.

Personnel of that Cobourg squad included Marty Kernaghan, Ian Williams, Tom Sharpe, Mike Ryan, Brian Read, Gary Oliver, Rick and Randy Fife, John Buckley, Floyd Fennema, Don Davidson, Peter Briand, Paul Bevan, Alex Calder, Pat Rutherford, Bill Whitelaw and Rick Stevenson. Marty Kernaghan was inducted into the Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 for his overall athletic achievements and his illustrious softball career. 

The 1975-76 Central Ontario Junior C League included Bowmanville, Cobourg, Frankford, Lindsay, Port Hope, Port Perry and Stouffville. Cobourg would finish the regular season with a record of 25 wins, 7 losses and 4 ties. Randy Fife was the Central Ontario Junior C League scoring champion.
The Cougars beat Port Perry in the first round of league playoffs 4 games to 2 and would go on to sweep Lindsay in 4 games to claim the right to go forward in the provincial playdowns.

Pictured below, Captain Bill Whitelaw accepts the Cougar Cup from Lloyd Gilliam, Lindsay.

The Cougars would see the dream die when they lost their quarter final series to Huntsville.

For the 1975-76 season Peter Briand and Rick Fife would share the net minding with Fife appearing in 69% of the league games.

Other members of the Cougar cast included Terry Lewis, Rick Stevenson, Rod MacDonald, Randy Fife, Bill Whitelaw, Don Davidson, Tom Sharpe, Mike Ryan, Ian Williams, Gary Oliver, Alex Calder, Pat Rutherford, Marty Kernaghan, Paul Bevan, Floyd Fennema, Steve Witteveen, Jeff Timlin, Brian Read, Morris Petherick, Doug Choiniere and John Buckley.

Regular season scoring leaders were Randy Fife (95 points), Marty Kernaghan (74 points), Gary Oliver (61 points), Terry Lewis (52 points) and Tom Sharpe (49 points).

Pictured below are defensemen Paul Bevan, John Buckley and Doug Choiniere who Cobourg Star sports editor, Layton Dodge dubbed “The BBC Line”.

This would mark the end of the so-called glory years as the Cougars struggled in the upcoming three seasons.

The 1976-1977 Cougars would welcome back veterans Pete Briand, Doug Choiniere, Rick Stevenson, Alex Calder, Jeff Timlin, John Buckley, Paul Bevan, Tom Sharpe and Ron Fowler. They would be joined by graduating Midget and Juvenile players Gary Hope, Morris Petherick, Chris Brandt, Randy Sughrue, Steve Witteveen, Phil Choiniere, Jack Norris and Ken Stevenson.

The last regular season home game was played in Cobourg on Monday February 14th, 1977 against Stouffville and would serve as a warm-up for the first round of playoffs which were scheduled to start in Stouffville Friday, February 18th. The Port Hope Panthers would be the regular season champions while the Bowmanville Eagles would triumph in league playoffs and become the Ontario Junior C finalist.

 

The 1977-1978 season would see the Cougars sitting in fourth spot in early February 1977 in the seven-team league behind Bowmanville, Stouffville and Port Perry. Trailing the Cougars in the standings were Lindsay, by 1 point, Port Hope and Uxbridge. 

Captain Morris Petherick and Assistant Captains, Ken Stevenson and Ross McCullum would be joined by Rick Buchanan, Jim Saddler, Kim LaFontaine, Randy Sughrue, Bill Shannon, Jack Norris, Rob Harnden, Mike Ryan, Bill Hutchings, Larry Landry, Steve Witteveen, Tom Gerolamy, Dave Eakins and Glen Davis. As they had from the inception of Junior C play, Vern MacGregor, Clarke Sommerville and Andy Kolodziej were stalwart behind the bench.

 

Halfway through the 1978-79 season, the Cougars were in second spot in the standings with 24 points. Although tied with Port Hope in points, Cobourg had played 1 less game. The Central Ontario Junior C league was now home to 9 entries including Bowmanville, Port Hope, Port Perry, Beaverton, Lindsay, Stouffville, Uxbridge and Little Britain.

Cougar alumnus, Terry Lewis, joined long standing coach Vern MacGregor behind the bench and the club was captained by John Crowley and assistants Jim Saddler and Wayne Rorabeck. The rest of the team included goaltenders, Mark Flesch and Glen Davis as well as Rick Palmateer, Gord Sharpe, Ian Williams, Glenn Roberts, Randy Sughrue, Richard Tryon, Mike Gibson, Shawn Turland, Bill Shannon, Kyle Campbell, Larry Landry, Rob Harnden, Mark Hutchinson and Andy Cyr.

