Canadian Sports Hall of Fame adds three more sports to the roster

It was an emotional day for Canada’s newest batch of elite sport heroes who were inducted into Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame. The long list of 12 athletes from an assortment of sports were read out, one by one, as they made their way onto the red carpet to standing ovations. Some of the 12 said the acknowledgement was a privilege and honour and looked as if they were still in shock. While others said they joined the sport just to play and little did they know they’d end up in the hall of fame.

The 2015 Canadian Hall of Fame class represented sports including form hockey (Paul Coffey) to cycling (Lori Ann Muenzer), men and women and a Paralympian (swimmer Michael Edgson). And the accolades they brought to the hall of fame were endless lists of triumph: a five-time Olympian speed skater (Susan Auch); a decorated judo athlete (Nicolas Gill); two-time Olympic hockey gold medalist (Danielle Goyette); and a three-time Olympic Games women’s field hockey coach (Marina van der Merwe). Jocelyn Bourassa, who helped grow women's golf in Canada, and Jennifer Heil - the first Canadian woman to win a World Cup overall moguls title - will also be inducted along with cross-country skiers Sharon and Shirley Firth (the first Indigenous athletes to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics). These athletes were leaders in their sport, champions in their craft and most are still connected to their sport in some capacity.

Craig Forrest, undisputedly Canada’s greatest goalie who earned 56 caps for the national team, paid tribute to his 2000 Gold Cup team where he also racked up shutouts in three of five matches as Canada went on to win the championship of CONCACAF.

“Thrilled to be part of this group, of great Canadian athletes,” the 47-year-old Forrest, now a soccer broadcaster, said. "I don't know if I'd be standing here if it wasn't for that 2000 Gold Cup team. I just want to share that with the rest of those guys, with the Canadian national team, as well as all of my teammates that I played with around the world."

For 60 years the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame has been plucking out high achievers from the sporting arena across 62 sports, sharing their stories of grit, determination and most of all their unrivaled success. This year three new sports were added to the hall of fame, which included field hockey, rodeo, cricket.

“Every Canadian can recall a moment in sport that is etched forever in our memories,” said Michael Medline, member of board of governors of Canada Sports Hall of Fame. “ Sport is what rallies our nation and defines us on a global stage.”

Toronto born Lori-Ann Muenzer, the only Canadian to win an Olympic gold in cycling said, the first thing she was going to do after the ceremony and hall of fame obligations, was phone an 11-year-old girl named Samantha. The Edmonton girl nominated Muenzer for the hall.

“It feels like I’m back at the Olympics again. When I was up there waiting, cheering and hearing everyone’s bios, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest,” she said. “The big story was that I was 38. For me it wasn’t a big story. If you ask me hold old I am I’ll tell you I’m really 12. I feel like a big kid and I love to have fun.”