Press Release
Four athletes and two builders make up the 2019 slate of Inductees to enter the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame at the 38th Annual Induction Dinner and Ceremonies set for Sept. 28 in Thunder Bay.
All four of the athletes being inducted competed at the highest level in their chosen sports.
Thunder Bay boxer Trevor Stewardson claimed multiple national titles throughout the 1990s, earned a bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and represented Canada at the 1999 Pan Am Games and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Atikokan’s Paul Wragg represented the region with distinction in powerlifting competing successfully at the 1998 Special Olympic Canada Summer Games, bringing home three gold medals from both the 1999 and 2003 Special Olympic World Summer Games and named Special Olympics Ontario 2000 Male Athlete of the Year.
A product of the Thunder Bay minor hockey system of the 1980s, Bill Houlder enjoyed a successful junior career with the North Bay Centennials and made his NHL debut in 1987 with the Washington Capitals going on to skate in 876 NHL regular season and playoff games with a variety of clubs before retiring with the Nashville Predators in 2003.
Kenora’s Dave Van Belleghem enjoyed a successful football career that included national honours with the University of Calgary Dinos as 1988 Vaniar Cup champions and two Grey Cups which he won in 1991 with the Toronto Argonauts and 1998 with the Calgary Stampeders.
Two people from the region are being recognized in the Builder category including Dryden’s Mike Furlong who dedicated himself to sports development over four decades serving as a coach, referee and organizer for such sports as hockey, football, gymnastics, swimming and skiing, as well as conducting coaching and certification clinics and serving on management teams for both Ontario and Canada Summer Games.
Considered a legend and innovator in the field of ice-making Lloyd Stansell started his career at the Red Rock Recreation Centre in 1958 and has never looked back, going on to provide consultation to curling rinks all across northwestern Ontario and being called upon from the provincial to the world level, serving as an ice-technician at such events as the Brier, Scotties Tournament of Hearts and World Championships, from the 1980s to 2000s.
The 2019 slate of Inductees will be officially inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on the evening of Saturday, September 28th at the Valhalla Inn.
Tickets for the 38th-annual induction dinner and ceremonies can be ordered by calling 622-2852 or via email at nwosport@tbaytel.net or dropping by the Hall at 219 May Street South.
