Jenna a grade 12 student/athlete at Father John Redmond, Jenna led the Redmond Prep Girls basketball team to a playoff birth in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association. (OSBA) Jenna finished the season 11th in scoring in the province and was selected to the all-Ontario Showcase being played at Humber College, April 1st. The showcase features the province’s top 20 seniors in a tournament to “showcase” their talent.
ETOBICOKE’S OWN IS #1 IN CANADA!!!
Malik Metivier who specializes in the grueling 400 meter hurdles will be running in the NCAA National Championship Meet in Eugene Oregon representing Auburn University (Alabama) this month.
Malik started his track career in elementary school running at Our Lady of Peace. He also played rep basketball for the Etobicoke Thunder and rep soccer for Etobicoke Energy. Malik started to focus on track at Father Redmond in grade 10. He later went on to train with the Etobicoke Track and Field Club under Godfrey James. Malik finished 6th in the 400m hurdles at OFSAA in grade 11 and was injured for the season in grade 12.
Due to the injury in his grade 12 season, he only received one NCAA Division 1 scholarship offer from Drake University, which he accepted. By his second year at Drake, Malik had qualified for the NCAA West Regionals and had broken the school record. But the end of the 2018 season was bitter sweet. He went on to win his first Ontario Championship, his first Canadian Championship and qualify for his first National team but also realized that because of the coaching changes at Drake, he would need to transfer schools. Malik decided to transfer to Auburn University in Alabama.
The transfer came with challenges. Another injury and the decision to stay in Alabama to train alone during the pandemic was difficult. But it became obvious that it was the right choice because in his senior year at Auburn he won a bronze medal at the SEC Conference Championships. He then went on to compete at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
In Oregon, he ran a personal best time of 49.26, earning the title of “All-American” by finishing 5th overall.
Currently, Malik Metivier is ranked #1 in Canada in the 400m hurdles and 7th in the NCAA which is an amazing feat given the injuries that he has had to endure.
With all of his accomplishments on the track, Malik’s proudest moment came in May when he graduated from Auburn University, Magna Cum Laude with a degree from the College of Liberal Arts (Communications).
“Congratulations Malik!! Your perseverance, dedication and commitment has not only paid off but it has set a high standard for other elite athletes trying to pursue their athletic dreams and careers. Something tells me that you’re not done yet” says Joanne Noble, President and Chair of the Board of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
The Athlete of the Month is sponsored by The Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, Humber College, Canadian Tire-The Queensway, and The Etobicoke Guardian. To nominate an athlete, please visit www.etobicokesports.ca
Promoting, Supporting and Developing Sport in Etobicoke
Erica Lund is this month’s Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month.
By Margot Wheeler
Erica Lund is 17 years old and was born, raised and still resides in Etobicoke. Erica is a multi-sport athlete competing in basketball and rhythmic gymnastics. She also enjoys other sports recreationally, such as skiing, biking and swimming. Erica is presently attending Michael Power.
Erica plays on the Etobicoke Stingers Basketball Team and has for several years. You can see Erica and the rest of the Stingers organization showcase their talent at their annual tournament held at Michael Power on Saturday April 13th. Coincidentally, the team is a volunteer organization driven by ESHOF Special O’s ambassador parents, Kathy and Greg Flager.
Erica has also for many years participated in rhythmic gymnastics with the Silhouettes Rhythmic Gymnastics Team. She has attended Ontario-wide competitions, specifically in the Level One Ball discipline.
Over the last 10 years, Erica has learned to ski. She has developed into a confident skier who can negotiate blue runs with enthusiasm. This is an incredible accomplishment for Erica given the fact that at six months of age, doctors could not confidently answer the question, “Will she ever walk”?
Erica also loves to swim. She has taken many swimming lessons and will spend hours in the pool or lake, especially with her dad, David.
Erica has a three-wheel adult trike which allows her to be the pace-bunny for her mom, Heather while she is out running. Erica also enjoys battling it out with her three brothers; Harry, Mitchell and Charlie, who have introduced her to numerous driveway sports.
“You can certainly see that Erica is a very determined young woman. I admire her tenacity, enthusiasm and love of sport” says Joanne Noble, President of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
The Athlete of the Month is sponsored by The Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, Humber College, Canadian Tire-The Queensway, and The Etobicoke Guardian. To nominate an athlete, please visit www.etobicokesports.ca
Promoting, Supporting and Developing Sport in Etobicoke
Oldtimers Hockey League Co-Founder is the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month!
