Sports Wall of Fame

Born in St. Marys in 1880, Riley Hern achieved incredible success as a hockey player in Canada and the United States. Hern played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association in the late 1890’s and developed his skills as a forward and goaltender. Following his junior hockey career, he transitioned to professional play in both the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League and International Professional Hockey League.

In the 1906 season Hern joined the Montreal Wanderers hockey club in Quebec. During his time with the Wanderers, the team won the prestigious Stanley Cup four times in 1906, 1907, 1908, and again in 1910. As a reflection of his success in the sport, Hern was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962 and has been listed among the greatest goaltenders of all time by veteran hockey writers and fellow athletes.

The Montreal Wanderers were the first hockey club to win the Stanley Cup? The 1907 winners had their names engraved in the interior bowl of the cup, a permanent fixture on the trophy. ​

Each year, the National Hockey League (NHL) champions are awarded the Stanley Cup trophy at the end of a grueling multi-series playoff season. Modern teams see their names added to silver bands at the base of the cup, which are systematically archived at the Hockey Hall of Fame as new winners are awarded the trophy each season. Riley Hern and the Montreal Wanderers of 1907 remain the only team to hold a permanent place in the historic cup.

The 1907 Montreal Wanderers are forever etched in history as the first winners of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Pictured here, Riley Hern, goaltender and St. Marys native, is listed third from the bottom on the left-hand side.

Mark first registered with St. Marys Minor Hockey at age 4 and continued representing the Town locally until graduating to the Junior B league.​

He represented St. Marys playing travel (Rep) hockey from Novice through Bantam winning an Ontario Zone Championship in the 89/90 season and the International Silver Stick title in the 94/95 season, his last in St. Marys. Subsequently, Mark moved on to Play Jr. B with the Stratford Cullitons for the 95/96 Season.​

Following the 95/96 season Mark was drafted in the first round of the OHL draft (15th) by the Ottawa 67s. Mark played 4 seasons (212 games) in the OHL for Ottawa, averaging nearly a point per game, scoring 105 Goals and 102 assists. His OHL career was capped by winning the Memorial Cup with the 67’s in the 98/99 season.

Mark first registered with St. Marys Minor Hockey at age 4 and continued representing the Town locally until graduating to the Junior B league.​

He represented St. Marys playing travel (Rep) hockey from Novice through Bantam winning an Ontario Zone Championship in the 89/90 season and the International Silver Stick title in the 94/95 season, his last in St. Marys. Subsequently, Mark moved on to Play Jr. B with the Stratford Cullitons for the 95/96 Season.​

Following the 95/96 season Mark was drafted in the first round of the OHL draft (15th) by the Ottawa 67s. Mark played 4 seasons (212 games) in the OHL for Ottawa, averaging nearly a point per game, scoring 105 Goals and 102 assists. His OHL career was capped by winning the Memorial Cup with the 67’s in the 98/99 season.

Mark played 4 full seasons with the Blackhawks between 2002 – 2006 with the 04/05 lost lockout season interrupting back-to-back 20 goal campaigns. He scored his first goal in his rookie season against Patrick Roy and the Colorado Avalanche on October 21, 2001. In the Summer of 2006 Mark was traded to the San Jose Sharks where he played another full season. Following that, Mark was moved up and down through both the AHL and NHL playing games for the Toronto Maples Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks. He finished his NHL career with 450 games played, 87 goals 95 assists for 182 points and 602 penalty minutes. Before his retirement at the end of the 2016 season, Mark had played over 800 professional games during his 16 seasons as a professional hockey player.

Dale grew up playing fastball in St. Marys and area and moved on to play over 20 years (1995 - 2016) of competitive men’s fastball reaching the pinnacle in 2009 when he played at the International Softball Federation Championships on team Canada Winning a bronze medal in Saskatoon.​

He played at the ISC level on many teams including the Owen Sounds Selects, Midland Explorers, Kitchener Hallman Twins, Saskatoon Aspen Interiors, New York Gremlins, and Hill United Chiefs.​

Dale won 3 World Championships at the Men’s ISC level of play with the Hill United Chiefs in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Dale represented St. Marys in many tournaments on many different teams through the years and won several awards and accolades, but he never forgot his hometown roots. Dale was dedicated to the sport of fastball, he worked hard and built upon his talent to be one of the best players in the world. He was best known for his amazing throwing arm; often throwing from centre field all the way to home plate to out a runner, and he was always a homerun threat when up to bat. Dale was an amazing teammate covering whatever role he was asked to play by his coaches and was always present to support his teammates. His longevity as a player and remarkable success in the sport are a testament to those strengths. Since retiring from fastball in 2016, Dale now enjoys coaching his son and training young ball players his craft.

