A recent graduate of St Joseph High School and a member of Team Hardwood, Erin Tribe is a talented athlete in cross country skiing. Tribe was a strong member of the Ontario Nordic Team for the last four years. During the 2006/2007 season she competed in all four regions of the province in pursuit of the Ontario Cup series points. She ended the season as #1 in Ontario Cup Series Points for her age category. Tribe move up one age category, in 2007,  and was Ranked #4 in the province. She qualified for the World Junior Trials in Duntroon and placed 15th Nationally. This earned her the right to travel to Callahan Valley in B.C. for the Nationals. She trains and competes for the Team Hardwood Racing Team under the coaching of Jack Sasselville and has been awarded Top Female ranking for Midget, Juvenile and Junior age groups in Southern Ontario. She was elected by her peers to represent skiers on the Cross Country Ontario High Performance Committee. This committee is the governing body for the sport and regulates and sets guidelines  for all sanctioned events across the province. This was a great honour that signal her growth and respect within the sport.

Matt Beleskey’s hockey career began with the Barrie Icemen where he was a member of two silver and one bronze medal teams at OMHA Championships. From there he went on to play with the Collingwood Blues Provincial Jr A team where at age fifteen he won the Rookie of the year award. He was then signed by the OHL’s Belleville Bulls where, over four years, he earned several honours including Captain.  In the 2007-2008 season Matt led his team to the Eastern Conference, the OHL and the Memorial Cup championships. He was selected Bulls MVP for both regular season play and the playoffs. He was the Eastern Conference winner as hardest worker, best body checker and hardest shot.The Bulls awarded Matt the 2007/08 Belleville Humanitarian Award for his community work. During his OHL career Matt was a 2007- 08 Eastern Conference and OHL All Star and was a two-time OHL player of the month. He played in the ADT Canada-Russia challenge and represented Canada in both the World Under 18 Championships and the CHL Canada /Russia series. Drafted by the Anaheim  Ducks in the forth round Matt began the  2008-2009 season playing for the AHL Iowa Chops.

Brandon MacDonald was born and raised in Midhurst. He played AAA Minor Hockey in Barrie and competed with Eastview Wild Cat hockey team for 5 years. The team won the Georgian Bay AAAA championship twice to represent this area at the OFSSA provincial championships. MacDonald, also excels at Lacrosse. He was on the 2007 Barrie Tornado Provincial Championship Under 19 Box lacrosse team. He also helped the 2007 Barrie Tornados Intermediate Field lacrosse team win a provincial championship. His Midget Box Lacrosse team represented Barrie in the Ontario Provincial Summer Games. In 2008 he was selected to play for the Ontario Provincial U-19 Field Lacrosse team. This team competed for the prestigious Brogden Cup, an unofficial North American Junior Field lacrosse playoff. The Ontario team won the Cup, in Florida, by defeating the USA National Junior Lacrosse team 3 games to none. In 2009 MacDonald played for the Eastview Hockey team at the OFSAA championships in North Bay. The team played well but was defeated in the semi finals by the eventual silver medalists.

Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam have only been together as a figure skating dance team since February 2009. They have had tremendous results both Nationally and Internationally. During their first few months, as a new team, they entered the Minto Summer Skate competition. They edged out the reigning Junior champions of Canada in the Free Dance and won the competition overall. This earned them an invitation to participate in a Grand Prix event in Poland. They finished a very strong fourth just less than one point shy of third. Their strong showing allowed them to skate in a second competition in Turkey where they placed a respectable fifth.

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.

Alexandra and Mitchell were inducted into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

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. 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. Paris was a member of the Ontario Under-18 team that won gold at the National Championships. Paris became an “A Carded” athlete for Rugby Canada. He was invited to join the Canadian Men’s 7’s Team to participate in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. He was invited 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 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. In 2011, Taylor was a member of the Canadian team that competed at the Pan-Am games in Mexico. At the ripe old age of 19, he was a contributing member on a team of men and seasoned veterans for the Rugby 7’s, a much faster game than the regular rugby game of 15’s. The team concluded the Games by winning gold and positioning themselves to be favourites when the game is introduced at the 2016 Olympics in Argentina. In August 2011, Paris was selected to Canada’s senior national side for the 2012 Rugby World Cup.

• Barrie Examiner Article #1 – Taylor Paris
  
• Barrie Examiner Article #2 – Taylor Paris

Since the start of his CIS career, Kyle Graves was 2011 AUS Most Valuable Player and CIS Hec Creighton nominee, as well as a 2011 AUS all-star (Quarterback and Punter) and 2011 AUS Loney Bowl Player of the Game.

The University of Acadia Axemen quarterback / punter is the AUS Football Most Valuable Player for a second straight year in 2012. He is also a second team All-Canadian quarterback and first-team All-Canadian punter.

Kyle led the AUS in total offense, touchdowns, yardage and completion percentage and was by far the best player in the conference during the 2012 season. He led his team to another 7-1 record and named as AUS All-Star and CIS All-Canadian as both quarterback and punter. He led the league in passing yards with 2012; 156 pass completions; passing for 14 touchdowns; a passing completion percentage of 57.1 percent and punting average of 40.3 yards per punt. Graves also rushed the ball 28 times for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Kyle, who attended the Montreal Alouettes training camp this past summer, is now 6th in all-time passing yardage with 5,433 yards, 3rd in Acadia school history. He wraps up his 5 year career in the top ten of every career AUS passing list. He ranks 4th in career completions, 5th in attempts and his 39 career touchdown passes are 10th all-time.

Noted by head coach Jeff Cummins, “Kyle is the best Quarterback I have coached in my 12 years at Acadia. In my opinion, Kyle is quite simply the most athletic and versatile quarterback in the country. The skill set that Kyle brings to the table is rarely found at this level, is very unique and honestly I think we have taken it for granted now that he is finishing his final season. His ability to throw, run, punt and lead his team makes him a constant threat whenever he touches the field. His arm strength combined with accuracy and an ability to put touch on both the short and deep ball give Kyle the tools he needs to pick apart defences. We’re very excited to see him continue his football exploits in the CFL, as he has signed a free agent contract with the Montreal Alouettes.”

Zach Nastasiuk started playing hockey at the age of 9 with the Barrie Minor Hockey Association. He was drafted by the Owen Sound Attack of the O.H.L in the 1st round of his Minor Midget year. In his 3rd year with the ‎Attack, he was team Captain. This was quite an accomplishment and honour for an 18 year old.

In 2013 he had 20 goals and 20 assists in 62 games. He was also top scorer for the Owen Sound team in the playoffs. His play earned him a spot playing for Canada at the World Under 18 Championships helping the team earn a Gold Medal. His year was completed by being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2nd round of the NHL draft, 48th overall.

As captain of the Attack, Nastasiuk is very active in the community and prides himself on giving back to the community.

Taylor Cartwright began her amateur wrestling in grade 5 at Hillcrest P.S. and the “K-Bay” Wrestling Club. Cartwright went on to high school at Barrie Central under the excellent coaching of Mr. Kyle Sweezey. Through her high school years she won a number of GBSSA individual titles, Provincial and National Age Group titles; along with her OFSAA Championship in 2014. Cartwright has made the Canadian National Cadet Team. She recently completed her grade 12 year at Barrie Central C.I. with many options open to her at post-secondary institutions in Canada. Cartwright was also named Barrie Central Female Athlete of the Year.

She now trains with Barrie Central and the Mariposa Wrestling Club, with extra practice sessions at Team Impact, Wrestling Canada’s National Training Centres at Brock and Guelph Universities.

Taylor Cartwright is a Canadian carded athlete. This past year was significant for Cartwright (aged 16 years) as a Canadian National “Cadet” Wrestling Team Member. She attained (Gold) at the “2014 Canadian Juvenile (17-18 years) Championships” (Women-56kg). This accomplishment was followed a month later in May by a 2nd place (Silver) at the “Pan-Am Cadet Championships” (Women-56kg), in Racife, Brazil.

Over the 2013-2014 International Wrestling Season Cartwright accomplished the following :
In December 2013 – 3rd at the International “Nordhagen Classic” (18-l9 years) in Calgary; in February 2014 – 1st at “Ontario Provincial Championships”; in March 2014 – 1st at “OFSAA High School Championships” and 2nd at “Canadian Junior (18-l9 years) Championships” in Edmonton AB; in April 2014 – 1st at “Canadian Juvenile Nationals” in Guelph ON; and 1st at “FILA Cadet World Team Trials” in Guelph ON; in June 2014 – 2nd at “Austrian Grand Prix” (18-19 years) and 2nd in “Austrian Grand Prix” Senior Division) in Gotzis, Austria; in July 2014 – 3rd at International “Canada Cup” (18-l9 years) in Guelph ON; and competed in the World Cadet Championships” in Snina, Slovakia, ranking 12th in the world.

