NEWS

Lindsay Muskies General Manager & Head Coach Dan West has been announced as a new Inductee in the Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame.

The Oakwood, Ontario native was originally a player in the league, playing two seasons for the Lindsay Bears (now Muskies) franchise from 1991-93 in the COJHL.  West would spend time in the MJAHL, as well as in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and Peterborough Petes, before ultimately returning home to coach the Muskies the past two seasons.

Below is an article on the announcement from www.mykawartha.com, written by reporter Jamie Steel:

Three individuals and a lacrosse team were announced Wednesday (Aug. 12) as the newest inductees into the Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame.

At the announcement, hosted by corporate sponsor Boston Pizza, Norman O’Reilly, Sherry Trumbull and Dan West were recognized for their contributions to the world of athletics.

Furthermore, the 1969 Sunderland Saints lacrosse team was celebrated for the first and only all-Ontario championships in their sport in the Central Ontario Catchment area.

The Sunderland Saints, under the leadership of manager Rev. Newton Reed, head coach Chuck Thompson and assistant coach Dale St. John, played out of the Sunderland arena and defeated the Lakefield Chiefs in semi-final play and Brantford Six Nations for the All-Ontario Championship. The “Cinderella team,” as Councillor Pat O’Reilly called them, is being recognized for winning the highest honour in their sport and is the first lacrosse team to be inducted in the hall of fame.

Norman O’Reilly, referred to as a pioneer in the sport of triathlon locally and a representative of Canada in the international governance of the sport, is also being inducted into the hall of fame. In addition to the many triathlons he has competed in, the 50 medals he has received and being named Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Paralympic Team, Mr. O’Reilly is being recognized for being a builder of sport. Having served on numerous boards and research projects, the Lindsay native is considered one of Canada’s foremost academic authorities on sports. Mr. O’Reilly hopes his induction into the Sports Hall of Fame will inspire others to work hard and follow their dreams.

Sherry Trumbull, an LCVI graduate who has been playing sports since she was only five years old, is also recognized as a builder of sport as she prepares to be inducted into the Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame this October. Having played rugby since her final year in high school, Ms. Trumbull has also received numerous commendations for her refereeing of the sport and, according to the hall of fame, is considered one of the top six women rugby officials in the world.

Dan West, coach of the Lindsay Jr. ‘A’ Muskies, was the third individual inductee announced Wednesday and is being recognized for his continued contributions to hockey. He has played in the Ontario Hockey League, the Western Canada Hockey League and Junior ‘A’ in Summerside, PEI, where he helped his team to a national championship. Since playing the sport, Mr. West has continued on to be a scout, director of player personnel, skills development coach, general manager and technical and tactical skills consultant for several junior teams. He has won Coach of the Year and several championships behind the bench.

The new inductees will be formally honoured at the Lindsay Armoury on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015.

Also recognized at the induction announcement were local students Cameron McDonald and Emma Dowell, who earned themselves Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame bursaries as they move on to post-secondary education.

Ms. Dowell, a graduate of Fenelon Falls Secondary School, is an Ontario Scholar and will study Business Administration at Wilfred Laurier University.  She has been involved in a number of school and community activities and participated in sports such as cross country, basketball, volleyball, badminton, soccer, track and field and fastball. Ms. Dowell has won several Kawartha and COSSA medals and was recognized as female athlete of the year four times throughout her high school career.

Mr. McDonald is also an Ontario Scholar as well as a graduate of I.E. Weldon Secondary School with plans to study engineering at Carleton University. He has competed in a variety of athletics, in school and in the community, including cross-country, soccer, badminton, lacrosse, high jump, swimming, rugby, basketball and volleyball. He has received MVP honours, a rookie of the year award and the most outstanding junior male athlete award, in addition to Kawartha and COSSA championships. Furthermore, Mr. McDonald was involved with the school’s athletic union, refereeing Optimist soccer, coaching the Lindsay Wildcats Basketball League and a leader with the Boys and Girls Club.