To many hundreds of hockey and softball players in Barrie, Ralph Webb’s face is as familiar as that of any coach or manager they may have had. Webb has served as a trainer, assistant trainer and equipment manager for hockey and softball/slo-pitch teams for more than 30 years in Barrie. Although at times he’s been given a small honorarium from teams that he has helped out, the vast majority of his work has been as a volunteer:

The Barrie native started out with the Barrie Flyers in 1970. He was with the team when they won the 1974 Allan Cup. Soon after, he took a volunteer spot with the Barrie Colts Junior B hockey team and served as one of the team’s most dedicated volunteers. He watched them graduate from junior B to provincial Junior A to the present day Ontario Hockey League team. One of his fondest memories of the past quarter century was the Colts’ Sutherland Cup Championship in 1992/93.

When the Colts moved into the Major Junior ranks, Webb became an assistant trainer with the club. During the summer months, in the 1970s and ’80s, Webb was trainer with softball and slo-pitch teams. He was also with the Tornado Junior B Lacrosse team that won the 2003 Founders Cup, He was, however, best known for his years on the bench with the Colts. In fact, it’s tough for many old hockey fans to imagine a Colts bench without Webb’s face at the end. He became a regular at hockey games in the Barrie Arena during the hey¬day of Senior and Junior hockey in the 1950s and ’60s. He and wife Fran have seen every hockey notable that has played in this city over the past 50 years. Webb’s dream was to be a part of a Major Junior franchise. His involvement with the Colts OHL team made that dream come true.

In 1995 Webb was named coach/official of the year, by the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame, for his volun¬teer work with the Barrie Flyers and the Barrie Colts hockey teams. Webb has a large collection of hockey sticks that are signed by the players he has served. Many of them will be pleased to see him receive this award.

In 2010, Chalmers’ continued dedication to the talented young women paid dividends. The team rose from the Regional level to the Provincial level and became the #1 ranked women’s team in the Ontario Women’s Soccer League (OWSL). The team went on to win the Ontario Cup. This was a first for a Barrie soccer team, male or female. It was also the first time that a Barrie team qualified to represent Ontario at the Canadian Women’s National Club Championships.

Barrie Examiner Article – John Chalmers
Barrie Advance Article – Saluting Those Behind The Bench

Other nominees for the 2010 Coach/Team Official of the Year were:

Nicholas Cryer started coaching wrestling in Barrie in 2003. He does most of his coaching at the Kempenfelt Bay wrestling club and with the Bear Creek High School team. Since 2003 he has help coached five individuals that have gone on to be members of Team Canada. His High school teams have won the Georgian Bay Secondary School Association team championships twice. Cryer’s students captured 15 OFSAA medals including 3 Gold. Twelve of his high school athletes have gone on to compete at the University level or higher. Many of Cryer’s wrestlers have also participated in both Provincial and National competitions. Overall they have captured 30 Provincial Medals, including 13 Gold and 16 National Championship Medals, including 6 Gold. Cryer was named Coach of Team Ontario and helped the team to a first place finish at the Sparta Cup in Puerto Rico. As head coach of the Kempenfelt club, Cryer is extremely proud that three out of four of this year’s top athletes at the National Training Center (Brock University) were former wrestlers of the Kempenfelt club. This summer one athlete from the Kempenfelt club is going to Mexico for the Pan American Games and another will be in Hungary for the World Championships.

Joe Denes participated at a national level as a decathlete and is a former Olympic bobsled competitor. The experience he gained he now passes on to those he coaches. Denes has been the track and field head coach at Innisdale Secondary School since 2001, he has coached nine OFSAA medalists and 32 OFSAA finalists. In 2010, Denes joined the South Simcoe Dufferin Track and Field Club as Combined Events Coach. He also gives his time as a basketball coach with the Barrie Royals Basketball Club. Denes is an associate coach with the Innnisdale Secondary School basketball team and a hockey coach with the Oro Minor Hockey Association. 2010 was a successful year for Joe Denes and the athletes that he has coached. His Innisdale Secondary School Senior Girls Track Team won the 2010/2011 OFSAA overall team Championship. The Innisdale basketball team were Georgian Bay finalists. Thanks to the efforts of Joe Denes there are currently at least five nationally ranked athletes that say thank you to him for his efforts.

Coached by David Islam (Mitchell’s father) Kelly Johnson, Pavol Porac and Tyler Myles of the Mariposa School. Paul and Islam entered their first Canadian championship as a team and won the Junior Dance Championship of Canada. They received a BMO Possibility Award – a training grant for their amazing programs at Canadians. They were named to the Junior World team and headed for The Hague. Their ambition was to finish in the top five. They exceeded that goal by making the podium to be presented with the 2010 Junior World’s Ice Dance Silver medal. This was a huge accomplishment for a team that had barely been together a year. In the fall of 2010 they finished a commendable fourth at Skate Canada in their first senior event as a team. Competing recently in their first National figure skating championship, at the senior level, they were awarded the Bronze Medal in the Senior Dance Championship of Canada. Both Skaters are members of the Barrie Figure Skating Club.

