Bobby Orr Hall of Fame names the 2012 inductees.
The naming of the 2012 inductees included a cake cutting. From left, former members of the 1961-1962 Bantam team Cliff Shurr, Wayne Gignac and Gaye Norrie, with Rick Thomas representing the late William Peachey, Bill Harris representing his late dad Ronald Harris, Sandra Hunt, and former bantam player Simon Stanley.
Sarah Bissonette/North Star
PARRY SOUND - The three people and a team chosen to enter the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame this year were revealed last week.
The ninth annual induction ceremony is scheduled for May 26 at the Charles W. Stockey Centre. That night, the 1961-1962 Bantam All Stars team and Special Olympian Sandra Hunt will enter the Hall of Fame alongside the posthumous entries of professional golfer Ronald Harris and local minor hockey co-founder William Peachey.
Sandra Hunt
Hunt’s Special Olympic career includes awards from local, national, and international competitions in softball, track and field, and bowling, “but her participation in the international Special Olympic Games in Boise, Idaho in the snowshoeing event is where you’ll find most of her successful results,” said Dave Garagan, chair of the 2012 selection committee, while introducing Hunt. “Her career is posted throughout the Internet and we look forward to inducting Sandra Hunt in 2012.”
Sandra said it felt “really good” to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“I just enjoy doing it all,” she said of her Special Olympic sports. “It’s worthwhile.”
William Peachy
William Peachy’s, “long recognized as the principal force of the formation in minor hockey in Parry Sound. William Peachy’s impact extended beyond the local rink to the Little NHL and involvement in the organization of the woman’s auxiliary,” said Garagan.
He was also a man remembered for his letters published in the local newspaper and for co-founding girls’ hockey in 1961.
Rick Thomas represented Peachy last week on behalf of Peachy’s son Dennis, who couldn’t make it from his home in the U.S. Thomas reconnected with Dennis in the writing of his books on the history of hockey in Parry Sound.
“He was kind of a rebel,” said Thomas of Peachey. “Dave mentioned he was always writing to the editor if he didn’t like the way things were: he really had an opinion about things, a very strong opinion and he fought for what he thought as right.”
Peachy wasn’t just concerned about local minor hockey but the local environment as well.
“He was very concerned about the environment in Parry Sound and really concerned about Georgian Bay and how it’s become polluted,” said Thomas on Dennis’ behalf.
Ron Harris
Ron Harris spent his adult life outside of Parry Sound, but he told everyone he was from Parry Sound, said his son Bill Harris.
“It would have been ….two years ago he came to the induction ceremony here and met up with some old friends, so he was very aware of it, very impressed with it and would have been thrilled to know that he’s inducted,” said Bill.
Inducted for golf, Ron also played hockey.
“Growing up in Parry Sound and area there does not appear to be a sport that Ron was not successful at, and he was alway immensely proud to be part of a hockey team in his hometown that won a provincial junior championship.
“However, his accomplishments in the sport of golf are inspiring and include a career as a professional golfer, including his CPGA designation but also his ‘superintendent’s designation,’ which in the golf industry now is unheard of.”
Along with playing on golf courses, Harris helped design them in Ontario and mentored upcoming players.
But it wasn’t his play on the course or the designing input he had that he is best remembered for.
“He became known mostly as a teacher and mentor with both golf and curling….he became known for being the guy who other pros came to when he was having trouble. And…it would just be to talk to him. When he was teaching, he expressed confidence in you and that allowed you to have confidence in yourself and sometimes people just needed to talk to him.”
1921-1962 bantams
The 1961-1962 Bantam team didn’t lose a game and racked up four championships, something Garagan described in his introductory remarks was a “miracle that is unlikely to be repeated.”
The team included Simon Stanley, Cliff Shurr, Gaye Norrie, Bob Cardy, Roger Bloomfield, Jimmy Whittaker and Bobby Orr.
“It seems perfect timing to induct this legendary team into the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame on the 50th anniversary of their perfect season,” he said.” The ‘61/’62 team, when we do our induction in May, the story is what is key, a great bunch of young guys getting together to play our game of hockey the way it should have been played.”
Team member Stanley was at the announcement last week, with some pictures including a photo of team mates after winning the championship LIttle NHL tournament game 6-0 in Cobourg.
“All I remember was a tenacious team: and, it was a team effort, it wan’t just because we had Bobby” said Stanley, one of the team’s goaltenders.
Shurr also played goalie for the team that year. For him, the most memorable shot stares him in the eye when he looks in the mirror.
“I remember one I got right up in here,” he said, pointing to a scar on his eyelid. “We were before masks
That year, the team’s arch rival was from Huntsville, said Norrie, who was visiting his home town from Zimbabwe.
When the Parry Sound boys beat the Huntsville boys, they knew they could win the rest.
“One of the other things I recall is we never heard tell of a bus,” he said. “Our parents drove us and I think the idea of looking at this day, we’re here this day because of the commitment and sacrifice and contribution of our parents. “
Past inductees to the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame include Terry Crisp, Barry ‘Hawk’ Tabobondung, Lynn Hurd, Dave Chalk, Tim Vancoughnett and the 1960 MacTier Legionnaires.