Ralph Currie has been a goalie in ice hockey since he was 14 years old and now 83 years old, he still plays three times a week and says he loves the exercise, camaraderie and longtime friendships hockey has to offer!!
Ralph moved to Etobicoke with his wife Rosemary in 1958 where they raised their five children. With his children’s interest in sports, he instantly became a community volunteer coaching teams in hockey and lacrosse.
Ralph is also a Co- Founder of the West Mall Oldtimers League which is celebrating their 37th anniversary this year. Currie is rightfully proud to boast that the league started with four teams and now has sixteen teams made up of four divisions.
As a youngster, “no one wanted to play goalie because they couldn’t afford all of the equipment” said Currie so he volunteered not knowing anything about the position, only to point out that ESHOFamer Turk Broda was his idol. He remembers stuffing magazines in his hockey socks to use as goalie pads. Fast forward almost 70 years and Currie is still the backstop for his team.
An all ‘round athlete participating in baseball, golf and swimming, Ralph also remembers doing lengths in Lake Ontario from the Humber River to the CNE with another ESHOFamer Cliff Lumsdon.
“Ralph is a wonderful community man. He’s young at heart and an inspiration to so many” says Joanne Noble President of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
By ESHOF Board of Governor, Margot Wheeler
Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, athlete of the month is Liam Mathers
Liam Mathers has embraced the Canadian sports culture. Liam born and raised in Etobicoke loves all of the sports our country has to offer. In the winter, Liam plays hockey for the Humber Valley Sharks and curls at High Park Curling Club. But his true passion is for Canada’s national summer sport of lacrosse.
Liam has played for the Mimico Mountaineers for 10 years since he was a mere 3 years old as a Baby Peanut. He was given his nickname of “Beef” by his first coach and it has stuck ever since! Playing spring field lacrosse Liam has been a part of teams winning 2 silver and 2 gold medals, the most recent this spring. In the summertime Liam plays on the Mimico Box team travelling around the province proudly displaying the M on his chest. Fall brings field lacrosse where in prior years his teams have twice made it to the finals.
He gives back to the sport he loves and is a vital part of the Mountaineers family. Liam is a trusted volunteer for the Mimico organization. He assists at introductory sessions promoting the sport; he has worn the Mascot costume at local events and this year he generously gave of his spare time assisting younger teams at practices, games and tournaments. Liam has also volunteered many hours with the Ontario Minor Field Lacrosse League assisting at games and the Championship weekend.
Liam attends Norseman Junior Middle School and is in grade 8. His younger sister, Gretchen is also a Mimico Mountaineer lacrosse player but her true passion is swimming.
“Liam was thrilled to be named Etobcioke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month. He’s very enthusiastic and loves his sports and is a great ambassador for the sport of lacrosse” says Joanne Noble, President of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
J.J. Hawkrigg, Snowboarder is this month’s Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month.
By Margot Wheeler
J.J. Hawkrigg, has just had her best finish on the World Cup snowboard circuit finishing, 26th. This top 30 finish, qualifies her, to compete in the World Championships in Park City, Utah, in February. Jennifer or J.J. clinched her spot in Austria in early January. This accomplishment will help J.J. attain her ultimate goal of representing Canada at the Winter Olympics in 2022 in Beijing, China.
J.J. born, raised and still living in Etobicoke, gets from her athleticism genetically. Her grandfather Mel Hawkrigg was inducted in the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame as a multi- talented athlete, playing for the Hamilton Tigercats of the CFL, and still maintains a Canadian record for Track and Field. Mel is also a member of the Hall of Fame for Etobicoke Collegiate. Giving back to the school that helped launch is athletic career he awards an athletic scholarship to a ECI student on a yearly basis. Her dad, John Hawkrigg coached the Humber Valley Sharks hockey team to a Provincial Championship. J.J.’s brother Michael played hockey for Division 3, Trinity College, in Hartford, Connecticut, winning a National Championship and was named a two time All American. J.J,’s sister Kate danced competitively since the age of 5 in Etobicoke.
J.J. grew up skiing with her family in Ellicottville, in upstate New York and saw how much fun her mom Chris and her sister Kate had snowboarding, so she decided to switch from skiing to boarding at the young age of four. After, watching a race, she knew she wanted to compete, and the rest is history.
J.J. 22, is also attending Ryerson University for business and does this by attending around the snowboard circuit.