Special Awards & Recognition​

2002 – NAFA World Championship MVP in Salem, Oregon​

2004 – All Star Outfielder at the Canadian Championships in St. Croix, Nova Scotia​

2005 – Hall of Fame induction to the Softball Canada Hall of Fame with the Owen Sound Selects Team​

2006 – Top Player at the Canadian Championships in Prince George, British Columbia​

2007 – All Star Outfielder at Canadian Championships in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador​

2008 – All Star Outfielder at Canadian Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan​

2009 – Bronze Medal recipient at World ISF with Team Canada in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan​

2011 – All Star Outfielder and Top Batter at the Canadian Championships in Owen Sound, Ontario​

2016 – Inducted into the OASA Hall of Fame with the Owen Sound Selects (2000)

When Ferris retired from the Cement Plant in 1982, he retired from coaching – not because he wanted to rest – but because he wanted to give younger people the opportunity to coach. He remained a regular participant in Minor Hockey meetings as a Life Member.

As well as coaching the Midget All Stars, Ferris volunteered as manager of the St. Marys Lincolns for two seasons before being approached by team executives to step in as the head coach. He coached the St. Marys Lincolns from 1967 through 1971 and even reached Ontario semi-finals in his first season. Following his last season with the Lincolns Ferris was asked to coach the St. Marys Pee Wee All Stars and rather than take the year off, he happily accepted the position. ​

Pat Payton covered the sports scene in St. Marys and area for 40 years. He officially retired on Dec. 31, 2022, after working 35 years for the Journal-Argus and his final five years at the St. Marys Independent. He was proud to start Sports Sections at both newspapers.

During his newspaper career, Payton’s St. Marys Sports Sections twice finished in first place in CCNA Canada-wide competitions. Another year, his Sports Section also placed second overall nationally.​

He won several provincial awards (first place) for his submitted Sports Sections in OCNA (Ontario) competitions as well.

Affectionately known by many as ‘Scoop’, Payton was honoured at centre ice at the PRC by the Town of St. Marys and the Jr. ‘B’ Lincolns on the night of Dec. 16, 2022. He received a framed Lincs’ jersey from the Lincolns organization and a signed print from the players, a jacket from the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, as well as a Certificate of Appreciation and honourary key to the Town from St. Marys mayor Al Strathdee. ​

Perth-Wellington MP John Nater made a surprise appearance that night and presented Pat with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pin.​

​A large banner was also presented to Payton that night as well. On the banner are six local sports organizations that he covered over four decades. They included the Lincolns, St. Marys minor hockey, minor ball and ringette, high school sports, and the area golf courses.

The Ontario provincial elimination tournament was hosted in St. Marys in July of 1988. The Creamery Juniors were lucky to play in this tournament in front of a full capacity hometown crowd of supporters. They went 9-1 at the Ontario eliminations tournament in July 1988, which qualified them for the upcoming Canadian National Championship in Lloydminster, Alberta as that season’s Ontario Provincial champions.

The 1988 St. Marys Creamery Juniors are the only St. Mays team to date to ever win a Canadian championship, capturing the national title undefeated in Lloydminster, Alberta in August 1988. The Juniors went to a perfect 7-0 at the week-long tournament, outscoring their opponents from across the country 45-15, and leaving no doubt who the best and most dominant team was.

Players

Peter Bodenham​
Paul Bushfield​
Marc Cameron​
Dave Doyan​
Jim Elder​
Andy Gibb​
Brad Hondrich
​Paul Horenburg
Doug Levy ​
Lonnie Loach​
Tony McEwan​
Scott Shackleton
​Greg Snyder​
Derek Switzer
​Keith Traquair​
Chris Turner
​Ron White 

Staff

Ron Marriott (Manager)​
Brian Dundas (Coach)
​Richard Kennedy (Assistant Coach)
​Lois Moir (Assistant Coach)​
John Urquhart (Assistant Coach)​
Bentley Dundas (Bat Boy)​
Jason Marriott (Bat Boy)

The selection criteria and nomination process laid out below is a comprehensive plan that ensures nominations are assessed equitably.  The Sports Wall of Fame selection committee will be the Recreation & Leisure Advisory Committee. The mandate of this committee is to advise and assist Council and the residents of the Town of St. Marys on matters relating to Recreation and Leisure. This program meets the mandate and Terms of Reference for this committee.

