FORMER DUKES HONOURED BY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
A pair of former Wellington Dukes, Garry Lavender and Paul Rosebush, are part of the inaugural Induction Class for the Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame.
Eight Prince Edward County athletes who have represented Canada on the national or international stage have been selected to be the first inductees into the new Sports Hall of Fame, to be opened Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Wellington arena.
“The Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame is thrilled with the number of nominations it received in its inaugural year,” said president Hugh Parliament. “Some are record holders, all have performed with distinction, bringing honour and pride to Prince Edward County.”
GARRY LAVENDER
Lavender was a lifelong resident of Prince Edward County. He attended CML Snider School in Wellington, and Prince Edward Collegiate in Picton. He then attended the University of Toronto.
Lavender, along with his brothers — Tom, Bob, and Paul — formed the nucleus of several sports teams in The County. They won an All-Ontario peewee baseball championship in 1959 and various provincial softball championships from 1960-66.
In 1964, Lavender won an All-Ontario OHA juvenile hockey championship and two years later was the player-coach of the Wellington Dukes Intermediate D hockey club. From 1971-85, he coached the Dukes at the Junior C level.
Lavender spent countless hours in the rinks and on the fields of PEC as a referee, manager, convener, organizer and executive member with many teams. He refereed lacrosse for five years in The County and in Napanee.
Under Garry’s leadership, the Wellington Dukes represented Eastern Canada at the Royal Bank Cup national Jr. A hockey championship in Charlottetown, PEI.
An avid linksman, Lavender always had time for a game of golf, winning the Barclay Trophy in 1974 and the Jenkin Evans Award in 1975 at the Picton Golf Club.
He was posthumously awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award for his dedicated service to the community.
PAUL ROSEBUSH
He attended Pinecrest School in Bloomfield, and CML Snider School in Wellington. Rosebush later graduated from Prince Edward Collegiate.
A product of the Prince Edward County minor hockey system, Rosebush moved on to play successfully for the Wellington Dukes at the Junior A level. In 1996, he was named MVP of the old Metro Junior Hockey League.
Rosebush then attended the University of Guelph where he helped win a CIS national championship in 1997.
In 1998, Rosebush played with the Canadian University All-Stars against the American All-Stars. He also won a bronze medal at the World University Games that same year.
From 1999-2006, Rosebush starred with the Bakersfield (California) Condors of the minor pro East Coast Hockey League. His jersey was retired in 2007. At the time, Rosebush was the all-time franchise leader for games played, game-winning goals and penalty minutes.
Rosebush won three Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) championships while playing for minor teams in The County. In 1996, he won the Canadian junior championship as a member of the Napanee Express.
In 1999, playing for the Canadian national team, Rosebush won a gold medal in fastball at the Pan American Games. With the Owen Sound Selects, he won the Canadian senior championship one year later.
Rosebush won a world championship in 2007 with Madison, Wisconsin. Two years earlier, he had been selected to the World All-Star Team.
Congratulations from the OJHL on the tremendous accomplishments!
