FORT FRANCES—The Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame recently announced its plan to celebrate and acknowledge nine outstanding athletes from their community. The ceremony will take place at La Place Rendezvous on Saturday, August 13, 2022.
The planned event will recognize athletes according to several categories. Athletes being inducted include:
- The late Danny Johnson who played in both the NHL and the WHL and was team captain in his last year with the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets. Johnson also played for the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Kelly Lyons a top 10 ranked swimmer in her age group in Canada. Kelly first learned to swim in Rainy Lake, her family’s backyard pool, and the Fort Frances Swim Complex. She began her competitive swimming career as a Masters swimmer at age 30, and has since raced in two World Championships, five National Championships, eight Provincial Championships, and over 20 local swim meets. She has earned over 100 first place finishes in the individual and relay events, holding provincial individual and relay records.
- Danny Smith has a renowned 21-year career in Special Olympics, from 1991-2012 competing in a variety of sports, including: baseball, track and field, curling, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, 10-pin bowling, 5-pin bowling and swimming.
There are 4 inductees in the Builders category:
- Doug Egan who coached minor hockey for 37 years and was one of the leaders in the Ice for Kids Arena Campaign.
- Fort Frances Curling Club Committee who between 1991-1993 built the new curling club on Eighth Street, after the original club was condemned two years prior.
- The late Herman Guimond, whose name was synonymous with hockey in Fort Frances and the Couchiching First Nation, from the 1940’s to the 1980’s.
- Terry Ogden who coached the Muskies Hockey Team to 5 provincial medals, three silver medals and coached Fort Frances High School to their first 2-gold medals in 1986 and1989.
Two Teams will also be entering the Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame. These are:
- 1989 Plaza Lanes Bantam Girl’s Bowling Team, Canadian Gold Medalists, who represent the first "young lady bowlers" to be nominated.
- 1986 FFHS Muskie Hockey Team who are Provincial Gold Medalists.
The community is encouraged to come out and celebrate the accomplishments of these distinguished athletes, role models and leaders. Tickets for this event will go on sale in June 2022.
Since the inaugural induction ceremony in 2015, 11 athletes, 15 builders and seven teams have been honoured for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to a wide variety of sports. Nominations are made by the general public through an open process.