Victoria Pickett moved to Barrie when she was four years old and started playing house league soccer. She continued to develop her skills with the Barrie Soccer Club and St Pete’s Panthers. At the age of 15 years old, she made her entrance into the Canadian youth program. At the 2012 Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Women’s Under 17 Championships, in Guatemala, Pickett helped Canada win a silver medal. This allowed Canada to compete in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan. She was also with Canada’s team that finished sixth at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Highlights of her 2015 season are:

• Competed with Canada’s team in the Pan American Games in Toronto. They finished out of the medals with 2-1 loss in the bronze medal game.
• Won a silver medal with Canada at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Honduras. This win qualified the team for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua, New Guinea.
• Signed with the University of Wisconsin women’s soccer team.
• She appeared in all Wisconsin games, receiving the following recognitions :
  
  • Selected Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2015)
  • Named to the All-Big Ten Freshman First Team (2015)
  • Named to the All-Big Ten Second-Team (2015)
  • NSCAA NCAA Division 1 All-Great Lakes Third Team (2015)

Victoria Pickett has also participated in local basketball, volleyball and hockey.

Jacob Graves is a native of Barrie. He was born in Barrie in 1995 to a family with hockey running through their veins. His father played Junior hockey, 2 brothers play Junior ‘A’ and Junior `C hockey, his mother was a professional figure skater, her father a professional hockey player and 4 aunts or uncles who played Junior hockey or higher.

Jacob’s hockey career began in 2010/11 with the Toronto Titans Midget ‘AAA’ team. He split the 2011/12 season between the Mississauga Chargers of the Ont. Jr. Hockey league (OJHL) and the Mississauga St. Mikes Majors of the Ont. Hockey League (OHL) at the Jr. ‘A’ level. He spent the next 2 seasons with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL and then was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs for the 2014/15 season. The 2015/16 season was split between the Oshawa Generals and the London Knights. Known as a big, rugged stay at home defenseman, Graves had a career year in 2015/6. He played in 69 games, collected 21 points, 104 penalty minutes and was a plus 34. He had 18 assists in the playoffs and helped London capture the Memorial Cup, emblematic of Junior “A” hockey supremacy in Canada.

Jacob Graves was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets and signed to a 3 year entry level contract in 2016. He spent the 2016/17 season alternating between the Cincinnati Cyclones (of the East Coast Hockey League) and the Cleveland Monsters (of the American Hockey League), honing his skills in anticipation of a shot with Columbus in the NHL.

https://chl.ca/ohl/article/knights-graves-signs-with-blue-jackets/

Ryan Spataro was born in Barrie in 1982. He is a valuable member of the Barrie Baycats Baseball Club that plays in the top level amateur baseball league in Ontario, the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL). This league serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff. More than 40 IBL players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the IBL following their major league careers.

Ryan Spataro broke the stolen base record this past season and is now the IBL all-time stolen base leader with 193 in just 380 games. The previous record of 179 stolen bases was accomplished in 834 games, more than twice the number of games it took Spataro. Besides the stolen base record, Ryan has been honoured with many individual awards in his career with the Baycats. His .374 average (regular season), 592 hits, and 141 extra base hits (regular season) are all highest on the Baycats. He was the IBL Batting Champ in 2005 and 2010, as well as the IBL MVP for those same years. He has been an IBL 1st Team All Star 7 years; an IBL 2nd Team All Star 4 years; and has been on 5 IBL Championship teams.

Ryan is presently a fireman in the City of Barrie, married with 2 children. He participates in many charitable events representing the Barrie BayCats organization.

Jessica Brouillette is a wrestler from Barrie. Born in 1995, she began her amateur wrestling in Grade 7 at Prince of Wales School and at the K-Bay Wrestling Club. She continued to wrestle very successfully while attending high school at Barrie Central Collegiate Institute. She won several GBSSA individual titles as well as Gold at the provincial level (OFSAA). This success led to International opportunities representing Canada as a member of the Cadet, Junior and Senior National Teams.

In her first 3 years at Brock University, Jessica won 8 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals at various University, Provincial, National and World Wrestling Championships.

In 2017, Jessica won Gold at the World Francophone Games (Women – 63 kg.) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. She also dominated her weight class at the Canadian University level by placing first at both the OUA Tournament and the CIS Tournament and was named 2017 Outstanding Female Wrestler at the CIS Championship. In 2016 Jessica won Bronze at the 2016 World University Games in Corum, Turkey; won Bronze at NYAC / Bill Farrell International Open; won Silver at the Ontario Senior Championships; won Bronze at the International Canada Cup Tournament in Guelph; and placed 5^th at the XXI Torneo International Tournament in Sassari, Italy. In Oct. of 2017, Jessica was selected for “Next-Generation” Funding Support (targeting athletes with evidence of podium success at the 2024 Olympic Games). In 2018, Jessica competed for Canada at the World Championships in Budapest. She achieved a 7^th place standing in the 62 kg. weight class. She also became “Female Athlete of the Year” at Brock University in 2018. She was the first female wrestler to capture 5 consecutive team National Championships in a career. She was named a USPORTS First Team All-Canadian for the fourth time in her career and an OUA First Team All-Star. During the regular season, Brouillette placed 1^st at the Brock Open, 1^st at the Guelph open, and 3^rd at the Commonwealth Games Trials. She also represented Team Canada at the 2018 Women’s World Cup in Japan. Moreover, Jessica took 1^st place at the International Canada Cup Tournament in Guelph, and 1^st place at the SFU International Tournament in B.C.

