She claims to be the first person to step foot on the ice surface when the old barn first opened its doors in 1951. The Sudbury Wolves may argue the fact, she added with a laugh, but there's photographic proof that says otherwise.
Salo-McKenzie is part of the 2014 class being inducted into the Sudbury House of Kin Sports Hall of Fame. Many of the 10 inductees, who fall under the administration, builders, players, team or corporate category, were introduced to members of the media at Eddie's Sports Bar and Restaurant April 30.
Salo-McKenzie was never very far from a skating rink growing up. A figure skater from the time she was six years old, the Copper Cliff native rose to to prominence when she captured the bronze medal at the Canadian Junior Championships in 1949.
She went on to win the senior ladies title at the Northern Ontario Championships, both in 1949 and 1950, and finished fourth in 1950 and sixth in 1951 at the national level. She transitioned into the coaching ranks that year at 18 years of age.
The 81-year-old said her induction into the Hall of Fame came at an opportune time in her life.
“I hated turning 80, I was feeling sorry for myself and thinking what am I going to do now,” said Salo-McKenzie, walking with the aid of a cane after breaking her hip last year. “It came at the absolute best time. I smartened up and said this is silly, there's lots of things I can still do. I can't just give up.”
Salo-McKenzie joins a number of former students, who were previously inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Growing up in Spain, Dr. Ricardo De La Riva always enjoyed watching soccer more than playing. Upon his arrival in Sudbury in 1963, adult soccer was thriving, but few opportunities were available to the city's youth. In fact, the only available field on which they could play didn't have a single blade of grass.
“It was so bad,” he said. “When the children were playing, you couldn't see them when they were running — it was full of dust.”
Tapping into the contacts he made through his medical practice and aligning with other key volunteers in the city, de la Riva began to change the soccer landscape for Sudbury's youth. Slowly but surely, fields were developed and teams were formed, with the league growing to encompass roughly 250 players. This drive for improvement also led de la Riva to join city council, where he served as a councillor from 1972 to 2000.
He said he was “very surprised” to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“You don't expect to be compensated,” he said. “The work that you did, it's a good memory.”
Salo-McKenzie, de la Riva and the rest of the 2014 class will be officially inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at the annual House of Kin Sports Celebrity Dinner and Awards, being held June 11 at the Caruso Club.
Tickets are $50 for adults and $20 for youth 12 and under and are available at the House of Kin at 1889 Regent St., or by phoning 705-522-3600.
2014 Class of Inductees:
Administration:
Wayne Eadie (posthumously) – minor hockey
Terry McKinty – track and field
Builders:
Don Benoit – martial arts
Dr. Ricardo De La Riva – soccer
Players:
Paul Gauthier – football
John McCreedy (posthumously) – hockey
Joyce Salo-McKenzie – figure skating
Mike Stewart – boxing
Corporate:
Conrad Houle – Tracks and Wheels
Team:
Polish White Eagles – 1969 Ontario Cup soccer champions