“Jennifer sure knows what it takes to be an Olympic caliber athlete,” said Joanne Noble, president of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, which named Hawkrigg its January
athlete of the month.
“Her tenacity, compete level and commitment gives her an advantage as she pursues her dream. Her character is outstanding and I can only hope that we see her atop the
podium with gold around her neck”.
The Athlete of the Month is sponsored by The Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, Humber College, Canadian Tire-The Queensway, and The Etobicoke Guardian. To nominate an athlete, please visit www.etobicokesports.ca. Promoting, Supporting and Developing Sport in Etobicoke.
Erik Galipeau is a 16 year old born and raised Etobicoke resident. He is currently a grade 10 student at Silverthorn Collegiate Institute who plays for the West Mall Lightning AA hockey team, but who has also taken the lawn bowls world by storm.
Commonly perceived as a “retiree’s hobby”, lawn bowls is a highly competitive and very popular sport in many countries around the world. “Bowls” is a sport played by many young people and uniquely shared by generations playing together.
An article written in the Etobicoke Guardian inviting kids to come out and play bowls at Etobicoke Lawn Bowling Club captured the interest of Erik almost four years ago. The club was soliciting young players to join and participate in the 2014 Canadian Junior National Championships. Erik went to the open house and it was love right from the rolling of his first bowl.
That first season at Etobicoke, Erik played lots of bowls and received some great instruction from some of the best in-house players and also from current and former National team members.
The 2015 season was the start of Erik’s rise to prominence in Ontario’s youth bowls. A respectable 5th place finish in the Provincial Championship at the beginning of the season was followed by dominating the remainder of the youth tournaments for the rest of the season. He finished the year winning the 2015 Earl Mayer Youth Bowler of the Year. His success was not limited to the junior tournaments – Erik was a member of the District 10 Men’s Triples Championship Team who competed in the Provincial Championship just outside of Ottawa.
Erik credits his quick rise to success to the amazing players who had provided him with expert coaching and advice. Half way through the summer of 2015, John Bezear, a former Australian Men’s National Champion and silver medalist at the World Championships and a former member of Canada’s National team started coaching Erik. Since teaming up with John, Erik’s game has risen to new heights.
In 2016, Erik finished 3rd in the Junior Provincials and 5th in the Junior Nationals. Erik also participated in the Provincial Championship as his District Champion in Men’s Singles, Men’s Triples, Men’s Fours, and Men’s Novices. In Novice’s he brought home a bronze medal. All this success during the season helped Erik secure a sponsorship with a local Short Mat Bowls Club – JJ Mat, an industry supplier, Perky Bowls out of Vancouver and a local charity and Foodbank, Haven on the Q.
The 2016 season ended with Erik representing Canada in the World Indoor Bowls Council U25 World Championships in Glasgow Scotland. At only 15 years old the trip was positioned as a learning experience and to get some exposure to bowls at the International level. Erik participated in the Singles event and the Mixed Triples where he was teamed up with Dominic McVittie from England and another 15 year old, Rebecca Houston from Scotland. The three team mates played flawlessly through the competition remaining undefeated and ending the finals with a convincing straight set win to bring home a World Championship to Canada. “Winning in Scotland was the most incredible experience. I have so many people to thank that have helped me. Getting a taste of winning only makes me want to work harder, represent Canada, and win more championships!” The Championship win was only the third World Championship by a Canadian and the first in over 10 years. Erik was also the youngest male to ever win at a World Indoor U25 event.
Indoor lawn bowling is a sport that flies under the radar, but I think Erik has the potential to bring it into the limelight if he keeps on winning. He’s a natural athlete and has a wonderful personality” says Joanne Noble, Chair of the Board of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
By Margot Wheeler
Sydney Munro is a 15-year-old, born and raised Etobicoke resident. Sydney attended Humber Valley Middle School where her two younger sisters, Hailey and Abigail currently attend. Both are following in their big sister’s athletic footsteps and are both competitive dancers.
Currently, Sydney is attending Richview Collegiate in grade 10. The Etobicoke Guardian, featured Sydney’s junior basketball team in the fall, when they qualified and later won the Junior City Basketball Championships. As a multi sport athlete Sydney also participated on the junior varsity volleyball and swim team. Richview’s swim team qualified and participated in OFSAA swim meet in 2016.