 

In 1979, Terry Lewis would be in sole control of the bench as long-time coach, Vern MacGregor stepped away to join the Board of Directors. At December 13, 1979, the Cougars trailed first place Bowmanville in the standings by one point. The Cougars would respond with a first place in league play with a record of 20-6-6. They won the right to advance to the OHA provincial quarter finals in a seven-game series with Bowmanville. Their provincial run would come to an end at the hands of the Gananoque G-Men. It was later learned that the G-Men had used illegal over-age players during the Cobourg series.

The 1979-1980 squad included Captain Rob Harnden, Assistant Captains Rick Palmateer and Randy Sughrue along with Phil Hennessey, Mark Flesch, Gary Hope, Steve Jones, Steve Diminie, Mike Gibson, Shawn Turland, Paul McCracken, Bill Shannon, Kyle Campbell, Peter Williams, Jim West, Bill Hutchings, Carl Deline, Ray Mosher and Wayne Rorabeck. 

 

The Cobourg Mark Tripp Wholesaler Bantams started the 1990-91 hockey season with high expectations. The recounting of their year is told here from only 15 scans of the many stories that appeared in the Cobourg Daily Star that season.  

October 4, 1990 Cobourg Daily Star

Wholesale Bantams should be solid club

Bet the rent money on Cobourg Bantam Wholesalers enjoying a successful season in OMHA ranks.

Wholesalers have plenty of size and experience going for them. Of the 15 rostered players who'll open their Lakeshore League season next Tuesday, nine are major bantams, four are graduates of the 1989-90 Peewees and two are making the transition from bantam house league hockey.

Brent Sedgwick and Tim Horgan will share netminding duties for the Wholesalers. Manning the defence corps in front of them will be Doug Wright, Brian McDermott, Dale Black and Scott Connor.

The forwards charged with putting the numbers on the board, while not neglecting their backchecking assignments include John Hustler, Scott Davis, Bob Fulton, Allan Stewart, Jeremy Macklin, Brad Boundy, Greg Cameron, Steve Peck and Greg Bowen.

Head Coach Terry McDermott provides a breath of fresh air. He's being assisted by Bob Boundy, Manager of the Wholesalers, as well as the goaltending coach Dave Powers. 

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Kenneth Wayne James Petrie was born July 11, 1946 in Stratford, Ontario. In 1957 when he was 11, he and his family moved to Cobourg. In 1972 they moved to Furnace Street across from Memorial Arena where he eventually worked for many years.

During a month-long visit from his grandfather one summer, Ken learned to play ball which sparked a life-long love of sports. He was an avid bowler as well early in his life.

Unselfishly, Ken devoted most of his adult life to minor sports in Cobourg—namely: the Cobourg Community Hockey League (CCHL); Cobourg Legion Minor Softball Association (CLMSA) and Cobourg Baseball Association (CBA).

It was about 1965 when Ken was 19 that Layton Dodge recruited him to volunteer with the Cobourg Church Hockey League. He helped Gord Burdick Senior coach the St. Andrew’s Church League team. Thus began a life-long tenure with the CCHL until the organization moved from Memorial Arena to the CCC in 2011.

In hockey, Ken was a tireless workhorse helping out wherever he could whether it be as a coach, manager, trainer, fundraiser, Bingo volunteer, executive member, committee member, or just plain taking on responsibilities when necessary—when no one else would, he did if he could.

He was president of the CCHL a record 11 times (1979-82, 1985, 1993, 1999-2003) and was a long-time life member. He was OMHA contact person many, many times (a time consuming, huge responsibility), ice chairman, governor, tournament convenor, timekeeper/scorekeeper, budget committee member and astoundingly, many of these in a single hockey season. Those who worked with Ken didn’t mind helping him though—as he never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. It is on record that Layton Dodge called Ken “the driving force behind the CCHL”. Also, Past President, Jim Nairn is quoted as saying “Ken Petrie’s sense of community and love for the game is what kept him coming back.”

A source of great pride for Ken throughout his time in the CCHL was seeing all of Cobourg’s championship hockey banners hanging from the rafters in Memorial Arena. Also, he was extremely proud of the fact that the CCHL housed both boys and girls hockey (OMHA and OWHA) under the CCHL umbrella.

