The 2012/13 Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame is Saturday, January 25 2014 at the UAW Hall in Wallaceburg.
Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame
2012/13 Inductees
Male Athlete
Brad MacArthur grew up and played his minor lacrosse in Wallaceburg.
He went on to play Junior A lacrosse in Sarnia and field lacrosse in Oshawa. MacArthur also played at St. Andrews College in North Carolina on a lacrosse scholarship.
At St. Andrews, MacArthur was an All-American in 1997 and 1998. He was an an academic All-American in 1998 and was an first-team all-conference.
MacArthur was the 1997 Deep South Conference player of the year.
MacArthur was drafted in the National Lacrosse League draft fifth overall in 1998. Along with the NLL, MacArthur played Senior A lacrosse and was a Mann Cup champion in 2000 with the Brooklin Redmen.
In the NLL, MacArthur was a solid player, making three championship appearances, winning a championship with the 2004 Calgary Roughnecks. He retired from the NLL in 2008 after seven seasons with Rochester, Montreal, Calgary and Toronto and 100 career games.
He was drafted in 1999 by the Rochester Knighthawks. Known for his faceoff prowess, MacArthur played a defender’s role for the most part, although he had the ability to put the ball in the net.
Along with his playing career, MacArthur also coached at the professional level in the Canadian Lacrosse League, as well as in Junior A and B lacrosse.
MacArthur was the head coach of the 2002 Founders Cup (Jr. B) champion Clarington Green Gaels.
MacArthur currently lives in Barrie, where he is involved in coaching minor hockey and lacrosse.
Female Athlete
Lori deBakker (nee Hoorelebeck) grew up in Wallaceburg and played minor soccer and high school soccer at WDSS, where she was on the Wallaceburg Tartans Kent and SWOSSAA championship teams in 1984 and 1985.
She played two years of soccer at St. Clair College in 87-88 and 88-89. DeBakker had a strong college career, as she was named captain both years and MVP her first year and won the coaches award her second year. She was the St. Clair College student athlete of the year her second year.
At St. Clair, deBakker’s team was provincial finalists her first year and won the provincial women’s soccer title her second year.
A few years ago, deBakker was named to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association all-millennium team.
DeBakker, now married and a mother of four, lives in Wallaceburg, where she is still active in minor soccer.
Builder
Known for her role in giving the Wallaceburg Lakers a family atmosphere, Gail Cook has been a mainstay in the Wallaceburg Lakers Jr. ‘C’ hockey organization for many years. Around the rink she is known as ‘Grandma Puck’ and every player that has had the honour of playing on the team appreciates what she has done to keep junior hockey alive in Wallaceburg.
During the season she is busy promoting fundraising and ticket sales. She is also very busy getting program sponsors and sweater sponsors.
Cook also works in the media relations role with the Lakers.
Cook’s work with the Lakers is a 12 month commitment. During the off season Gail works tirelessly organizing fundraiser such as raffles , car washes, ticket promotions and anything else necessary to put a team on the ice the next season. In 2001 she received the Don Brooker Award for her contributions to the Lakers.
The Lakers are truly a family affair for Cook, as her nephews Matt and Marty played on the team while her brothers Danny and Ray have helped out in the equipment room and various other places.
Team
The 1995 WDSS senior girls volleyball team had a very successful season, winning the OFSAA ‘AA’ girls volleyball title. It remains the only OFSAA gold for any WDSS girls team.
The team won the Kent title. At SWOSSAA, the Tartans lost in the finals to Kingsville, but with SWOSSAA sending two teams to OFSAA, they bounced back to sweep Essex to earn an OFSAA berth.
OFSAA was held in Stratford, with Wallaceburg beating St. Thomas Parkside 2-1 (5-15, 15-7, 15-4) to win the title.
Along with OFSAA, the team won four tournaments.
Members of the team are Lara Stucke, Judith Swift, Tylene Hannon, Jessie Kelly, Deidre McKaig, Kelly Helbin, Tina Kerwin, Katrina Cadotte, Jenn DeRooy, June Partridge, Boutsy Sayavong, Leanne Dixon and coaches Will Gregory and Ingrid Lahey.
Referee/Official
Barry McFadden was born and raised and has spent his whole life in Wallaceburg.
McFadden played a variety of sports, including hockey and baseball. In the years 58/59 and 59/60 he played on the Ontario Champion Optimist Peewee teams. These teams were inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
In the early 70’s Barry turned his focus to hockey refereeing. For 20 years Barry refereed hockey in Wallaceburg and the surrounding area. He was a qualified OHA referee and did many local Jr. D, Jr. C and Jr. B games in the Wallaceburg , Dresden and Chatham areas. For 20 years Barry spent most weekends in arenas from Watford and Forest through to Wheatley and Leamington.
In Wallaceburg Barry refereed in the local industrial league and was called upon to organize the officials and referee the semi-finals and finals of the famous Wallaceburg Lipstick tournament. Barry has also refereed exhibition games between the Detroit Red Wing Alumni and the Chatham Senior Maroons as well as the game between the Montreal Alumni and the Wallaceburg Hornet Oldtimers.
McFadden joined the St John Ambulance organization in 1962 and was a member for 44 years. In those years he was on duty at various sporting events including hockey, football, baseball, lacrosse and other local events. In 1962 the then Governor General and Prior of St John in Canada the honourable Yvonne Alexander presented Barry and his father, George McFadden, with the Serving Brother Award in a ceremony in Ottawa.
In 1984 his grandfather Bill McFadden was inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame in the Builder Category
Barry was also a member of the local Knights of Columbus organization and last year was presented with a life membership signifying 25 years of service. Barry has been in charge of the KofC sponsored Basketball Free Throw Competition for over 15 years. He is currently co-chairman of the KofC barbeque and breakfast at WAMBO. Barry is also chairman of the local Easter Egg hunt a annual joint venture of the KofC, Knights of Pythias , Kinsmen and the CBD club