Sydney started her swimming career early, participating in parent and tot swim lessons with Parks and Recreation when she was 3 months old. Later she breezed through her swimming levels and was looking to continue her swimming career. At the age of 10, she enrolled in the Parks and Recreation, “Splash” program that introduces the participant to competitive swimming. Sydney a self professed “race-junkie” craved the rush of competing. To feed this craving Sydney joined Lakeshore Swim Club, which swims out of Gus Ryder Pool. This swim club founded by Gus Ryder (ESHOF 1994) in 1930 where 6 past inductees of Etobcioke Sports Hall of Hall, including Cliff Lumsdon (1994), Kim Lumsdon (2006) and Marilyn Bell (2003) to name a few, trained there. Lakeshore is a smaller club with approximately 100 swimmers, some who are ranked provincially and nationally.
Sydney’s stroke of choice is freestyle (front crawl) and back stroke. Sydney is currently on a nationally ranked relay team with 3 close friends. When presented with her award, Sydney was very honoured and humbled. When asked what Penny Oleksiak’s Olympic performance has done for her. Sydney stated that “Penny O has transformed the sport of swimming in Canada and around the world. She has allowed swimmers like me to realize that I can reach my fullest potential with hard work, dedication and a little bit of dreaming.” She’s an all-round athlete and has great potential along with a wonderful personality says Joanne Noble, Chair of the Board of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
To nominate an Athlete of the Month, visit our website www.etobicokepsorts.ca.
Humber College Soccer Goal Keeper, Karman Singh December’s Athlete of the Month
The Humber College Men’s soccer team had a record breaking year, winning both the Provincials and CCAA National Championship. The Humber College men’s soccer team is the first program to finish a season with a perfect record of 16-0-0.
Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month Karman Singh played a critical role in the team’s success recording shut outs in all of tournament play. He thanked Humber College for giving him the chance to play, and his teammates and coaches for letting him be a part of this record breaking season.
Karman was born in Etobicoke and started playing soccer at the young age of 3 and later joined the Toronto FC Academy before attending Humber College. He has decided to fulfil his dream and play soccer full time and will be moving to Sweden in January where he signed a 1 year contract with a professional team.
In his spare time, Singh helps out his community and has volunteered at the ScotiaBank Waterfront Marathon and local food banks.
Head Coach, Michael Aquino of the men’s soccer team states that Karman was a key contributor to the team’s success. He goes on to state that “Karman understands that being a successful student athlete requires dedication perseverance and commitment; traits which he shows both on and off the field.
“Karman is extremely honoured to be receiving such a special award being named Athlete of the Month. He is a gifted elite athlete and I’m sure he will continue his awesome shutout streak and help his team win in Sweden. I wish him all the luck” says Joanne Noble, Chair of the Board of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
Eighteen year old Malcolm Fenech, a resident of south Etobicoke and a first year university student attending Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he is majoring in biochemistry.
Malcolm grew up in Etobicoke, playing and participating in all sports. He first experienced organized sports with the Faustina Hockey Club and started in the house league but soon was playing select. Malcolm proved to be a very good goalie and moved up to the GTHL for a couple seasons, but was soon back with the Faustina Fury select team, this time he was honing his skills at the center ice position. Malcolm took pride in his face off skills, winning the majority of the draws, while racking up the points. Needless to say, Malcolm was the definition of a good two-way player.
As a volunteer assistant coach Malcolm led the on ice training for both Novice and Atom level goalies. He also volunteered at Faustina to time keep and record game stats for the house league.
Malcolm attended high school at Runnymede Collegiate where he played many varsity sports. This is where he discovered his true passion: football. In 2015, Fenech took it upon himself to recruit players and run the practices over the summer months prior to the school football season starting. That year, he quarterbacked his team to a city championship in the varsity division. He later played rep football for the Etobicoke Eagles and later the Junior Argos. In his graduating year he was named Athlete of the Year for Runnymede Collegiate. He was also awarded the Spirit of Runnymede Award for his school spirit and community service.
Currently, Malcolm is a freshman full back for the undefeated Dalhousie University Tigers. The Tigers just beat Holland College 29-11 for the Atlantic Football League Championship.
“Malcolm was very appreciative when presented with his Athlete of the Month Award.
I believe Malcolm recognizes that he was very lucky having parents and coaches that have always supported his athletic endeavors” says Joanne Noble, Chair of the Board of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame who just orchestrated the 23rd Annual Induction Dinner and who continues to recognize what depth of talent and sportsmanship we have in the Etobicoke community.