Ken’s happy cheerful demeanor along with his willingness to help, gave credence to the CCHL motto “Dedicated to Our Youth”. That was Ken Petrie through and through.

Besides the enormous amount of time spent volunteering with hockey during fall and winter, Ken loved spending the summer months coaching boys or girls teams in either softball or baseball. For many years he donated the trophies for the ‘golden glove’ competitions during Cobourg Baseball tournaments. And, little known to the general public, Ken Petrie throughout his time in sports often made sure that a kid on his team who needed a ball glove, hockey stick or whatever in order to play—and whose parents couldn’t afford it, was given what they needed from Sommerville’s.... he’d go into the store and square up with Clarke or Dave later.

Since the mid 1960s, Ken has compiled the most amazing record when it comes to provincial championship wins and claims 10 provincial titles with minor sports—hockey, softball and baseball combined: perhaps the most ever in Cobourg. They are listed below plus an EOBA championship.

The certificates commemorating Ken’s provincial championship wins are not very detailed as to the individual winning team names. However, in an article by Cobourg Star writer Darryl Thompson in 2005, Ken clearly states he had an All-Ontario hockey championship, one Ontario Girls’ softball championship, four Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) championships and four Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) titles. The Ontario Championships are listed below. He coached baseball in Port Hope as well.

A provincial championship title captured by the Legion Squirt Red Wings Softball team coached by Ken and the late Tom Savage in 1967 was Cobourg Legion Minor Softball’s first ever provincial title. 

Ken's many certificates, citations, plaques and awards for service to community were at one time proudly displayed in his home. Some of them are listed below. Many are being added to the 'Collection' at the Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame website.

There were many hockey/ball teams Ken coached, some won awards. The many team photos, also being added to the 'Collection', are small proof of Ken's extensive coaching involvement.

In July 2013, Ken suffered an abdominal aortic aneurysm and moved to a nursing home in Port Hope where he resides today.

Ontario Championships

1967 - Cobourg Legion Squirt “A” Red Wings OASA Softball Team (with Tom Savage)

1970 - PWSA Martin’s Sunoco Girls Softball Team (with Audrey Warner). Ken’s sister Mary Checkley played on this team

1976 - Cobourg Legion Squirt “B” OASA Softball Team (with John Hayden)

1979 - EOBA Tyke  ‘A’ Champs with Sommerville Leprechauns Baseball Team (with Pete  Sweet)

1983 - Cobourg Legion Pirates Peewee ‘D’ Baseball Team (with Al Guernsey & Gord Latourneau)

1984 - Cobourg Bantam Baseball Team

1988-89 - Harnden & King ‘BB’ PeeWee OMHA Hockey Team (with John Donegan)

1990 - Legion PeeWee ‘B’ Pirates Baseball Team (with Ron Jay and Dave Clarke)

1998 - Cobourg Legion Midget “B” OASA Softball Team (with Bob Bateman)

Finalists

1972 - Thompson Plumbing & Heating Saints Midget Girls PWSA (with Ross Burgess and Les Stevenson)

1982 - Cobourg Legion Pirates PeeWee ‘C’ Baseball (with Dave Bemma & Bob Barkhouse)

Honours & Awards

1972-73 - Cobourg Church Hockey League “Coach of the Year Award” St. Andrew’s PeeWee North Stars

1976 - Certificate of Merit from the Cobourg Legion Minor Softball Association in appreciation of outstanding service to the youth of our community

1978/79 - OMHA Coach of the Year (with Dennis Whelan) in the CCHL

1980 - The Spooner Sport Award for outstanding contributions to minor sport

1981 - Cobourg Baseball Association’s “Jim Munro Memorial Trophy” for Coach of the Year

1983 - Cobourg Baseball Association’s “Jim Munro Memorial Trophy” for Coach of the Year

1984 - Cobourg Baseball Association’s "Jim Munro Memorial Trophy" for Coach of the Year to Ken Petrie and Wayne Wiggins

1987 - Sesquicentennial Celebration Award - Town of Cobourg - Angus Read

1987 - Canada Celebration 88 (Olympic Partner) - Certificate of Merit from the Government of Canada in grateful recognition of your contribution to your community

1990 - YMCA Service to Youth Award

1990 - Cobourg Baseball Association’s “Jim Munro Memorial Trophy” Coach of the Year Award presented by Frank Waghorn

