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The 44th annual House of Kin Celebrity Sports Awards, Dinner and Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, to be held at the Caruso Club June 13, will honour one individual, one family and two local sports organizations during the evening’s festivities.
Receiving milestone certificates of recognition will be former Sudbury Wolves announcer Berk Keaney for his more than 59 years as the Voice of the Wolves, as well as Wolves owner Mark Burgess and his family.
This past season, the Burgesses celebrated 25 years of owning the franchise in the Ontario Hockey League. The family is the longest serving private owners of any OHL franchise, and their success has become a model to other team owners across Canada.
The Wolves were purchased by the late Ken Burgess on Nov. 25, 1986.
The Sudbury Playground Hockey League and the Sudbury Skating Club will also be recognized. This past winter, both organizations celebrated 60 years of operation in the community. Both sports organizations began during the 1951-52 season — the playground league in several outdoor rinks in the community and the skating league at the Sudbury Community Arena.
As well as the milestone certificates of recognition, 11 major awards will be presented — Elite, Professional, and Import athletes of the year, Bill Roman Administration Award, Joe Drago Coach of the Year, Sheridan Family Team of the Year, Amateur Female and Male Athletes of the Year, High School Female and Male Athletes of the Year, and new this year, the Dr. Fred W. Sheridan High School Team of the Year.
The Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame will also officially induct seven individuals and one sports franchise during the gala awards and dinner.
The Class of 2012 includes former curling instructor/player/columnist Alan Arkilander in the Builders’ Category, track and field/Ontario Special Olympics official John Roberts in the Administration Category, hockey players Jim Fox and Bill McDonaugh, former CFL all-star Jim Piaskoski and fastball player John (Lefty) Barbeau in the Players’ Category and Cummy Burton in the Players’/Media Category.
The Sudbury Hardrocks football franchise, which operated between 1952 and 1966 in the Northern Ontario Rugby Football Union (NORFU) will be enshrined in the Team Category. All 15 teams, including the five NORFU-champion teams of 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1966 will be recognized.
Tickets are now on sale at the House of Kin at 1189 Regent St. Cost is $45 for adults and $20 for those under 10 years of age.
Tickets can also be purchased by phoning Chris Sheridan or Norm Mayer at 705-522-3600.
Posted by Laurel Myers