Jessica has completed her Undergraduate Degree in Sociology. She continues to train hard as a member of Canada’s National Team. Jessica also runs an after-school active-play program for young children at the YMCA in St. Catharines, as well as refereeing local tournaments and running “Wrestling Clinics” throughout Ontario.

Jessica Brouillette is a wrestler from Barrie. Born in 1995, she began her amateur wrestling in Grade 7 at Prince of Wales School and at the K-Bay Wrestling Club. She continued to wrestle very successfully while attending high school at Barrie Central Collegiate Institute. She won several GBSSA individual titles as well as Gold at the provincial level (OFSAA). This success led to International opportunities representing Canada as a member of the Cadet, Junior and Senior National Teams.

In her first 3 years at Brock University, Jessica won 8 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals at various University, Provincial, National and World Wrestling Championships.

In 2017, Jessica won Gold at the World Francophone Games (Women – 63 kg.) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. She also dominated her weight class at the Canadian University level by placing first at both the OUA Tournament and the CIS Tournament and was named 2017 Outstanding Female Wrestler at the CIS Championship. In 2016 Jessica won Bronze at the 2016 World University Games in Corum, Turkey; won Bronze at NYAC / Bill Farrell International Open; won Silver at the Ontario Senior Championships; won Bronze at the International Canada Cup Tournament in Guelph; and placed 5^th at the XXI Torneo International Tournament in Sassari, Italy. In Oct. of 2017, Jessica was selected for “Next-Generation” Funding Support (targeting athletes with evidence of podium success at the 2024 Olympic Games). In 2018, Jessica competed for Canada at the World Championships in Budapest. She achieved a 7^th place standing in the 62 kg. weight class. She also became “Female Athlete of the Year” at Brock University in 2018. She was the first female wrestler to capture 5 consecutive team National Championships in a career. She was named a USPORTS First Team All-Canadian for the fourth time in her career and an OUA First Team All-Star. During the regular season, Brouillette placed 1^st at the Brock Open, 1^st at the Guelph open, and 3^rd at the Commonwealth Games Trials. She also represented Team Canada at the 2018 Women’s World Cup in Japan. Moreover, Jessica took 1^st place at the International Canada Cup Tournament in Guelph, and 1^st place at the SFU International Tournament in B.C.

Jessica has completed her Undergraduate Degree in Sociology. She continues to train hard as a member of Canada’s National Team. Jessica also runs an after-school active-play program for young children at the YMCA in St. Catharines, as well as refereeing local tournaments and running “Wrestling Clinics” throughout Ontario.

Don Coulson was a very active and involved leader in the Barrie and Simcoe County area since he arrived to play on the 1947-48 All Ontario/ Eastern Canada Midget NHL Champion.

Don helped form the Barrie Minor Athletic Club hockey and baseball teams in 1947 through the 50s. Don, with his brother and Mr. Law, was a major force in getting the first lighted baseball diamond at the fairgrounds where he played shortstop for the Barrie ACs. He then went on to become the league representative for 12 years.

Don also was the manager for the Barrie Flyers Jr A team from 1952-1956 then help to form a Intermediate A Falcons hockey club that then jumped to the Senior A league to be Allen Cup Champions.

In 1959-64, Don took the role as president of the Barrie Intermediate Fastball League. And in 1971- 77, he served as a board member and the treasurer of the Barrie Winter Carnaval, which was responsible for sports programming in Barrie

With his wife Joyce, he was co-founder of Barrie Minor Baseball in 1974 and a coach for many years following.

In his later years of hockey, Don was the co-founder of the Barrie Credit Union Oldtimers in 1975. They won the Canadian National Title twice and represented Canada in tournaments in LA, Holland and Switzerland. 

Previously, Don has been awarded the Rotary Unsung Hero in 1990 for his community work.

September 8, 1933 – January 12, 2023

Jo-Anne Eyers (nee Cancilla) was an accomplished figure skater in her youth,  and even skated with Olympian Brian Orser.

Eventually, she transitioned into coaching with the Barrie Figure Skating Club and Mariposa School of Skating, which she continued to do for 43 years.

She was passionate with teaching younger skaters in Barrie Figure Skating Club. Jo-Anne was been a constant member of the organizing team for the yearly skating carnival that saw attendance from all over the region.

Jo-Anne played an instrumental role in developing the foundation for numerous young skaters as well as power skating training for Barrie Colts hockey teams.

September 26, 1961 – May 10, 2022