Barrie Examiner Article – Paul and Islam
Barrie Advance Article – Honouring Athletes

Other Nominees for the 2010 Athlete of the year were:

Jasmine Mian is an accomplished athlete, she participated in multiple sports while at Innisdale Secondary school. She now attends Brock University where she is coached by Marty Calder, a three time Olympian. Mian has excelled at the sport of wrestling. She has medaled in numerous wrestling competitions including Ontario championships, Canadian national championships, Canada Cup of International Wrestling and the Pan-American games. She has been a member of the Fila Cadet National Wrestling Team, the Junior National Wrestling team and the Canadian Junior Wrestling World Team. In 2008 and 2009 she captured: Gold and silver at the Canadian National Championships: Gold and Silver at the Ontario Provincial championships: Two bronze at the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) championships and two gold at the Ontario University Athletics OUA championships. At the beginning of 2010, Mian was ranked second in Canada by CIS. In March, at the Canadian Senior Wrestling Championships in Frederictown New Brunswick, she captured a silver medal in her Category. In October, 2010 Mian Placed 3rd at the 2010 World University Championships in Torino, Italy. At the 2010/2011 Ontario University Athletics OUA championships Mian capture gold in her category and helped the Brock women’s team win the gold medal. She was also named the MVP of the OUA women’s competition. At the 2010/2011 Canadian Interuniversity Sports championships, in Thunder Bay, the Brock women’s team captured Bronze. With Mian taking Gold in her group. She also received the Student-Athlete Community Service Award which goes to the wrestler who best exhibits outstanding achievements in wrestling, academics and community involvement.

Taylor “Tay” Paris is a Barrie Central Collegiate teenage rugby star playing beyond his years. As an underage player, in 2009, he competed with the Ontario Under 18 team that won Gold at the Canada Summer games in Summerside, PEI. Some visitors from Great Britain were impressed with his play. In September he was invited to a five month rugby exchange at Kings Bruton private school at Somerset near Wales.In February he became the youngest Canadian to play on the Canadian Men’s 7′s team in the International 7′s World series with stops in New Zealand and Las Vegas. He impressed them early by scoring a try in the first 10 seconds of his first game. In July, Paris was a member of the Ontario Under 18 team that won gold at the National Championships. In August, he joined the Ontario Blues (men’s provincial team) for their final league game. Paris became an “A Carded” athlete for Rugby Canada. He relocated to Victoria, BC to join the other domestic-based National players where he played for the James Bay rugby club. In October he rejoined the Canadian Men’s 7′s Team to participated in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. He was invited, in November, to join the Canadian Men’s 15′s team on their European Tour where he became the youngest Canadian to play international men’s 15′s – he had just turned 18.The Northampton Saints Academy in England has invited Paris to a four month trial. The Academy is the development arm of the Northampton Saints professional rugby club, located in England. Paris is the first Barrie player to get an invitation to a professional English Academy.

Rumble’s statistics at Hockey Database
Rumble’s biography at Legends of Hockey
Barrie Examiner Article -Rumble

Darren Rumble was born Jan 23, 1969 in Barrie. While having much childhood success in soccer (BOMSA championships), track and field (King Edward, Hillcrest and Codrington PS), football and rugby (Eastview SS) and, later, golf (BAGS tour), Darren’s lifetime passion for and involvement in hockey began on an outdoor rink at Queen’s Park when he was three. From there he progressed through Barrie Legion Hockey, Barrie Minor Hockey (including a memorable trip with the Tim Horton Minor Midgets to Sweden in 1984) and finally, to the 1985/86 Barrie Junior B Colts. Rumble was drafted 9th overall by Kitchener in the 1986 OHL draft. He went on to have three great years with the Rangers. In his final season he helped the Rangers finish first in the league. He was also selected to the first team OHL all-star defenseman position.

In the 1987 NHL Entry Draft he was drafted 20th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. After three years with Philly’s AHL Hershey Bears, being awarded the Bears’ Best Defenceman and the Top +/- Player in ’91, Rumble was selected in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft as the Ottawa Senators’ second defenseman pick. He played two seasons with Ottawa but the fledgling Senators were struggling so Rumble found himself back in the minors with the Prince Edward Island Senators. In the 94/95 AHL season, with the PEI Senators, he led the league with a +45 and a Second All-Star team selection. Philadelphia reacquired Rumble in 1995. In 1997, playing for the Philadelphia AHL team he was awarded the Eddie Shore trophy as the AHL’s Best Defenceman and was chosen as a First Team All-Star.