1993 - OBA’s “Bantam Coach of the Year Award” from AAA to E levels (a province-wide citation)

1997 - Ontario Municipal Recreation Association Certificate from the Town of Cobourg given at the CCHL’s annual awards banquet with Layton Dodge

1997 - Life Member of the Cobourg Community Hockey League - inscripted on the CCHL Life Member Plaque

1997 - Life Member of Cobourg Legion Minor Softball Association

2001 - Ontario Minor Hockey Association - Letter of Commendation from OMHA President Pat Parlette 

2007 - Nomination for the National “RBC Hockey Heroes Award” 

2019 - Members of the Northumberland Baseball Association assume that Ken was a life member of the former CBA though no documentation 

By Rosey Bateman

 

 

 
Softball-Margie Matthews

by Patsy (Currelly) Hand

Margaret Anne Matthews was born on May 15, 1960, in Cobourg. From a very young age, Margie was an abundantly talented, multi-sport athlete who consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership. Her enthusiasm was contagious.

 

While in high school at CDCI West, 1974-1979, she played each year on the basketball, volleyball and badminton teams. She was on the track team and participated in javelin, discus, shotput and the 4 x 100 relay teams. It was in javelin that she excelled. In 1978 she was voted MVP of the basketball team, the volleyball team, she received a coaching award and was the school’s Athlete of the Year.

 

She was also awarded Cobourg's Athlete of the Year that year. In 1979, CDCI West created the “Matthews Award" which was presented to students for performance and leadership. After high school she played varsity hockey and basketball. She has been awarded Athletic Letters at all levels of school: public, high school and university levels.

Margie burst onto the provincial softball stage at the age of 12 when she played for David and Clarke Sommerville’s  Sinclair Mustangs. They were successful in capturing the Ontario Novice Championship in 1972. Here is how David recalls Margie’s contribution to the win in the qualifying tournament leading up to the finals….

At 14, Margie Matthews joined Paul Currelly’s Cobourg Angels Juvenile softball team and competed against players that were 18 and 19 years of age.
Margie’s talents continued to shine. While playing with the Angels, she won two more Ontario Titles at the Junior B level in 1975 and 1976. In 1977, Paul decided to start a Midget Cobourg Angel team and as Margie was still eligible to play at this level, he built the team around her.

She was the captain that year and won the batting championship. Her determination, positivity and talent motivated the team to achieve a higher standard of play. She continued to play with the Angels and won an Ontario title in 1979 (Juvenile). Comments from her coach, Paul Currelly follow: 

Margie left Cobourg for university and played Senior Tier I fastball with the Kitchener Kieswetters. She returned to Cobourg in 1984(Senior Tier II) and helped the Cobourg Angels win another Ontario Title. In 1985 Margie started a full-time job in New Hamburg and again left the area and played Senior Tier I softball with Kitchener.

She won their outstanding player award that year. In 1986 she was picked up by an opposing team, the St. Clements Suns to attend Expo ’86, a mini world tournament in Vancouver. In 1989 her team, the St. Clements Suns won an Ontario Senior Tier I Championship and went to the Canadians, placing 4th.

Margie continues to be an amazing athlete as a golfer. She has won 18 Club Championships (Stratford (16) & Craigowan-Oxford (2)). She played for team Ontario in 2004 and won a Canadian interprovincial title.

 

She won an Ontario 4-ball Tournament with MaryAnn Hayward in 2007 and an Ontario mid-Am tournament in 2009 (73-75-69). In 2011 she made the Ontario senior team that won a Canadian interprovincial title. She had a Golf Ontario Mid-Am ranking of 4th and 5th in 2009-2011.

Margie has not only been an amazing athlete but she also has coached volleyball and badminton at the high school level, coached softball at the Midget level and was assistant coach to the 1990 Cobourg Angels Senior Tier I fastball team that won the Ontario title and then went to the Canadian championship and placed 4th. She was a Softball Canada clinic instructor and has refereed volleyball, basketball and umpired softball.  

As an athlete Margie has had many accomplishments in multiple sports and continues to add to these accomplishments but it is her talent, her work ethic, her enthusiasm and her love for sports that raises her above her peers.