All completed submissions will be reviewed with a maximum of three inductees being added each year regardless of category. Incomplete nomination forms will be returned for further information and may not be eligible for this year’s consideration. If a nominator is unsuccessful in any given calendar year that may request feedback from the committee and consider resubmission for the following nomination period. Only persons or teams meeting the criteria shall be eligible for selection.

Nominees will be individuals or teams that have been outstanding in their athletic field and have brought recognition to themselves and the Town of St. Marys. 

Nominations shall be made through an official nomination form on the Sports Wall of Fame landing page through the Town of St. Marys website. Hard copy forms will be available through the Community Services Department and may be submitted via the Guest Services Desk at the Pyramid Recreation Centre once complete. Nominations must contain the fullest possible data concerning the record and merits of each candidate or team. Nominations must have the consent of the nominee, or if deceased, the family/next of kin. Supporting material in the way of newspaper clippings, letters from witnesses, nominee’s standard of involvement, etc. Not more than 10 sheets in total. All submissions must be received prior to April 30.

All eligible nominee applications not selected for the induction may be reconsidered for four more years. The Committee may contact the nominator via email or letter seeking additional information in subsequent application periods.

In all cases of nominations rejected by the Committee, letters will be sent to the nominator by the Committee, explaining the procedure and asking if there is any additional information that may be relevant to help with the nomination process.

Any nominations submitted that do not meet eligibility criteria will receive a letter from the Committee to confirm receipt of the nomination and clarify ineligibility.

All nomination files will be retained by the Town for any historical information that they may contain. No files will be destroyed unless written request is submitted to the Town of St. Marys by the nominator or nominee.

No sitting member of the Committee shall be considered for election into the Sports Hall of Fame.

All decisions of the Selection Committee will be final.

Categories

Categories shall be broken down into teams, athletes and builders. The following explains each classification:

Teams

The team must have won a recognized provincial (i.e., OMHA, OHA, OBA, OWHA, etc.), national (i.e., U SPORTS, Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, etc.), or international Championship (i.e., Olympic Games, Pan-Am Games, etc.), achieved noteworthy professional success, or have made a significant and unique contribution to the history or heritage of sport in the Town of St. Marys. The team must be from the Town of St. Marys. Only one picture of a team will be used. That way all their success will be captured in their application and identified on the Wall of Fame. If a “team” has been successfully recognized for an achievement, an individual team member may not be nominated for that same achievement unless additional, significant achievements have occurred. Teams will be considered 10 years after their accomplishment.

Athletes

An athlete is an individual from the Town of St. Marys/played for or brought fame to the Town of St. Marys who has excelled in one or more sports with distinction. The Individual must have competed at National or International Levels. Amateur and professional athletes are included in this category. Individuals who have played for teams outside our area and have won Provincial, National, or International Championships will be considered under this category. There will be a two-year period of inactivity in the area for which they have been nominated before being considered, this is to ensure that they have retired and that all their successes will be captured. Certain extenuating circumstances may alter consideration (i.e., terminal illness, etc.).

Builders

To be considered under the builders category, individuals or organizations must meet the following description: originated in the Town of St. Marys; played for or brought fame to the Town of St. Marys; or supported the Town of St. Marys teams or sport organizations. Builders may be nominated if they are still active if they have dedicated at least 25 years of service. If they are no longer active, they must have served a minimum of 25 years. Certain extenuating circumstances may alter considerations (i.e., terminal illness etc.).

Awards

For each inductee (athlete, team, or builder) a photo will be displayed on the physical and virtual Sports Wall of Fame. A condensed biography of individuals and teams awarded will accompany the photo.

Committee Structure

The Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee Terms of Reference will serve as the direction for this committee.  The annually appointed Chair will present the inductees with an award at a selected Town Council meeting annually.

Role of the Committee

The Committee will promote and encourage nominations for the Sports Wall of Fame. The Committee will review all eligible nominations received and select a maximum of three annually.  

Nomination Instructions

1. All submissions must be accompanied by at least one appropriate photograph:
2. All research and information gathered is the responsibility of the nominator.
3. Attach all copies of articles from newspapers, programs, etc., with names and dates if possible.
4. Complete all pages of the Nomination Form including the Nominee Consent Form. Please type or print clearly.
5. If you choose to submit a hard copy of the Nomination Application, mail or deliver completed applications and all attachments to:

   Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee

   c/o Town of St. Marys

   Pyramid Recreation Centre

   St. Marys, ON N4X 1B6

6. The annual deadline for submission nominations will be April 30.
7. If the nomination is accepted, both the nominator and nominee (or a representative) will be contacted directly.