The third set of inductees into Orangeville's Sports Hall of Fame was honoured at a banquet last Friday at the Alder Street Arena.

In the builder category is Karen Pirie, former general manager of the Orangeville Crushers Junior C hockey team; Ray Hunt for his longtime association with Orangeville Minor Hockey, Ross Martin, founder of the Mono Nordic Ski and Orangeville Gymnastics Clubs, and in the athlete category, Al Pilcher, a two-time Olympic Nordic skier.

Orangeville's Sports Hall of Fame chair Doug Harkness, organizer of the event, told the audience of about 70 the committee had a difficult task this year to narrow its choices from 23 nominations.

Karen Pirie, the first woman to become a general manager in junior hockey history receives the induction posthumously. Her daughter Denise Pietz spoke about her mother's deeprooted commitment and love of hockey.

"My mother loved everything she did," Pietz said. "She loved being a part of the community and she especially loved hockey, something she passed along to us."

Pirie coached and managed minor hockey and acted as president for eight years of the Wellington, Dufferin Halton Men's Non Contact hockey league.

She was instrumental in returning Jr. B lacrosse to Orangeville and also became president of that organization.

She was probably best known, however, for 15 years volunteering with the Orangeville Crushers Jr. C's, eventually becoming general manager of the club, when they won six mid-Ontario Jr. C championships, one all- Ontario championship in 1989/90 and an all-Ontario runner-up crown.

Ray Hunt embarked on becoming part of the sporting community 34 years ago and has coached, convened, scheduled ice, spent countless years on the executive including many years as president.

He has received many awards for his contributions to the community including a Paul Harris Award in 2003, the highest award given by the Rotary Club.

Hunt was humbled by the honour of the induction telling the audience he believes every child deserves the chance to play a sport.

"It provides opportunities for learning skills they take with them through life," he said.

Ross Martin was inducted for his role in the creation of the Mono Nordic Ski Club and Orangeville Gymnastics Club. He is also well-known in town for his involvement in hockey, winning the Western Ontario Hockey Association 1962/63 championships with the Orange-

ville Dufferins Intermediate B team. He continues to play hockey three times a week.

Interested in many sports, he began cross country skiing 35 years ago, played softball, was a competitive middle distance runner and high jumper in high school and university.

Later, Martin coached gymnastics, volleyball, track, and cross country skiing at Orangeville District Secondary School and chaired various cross-country skiing committees both locally and provincially.

He said the growth and popularity of gymnastics in town is a source of great pride.

Today, he continues to coach elementary age cross country skiers at Mono Nordic.

"One needs to only visit the gymnastics club or take a trip out to Mono Nordic in the winter to see the profound impact Mr. Martin's impact has had on the community." said Harkness in his introductory remarks.

Al Pilcher received his induction in the athlete's category in absentia, as he was unable to attend because of a work commitment. (He teaches at Ottawa's Carleton University.) But former teacher and friend Don Ellis spoke on his behalf.

Pilcher competed internationally in cross country skiing. He competed for ODSS, winning numerous awards and competitions, but his most noted achievements were competing for Canada and for Orangeville in the 1985, 1989, and 1991 world championships.

In 1989, he finished seventh in the 50k - still the best finish by a Canadian male in cross-country skiing.

Reaching the pinnacle of his career Pilcher represented Canada at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary and the 1992 Olympics in Albertville.

The message from the evening was best summed up by the guest speaker Dr. Brian Ferguson, a local chiropractor, homeopath and trigenist and two Ironman finisher.

"Sport teaches a lot of life lessons. ... It teaches you to roll with the punches. ... It [competing in an Ironman] may not always be fun but it is very rewarding."