 

Biography

COBOURG DISTRICT COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE (CDCI) WEST HIGH SCHOOL - 1974-1979

1974 - 1979 Participated on basketball, volleyball, badminton, and track & field (javelin, discus, shotput and 4x100 relay) teams. (Lots of awards) 

1975 - won midget javelin (92' 4") & discus(74') both South Kawartha records, Kawartha javelin (92'6") and placed 6th at C.O.S.S.A.

1978 - MVP basketball, MVP volleyball, Coaching Award, Athlete of the Year

1978 - Cobourg Athlete of the Year

1979 - Won Senior South Kawartha javelin  (98'5"), won Kawartha Singles badminton

1977 - 1979 President co-ed Athlete Association

1979 - Awarded newly created 'Matthews Award' for Performance and Leadership (awarded annually until school closed)

1979 - awarded 'Citizenship Award' (Burnett - Drope)

Awarded public school, high school and university athletic letters

Refereed volleyball and basketball throughout high school

Umpired one summer, girls Cobourg softball

SOFTBALL/FASTBALL

1972 - Ontario Novice Champions 'Sinclair Mustangs'

1975 - Ontario Junior B Champions, 'Cobourg Angels'

1976 - Ontario Junior B Champions, 'Cobourg Angels' (team was voted Cobourg Athlete of the Year)

1979 - Ontario Juvenile A Champions, 'Cobourg Angels'

1984 - Ontario Sr Tier II Champions, 'Cobourg Angels'

1986 - St. Clements Suns picked Margie up to attend the Expo 86 'mini world fastball tournament', held in Vancouver, B.C. Teams participating were  from Japan, China, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Chinese-Taipei and the host Vancouver team

1989 - Ontario Sr Tier I Champions, Cambridge/St. Clements Suns

1989 - National Sr Tier I Championships Cambridge/St. Clements Suns (finished 4th)

1990 - Ontario Sr Tier I Champions, Asst. Coach, 'Cobourg Angels' 

1990 - National Sr Tier I Championships, Asst. Coach, 'Cobourg Angels' (finished 4th)

POST HIGH SCHOOL

1979 - 1980 Centennial College varsity College hockey- Co-MVP

1980 - 1981 Wilfrid Laurier University- varsity basketball team- Voted Rookie of the Year

1981 - 1982 Wilfrid Laurier University- varsity basketball team

1983 - 1989 competitive Senior womens  hockey- Kitchener and St Clements

COACHING

1978 - Midget girls volleyball - CDCI West

1979 - Midget girls volleyball - CDCI West

1983 - Badminton - CDCI West

1983 - Stratford Midget girls softball team

1983 - Softball Canada - clinic instructor

1990 - Cobourg Angels, assistant coach, senior fastball team

GOLF - 1993-present

2004 - made Ontario women's amateur team by placing 4th at ON tourney
- team Ontario won Canadian inter-provincial title

2007 - won Ontario 4-ball tournament with MaryAnn Hayward

2009 - won Ontario Mid-Am title at Markland Woods (73-75-69)

2011 - made Ontario senior team by placing 3rd at ON tournament
- team Ontario won Canadian inter-provincial title
- placed 8th at Canadian tournament at Whitevale G.C.

2009 - 2011 Golf Ontario mid-am ranking 4th and 5th 2009-2011

Won 16 Stratford Club championships, 2 at Craigowan-Oxford

 

 

Kevin Fast

Born: April 13, 1963, St. Catharines, ON

Family:

Wife- Suzanne
Children – Abigail, Jacob, Matthew

Education:

North Park Collegiate, Brantford, ON.  Diploma  1982
McMaster University B.A. 1998. (Bachelor)
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines, M.Div., 1992.(Master)
Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., D.Min., 2002.(Doctor)

Strength Sports:

Heavy Events amateur competitor 1994-1996
Heavy Events professional competitor 1996- still going
Games organizer 1996- still going
Competed in Canada, USA, Scotland, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, China, Singapore, Thailand and Germany

World Records:

Guinness World Record 1998– Heaviest truck pulled over 100ft – 16 ton
Ripley’s Record            1999– Heaviest trucks pulled over 100ft -2x16 ton
Guinness World Record 2001– Heaviest truck pulled over 100ft. – 27 ton
Guinness World Record 2003– Heaviest truck pulled over 100ft. – 28 ton
Guinness World Record 2004– Heaviest truck pulled over 100ft. – 51.4 ton
Guinness World Record 2007-  Heaviest truck pulled over 100ft  - 63 ton
Guinness World Record 2008– Heaviest truck pulled with arm wrestling – 8.5 ton

