(Photo: Quinte News / File)
From the Municipality of Brighton:
The Municipality of Brighton’s Community Events committee upon reviewing nominations for this years Sports Wall of Honour have selected the 1982 Brighton Bigford Aluminum Peewee hockey Team, Barbara Maxwell and Art Plasschaert to be recipients of this award for 2018.
The Brighton Bigford Aluminum PeeWee hockey team were winners of the OMHA All-Ontario “CC” Championship in 1982. In an eighteen playoff games the team compiled a record of 13-4-1. After defeating Stirling in their preliminary playoff round 9 points to 5 in the eight- point series, the Pee Wees then played Bancroft and defeated them three games to one to win the Eastern Ontario Peewee “CC” Championship.
The team then swept Sutton in three straight games in the OMHA “CC” Semi-finals by outscoring them 8-4, 7-6, and 9-3.
In the OMHA final series the Bigford PeeWees played Durham and after losing the series opener 5-3 at Durham, Brighton won the next two games at home by scores of 2-1 in OT and 5-2. Game 4 was of the best of 5 series took place in Campbellford and the Brighton Team won its third straight game 4-2 to win the series in 4 games to give Brighton its first ever provincial hockey title.
Afterwards a parade down main street and a civic banquet where the team were presented jackets were held, with special guest Maple Leaf Captain Rick Vaive and other local dignitaries in attendance to celebrate the team’s accomplishments.
Barbara (Barb) Maxwell is a long-time Brighton resident who has been a very active individual in various sports in both the summer and winter seasons. Born in Toronto, Barbara’s main achievements were in the sports of volleyball and curling although she played baseball, badminton and basketball. Barb was the organizer of the Scarborough’s Ladies Volleyball Association in the late 1960’s and was that association’s president for four years. She was awarded a plaque from the Borough of Scarborough’s Mayor at the Annual Recreation Recognition Night held on March 19th, 1971. Barb was a member of the Brighton Mixed Curling Team who represented Ontario at the Seagram’s Canadian Mixed Curling Championships which were held that year in St. John’s, Newfoundland the week of March 16-23, 1980. A banner is on display in the curling clubs main floor recognizing the team’s accomplishment. Barb is still an active member of the Brighton Curling Club, both volunteering and playing regularly throughout the curling season. As well, Barb organizes the weekly Senior Shuffleboard Club program in the fall and winter months at the King Edward Park Community Centre.
Art Plasschaert began speed skating in the early 1960’s becoming interested in the sport in his teens, but his love for the sport continued when he immigrated to Canada from Holland in 1966. Art continued to train in his chosen sport, helped by some very good coaches excelling in the late 60’s and 1970’s where he competed at provincial, national and international competitions. Art’s accomplishments are many and also show his longevity, as he was able to compete in the various age classifications which the sport has.Highlights in Art’s speed skating career were his winning a provincial speed skating championship in 1969, His competing in three Canadian Speed skating Championships in the mid 70’s and finishing a personal best 13th in one and top 20 in the other two. Art also competed in the World Master Speed Skating Championship, finishing a personal best 9th place finish. And as a senior speed skater, Art has competed in the Senior Olympics Speed Skating events at Lake Placid, New York winning gold medals as well as silver and bronze medals for his efforts. Art is also a Past President of the Metro Toronto Speed Skating Club and a former coach as well. Art is a regular attendee at the Adult Skating programming at our arena where he can be seen still skating laps in a pair of speed skates.
All three worthy recipients will be inducted into the Alfred Gregg Sports Wall of Honour during the annual Municipality of Brighton Canada Day Ceremonies held on Sunday, July 1st at 11 AM at King Edward Park.