He played one season, In 1997, for the Mannheim Eagles in the German and Euro Leagues. Rumble returned to America in 1998 and for the next seven years he continued to share ice times with NHL, AHL and IHL teams. Overall, his 614 AHL games netted him 77 goals and 317 assists for 394 points. His NHL totals with four teams (Philadelphia, Ottawa, St. Louis and Tampa Bay) include 193 games resulting in 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points.

After pursuing his craft throughout North America he was acquired by Jay Feaster and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2002. He was with the Tampa organization when they won the Stanley Cup in 2004. With his name engraved on the Stanley Cup he brought it to Barrie where the celebrations resulted in a $25,000.00 donation to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Rumble played his final season with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League where he took on the role of assistant coach. In 2007, he joined the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL as an assistant coach. In July 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning named Rumble Head Coach of their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals. After leaving Norfolk he served as Associate Coach with the Lewiston Maine-iacs (QMJHL) and is presently Assistant Coach with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the (WHL).

Robinson’s short program at 2002 Olympics
Robinson’s long program at 2002 Olympics
Barrie Examiner Article – Robinson

Jennifer Robinson began her skating career in Windsor when she was 8. She landed her first axle at 10 and eventually went on to became one of Canada’s top ladies figure skaters. She moved to Barrie at 13 as a member of Mariposa School of Skating under the guidance of Barrie Hall of Famer Doug Leigh and coach Michelle Leigh. When she arrived in Barrie she came as a young girl chasing a dream. Through hard work, determination and talent that dream soon became a reality. Jennifer became the Junior Canadian Champion in 1994. She began competing at the senior level in 1995 and dominated the Canadian Ladies Singles Championships for the next 10 years. She reached the podium in all ten years. She captured her first Canadian Ladies Championship gold medal in 1996. She repeated this feat in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. In 1995 she placed second and captured bronze in 1997, 1998 and 2004.

Robinson competed in eight Women’s World Figure Skating Championships. At the 2000 Championship in Nice, France, she placed eighth. In seven Skate Canada International competitions she captured a bronze in 2000 and placed fourth or fifth on four other occasions. Robinson also realized another life-long dream of competing in the Winter Olympics when she placed seventh at Salt Lake City in 2002.

She has also competed in Skate America, the Nations Cup, Trophée Lalique in Paris, Cup of Russia, Cup of China and the NHK Trophy event. After she finished her amateur skating career, she skated professionally with Stars on Ice. Robinson has performed with the Elvis Stojko Tour of Champions and Celebration on Ice. In the 21-city Skate the Nation tour she entertain audiences across Canada. Though all her success made her a household name, and her competitions took her around the world to many great cities Jennifer embraced Barrie as her home and at the age of 19 bought her first home in the city.

She is still involved in skating as a coach with the Mariposa School of Skating. Robinson has also done some on-air radio work at CIQB-FM as well as hosting a news show for Rogers Cable television station in Barrie. She was a commentator at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She gives back to Barrie by being actively involved with many local community charities. Upon her return, to Barrie, from the 2002 Olympics the City of Barrie honored Jennifer with a plaque for bringing honour and recognition to the city. She also received the “Paul Hams Fellowship”, the highest honour that the Barrie Huronia Rotary Club bestows for her unselfish contribution to local community charities.

Jennifer Robinson lives in the Barrie area with husband Shane Dennison and their one year old daughter. In October 2010, Robinson was elected to Barrie City Council, representing Ward 8 in the south-central area of the city.

Mike Forgrave was born and raised in Barrie. While attending North Collegiate high school he was a 6 time Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Athletics (OFSSA) Track Champion. He was named North’s MVP 2 years running. Forgrave attended the University of Waterloo. He held 2 Canadian Interscholastic records, 2 Canadian Junior Championship titles and a Canadian Juvenile 400m hurdle record holder. in 1980, he was named MVP of the University of Waterloo men’s Track and Field team

Forgrave is also a three time Canadian Junior 400m hurdle record holder and a two time Canadian Junior indoor 400m record holder. In 1976, he became a Canadian Olympic Hopeful Team member as well as the Canadian Senior 400m hurdle champion. Forgrave repeated as the Canadian Senior 400m hurdle champion in 1977 as well as becoming a member of the Pacific Conference Games Team in Australia and the Ontario Canada Games Team winning three gold and one silver medal. He was a semi-finalist as a member of the 1978 Commonwealth Games Team in Edmonton.

In 1980, Forgrave achieved his ultimate goal when he made the 1980 Canadian Olympic Team. Unfortunately that coincided with the Canadian government decision to boycott the 1980 Russian Olympic games. Although he was unable to compete in the Olympics he was able to live the Olympic dream as Head of the Foot & Ankle Clinic for the Athletes Village at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He has been Pedorthic consultant to Athletics Canada, Badminton Canada, Ski Canada, Bobsleigh Canada, the San Diego Chargers and the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
In 2009, Forgrave was awarded the Canadian Pedorthic Award of Excellence and in 2010 was awarded the U.S.A. Seymour Lefton Award for Lifetime Achievement in Pedorthics.