Guinness World Record 2008-  Most people walking on stilts for 100 m

Guinness World Record 2008-  Heaviest truck pulled over 100ft - 63.2 ton

Guinness World Record 2009-  Heaviest plane pulled – 208 ton

Guinness World Record 2010-  Lifted and held 500kg for longest time 42s

Guinness World Record 2010- Heaviest House pulled 40 ton

Guinness World Record 2011- Heaviest truck pulled with arm wrestling– 12 ton

Guinness World Record 2011– Heaviest vehicle pulled by two people – 75 ton

Ripley’s Record             2011– Most people back lifted – 22 people

Guinness World Record 2011– Lifted and held 500 kg for longest time 60s

Guinness World Record 2011-  Most people lifted with shoulders – 10 people

Guinness World Record 2013–Heaviest truck pulled with arm wrestling–12.5 ton

Guinness World Record 2013-  Most people lifted with shoulders – 11 people

Guinness World Record 2013-  Most cabers tossed in 3 minutes - 14

Guinness World Record 2013-  Heaviest sled pulled by Santa – 17.5 ton

World Record 2013- Stan Lee's Superhumans- Heaviest truck pulled - 140 ton

Guinness World Record 2014– Most cabers tossed simultaneously - 52

Guinness World Record 2014– Most cabers tossed in 3 min. by two people - 11

Guinness World Record 2014– Most cars pulled 5 meters – 15

Guinness World Record 2015- Most cabers tossed simultaneously - 69

Guinness World Record 2015- Most cabers tossed in 3 min by 2 people– 15

Guinness World Record 2016– Heaviest truck pulled with arm wrestling – 16 ton

Guinness World Record 2016– Heaviest vehicle pulled by two people– 91 ton

Guinness World Record 2016– Heaviest vehicle pulled by one person– 75 ton

Guinness World Record 2017– Heaviest vehicle pulled by one person– 109 ton

Guinness World Record 2017– Heaviest vehicle pushed by one person-  12 tons

Guinness World Record 2017– Heaviest vehicle pulled in seated position–12 tons

Guinness World Record 2018– Most cabers tossed in one hour – 122

Guinness World Record 2020-  Heaviest sled pulled – 18 ton

 

World Records set in Canada, USA, Italy, China.

Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: 300 lbs.

Charities:

Pulled trucks to raise money for:

Pull for Kids (Lung Association – Asthma)
Waumer Walk (ALS)

Tim Horton’s Kid’s Camp

Soldier On

McDonald’s Children’s Charities
Fire Prevention Week

Habitat for Humanity

Alzheimer’s Society

TV appearances:

TLC “World’s Most Awesome Record Breakers”
TBS, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”
CTV “Canada AM”
CBC “The X”
Global “News Special”
Global “100 Huntley St.”
City TV “Breakfast TV”
Real TV
Discovery Channel “Record Breakers”
Documentary, “Good to Finish”
Discovery Channel “Daily Planet.”

ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox “Regis and Kelly”, “Anderson” “Steve Harvey”

AT&T Uverse – Record Breakers

History Channel - Stan Lee Super Humans

 

Museums:

Shoes are on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, St. Augustine, Florida
Shoes are on display at Guinness World Records Museum, Niagara Falls, Canada

 

Books and Magazines:

Guinness Desk top calendar 1999
Guinness World Book of Records 2003
Guinness World Book of Records 2004
Guinness World Book of Records 2005

Guinness World Book of Records 2009

Guinness World Book of Records 2010

Guinness World Book of Records 2011

Guinness World Book of Records 2012

Guinness World Book of Records 2013

Guinness World Book of Records 2014

Guinness World Book of Records 2015

Guinness World Book of Records 2016

Guinness World Book of Records 2017

Guinness World Book of Records 2018

Guinness World Book of Records 2020

Guinness World Book of Records 2021

Ripley’s Believe It or Not 2005 (Blue Ed.)
Ripley’s Believe It or Not 2005 (Scholastic)
Ripley’s Believe It or Not “Odd-inary People”  

Ripley’s Believe It or Not 2011, 2013

Muscle and Fitness April 2005 (Ten Greatest Strength Feats)
Muscle and Fitness December 2005

Sports Illustrated Dec.11, 2009 Best Pictures of the Year

ESPN The Magazine Sept. 21, 2010