GREG DOWNS
Fort McMurray Today

The class of 2011 officially received their ticket to the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Wednesday night.

Stuart Anderson, Brian Shantz, Joe Young and John Walsh (posthumously) were awarded their plaques yesterday, recognizing their sporting careers that, in all four cases, started humbly in Fort McMurray and blossomed on a bigger stage.

Anderson — the only active recipient — is a CPGA Tour player who will go for his fourth career win next week at the Syncrude Boreal Open at the Fort McMurray Golf Club. It was a fitting start to a week and a half stay in Fort McMurray for the golfer, who gets a chance to play a tour event where his career started, and on a course he helped build.

“The timing couldn’t be more perfect. I wish I was in the Congressional (Golf Club) playing in the U.S. Open, but this fits nicely,” said Anderson of the induction.

“I just have to keep improving and maybe the Canadian Sports Hall of Hame is next.”

His acceptance speech was an emotional one, just like the ones that followed.

The second inductee to receive his plaque was Brian Shantz — a former Fort McMurray Oil Baron who made his name in the Central Hockey League playing for the San Antonio Iguanas.

“It’s a great honour. You set goals as a kid, and you do different things and are proud of your accomplishments, but this was something I never really expected.”

He also never expected to take his hockey talents to San Antonio when he grew up playing minor hockey in Fort McMurray. After dominating the AJHL and putting up big numbers in Kamloops of the WHL, he travelled the world playing hockey before settling in San Antonio for six years, which has become his adopted home.
“It was my stepping stone. I always dreamed of playing for the Oil Barons when I was playing minor hockey. It’s a great hockey franchise, they have had a lot of success, a lot of pride and it’s nice to call this home.

“I remember getting a phone call, and I said Texas? There’s tumbleweeds and cactus. But the city took to hockey and it became home very quick.”

The most emotional speech of the night came from the third inductee, Joe Young, arguably the best baseball player Fort McMurray has ever produced. Young was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the MLB draft in 199, and was at the time, the highest-ever drafted Canadian.

“It’s unbelievable, you never think of something like this growing up. It definitely brings back memories.”

The final plaque was presented to Corey Walsh who was accepting the award on behalf of his brother John Walsh. John Walsh passed away from a heart attack in April of 2010.

Walsh was a standout volleyball player in Fort McMurray who paved the way for local and Canadian kids. He played professional volleyball in Europe until his passing. He is known best locally as a Westwood Community High School player who once served 25 straight aces to win a set on his own — an unheard-of feat in the game of volleyball.

“It’s quite an honour for our family. I know my brother would have been very honoured. He was quite a humble guy, I think he would have been quite embarrassed with all the attention,” said Corey Walsh.

“When they told me, I was really sniffled up a little bit. It was really important for the sport and really important for the family to see that all of his hard work had been recognized.”

Mr. 25, as he was jokingly referred to by his family, played for Red Deer College, the University of Calgary Dinos, as well as overseas in Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Indonesia.

The inductees’ plaques can be seen at the hall of fame at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre.