1989 Inductees
Athletes
Bernard "Buzz" Deschamps – Nominated by PSHOF,
Born in Penetanguishene, "Buzz" Deschamps first played Junior "C" hockey with the Penetanguishene Hurons. After being drafted by the New York Rangers, Deschamps spent the next 10 years playing professional hockey from coast to coast. In 1959-60, he played with the Sudbury Wolves of the Eastern Professional Hockey League and for the next two years he played for the Indianapolis Chiefs of the International Hockey League. Next was the Long Island Ducks and in 1964 he suited up with the Baltimore Clippers of the American Hockey League before seeing service with the St. Paul Rangers of the Central Hockey League in 1965. He joined the Los Angeles Blades of the World Hockey Association before he finished his career with the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League in 1968-69. The Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League drafted Deschamps, but he chose retirement. |
Michael Dubeau – Nominated by PSHOF,
After playing minor hockey in Penetanguishene, Mike was spotted by local Boston Bruin scout, Victor Grigg, who steered the young Dubeau towards the Bruin’s junior team, the OHA Oshawa Generals. In 1963-64, Mike would end up playing for the Generals alongside the likes of Bobby Orr and Wayne Cashman. . In the fall of 1964, Dubeau returned to Oshawa but packed it in before the season started. Back to Penetanguishene and the Jr. C Hurons, Mike won the 1964-65 league scoring championship. The following year, he helped them to the Ontario semi-finals. Graduating from the Junior ranks, Dubeau suited up with the Barrie Flyers of the Senior A Ontario Hockey Association. Dubeau and the Flyers captured the Ontario Senior A championship in 1972 and went on to win the Eastern Canada title before becoming runners-up in the Allan Cup. That was Dubeau's final year as an active player. He coached the Midland Junior B Flyers for two seasons. |
Anne Merkley – Nominated by PSHOF,
Anne Merkley took to tennis at a young age and showed amazing prowess at hitting a tennis ball. In 1975, she won seven straight tournaments to eventually win the Ontario Closed and Open Competition. At the “12 and Under” Canadian National Junior Championships held at Rockcliffe Tennis Club in Ottawa, she competed against sixteen of Canada’s best. She powered her way pas Jody Carver of Calgary 6-3 and 6-3, Valerie Brice of BC 6-2 and 6-1, Janie Rubens of Moncton 6-1 and 6-2. She then won the Canadian title by defeating Louise Macdonald of Welland 6-3 and 6-1 in the final. To do it Anne Merkley had won 64 straight games and eight straight tournaments that summer. In 1976, she won the Ontario “14 and Under” category, and was second in both the Canadian National singles and doubles championships. In 1977 she won the “16 & Under” Ontario Junior Championship and was seeded sixth in Canada. |
Builders
Bernard "Bunn" Deschamps – Nominated by PSHOF,
At the age of 14 he played junior hockey in Penetang until turning pro in 1936 with the Miami Beach Pirates. He later returned home and coached the Spencer Foundry Junior Rangers to the Ontario Hockey Association semi-finals two years in a row. In 1947-48, he was the player-coach for the Penetang Lions Intermediate A’s who went on to the OHA semi-finals as well. After moving to Midland, he managed the Midland Indians baseball team for 21 years. From 1958 through to 1969, his Midland teams on which were many Penetang players, won the South Simcoe Championship six times and was finalist another six. He led his teams to the Ontario Baseball Association Championship on six occasions, was finalist four times and semi finalist twice. For twelve consecutive years, his ball team was ranked in the top four in Ontario. |
Fred Scott – Nominated by PSHOF,
Though Fred Scott was born and raised in Midland, he was recruited by the coach and general manager of the Penetang Junior C team, Bud Dubeau, to bolster his team for the upcoming 1939 playoffs. As part of the agreement, Dubeau gave him a job at Ontario Hydro, which cemented his ties to the town. Upon returning from the Second World War in 1945, Scott, Dubeau and others started building a minor hockey system in the town in 1947. In 1961, with Stan LeClair, Joe Lamoureux and Scott as manager, Penetanguishene won the Ontario Bantam Championship. He held numerous portfolios in the town’s minor hockey system including General Manager. He received a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his 17 years’ involvement in May of 1988. Scott also had a hand in baseball in 1964 and became involved in developing the sport in Penetanguishene. Later, he became involved with the Midland Indians and helped that team form a powerhouse in senior baseball in Ontario. |
Teams
1934 Spencer Foundry Rangers – Nominated by PSHOF,
It was a literal ‘field of dreams’ story. The growing success of this group of young men ball players had the townsfolk converting a cow pasture at the edge of town into a full-fledged ball field almost overnight. When these boys played, the town literally shut down! Led by pitching sensation Phil Marchildon, they dominated North Simcoe Intermediate Baseball in the early 1930’s. In 1934, they easily won their league championship by disposing of Barrie, then went on to dominate North Bay, and Meaford, before advancing to the All Ontario Final against a powerful Chatham team. The Rangers lost the opening contest at home 8-4 but recovered for a 3-1 win in Chatham. The third game stayed a 2-2 tie before the deciding game was shifted to a neutral field in Guelph. During an October snowstorm, the boys gave it all they had and lost the final by a narrow, heartbreaking 2-1 count. Back row from L-R: Jimmy Bald, Babe Marchildon, Chuck Sheppard, Harold Crippin. Middle row, from left to right: Danny McQuaig, Harry Hale, Bob Crippin, Gerald Barber, Cy Richardson. Front row L-R: Walter Spearn, Fred DeVillers, James Shaw. Manager, Ivan Flynn, coach, Pete Spearn, Marius Bald. Front center: Jack Spearn, Bat Boy. |