Oshawa Sports Hall Of Fame

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Tickets are now on sale for the 39th annual Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

June 3rd is going to be a great night of celebration at the Tribute Communities Centre!

Going to college or university next fall? Applications for the Giancarlo Fornasier Memorial Athletic Scholarship are now open.

APPLICATION LINK: https://forms.gle/azxiqRdNm1FaPgF39

We had some people ask to name the 1986-87 Oshawa Generals who are being inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame. Here is the photo with the team list!

Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Spotlight: 1986-87 Oshawa Generals (team)

The legendary 1986-87 Oshawa Generals squad remains one of the most talented in franchise history, dominating the regular season with a 49-14-3 record to capture the OHL Leyden Division title. Led by general manager Sherry Bassin and head coach Paul Theriault — who was honoured with the Matt Leyden Trophy as coach of the year — the team displayed resilience and skill when it mattered most. They defeated the North Bay Centennials in two grueling seven-game series: first to win the OHL Super Series, securing the right to host the Memorial Cup, and again to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions.

The Generals swept the round-robin portion of the Memorial Cup at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium but fell just short in the final, losing to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The depth of talent on this roster was impressive; 21 of the 22 players on the regular roster went on to play professional hockey, with 12 reaching the National Hockey League. Individual brilliance shone brightly as well, with Scott McCrory leading both the team and the league with 150 points to win the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, along with the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s most outstanding player.

The legacy of this team extends far beyond that single season. Five members of the staff have already been inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame, and five have gone on to work in the NHL.

Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Spotlight: Bob Solomon (athlete/builder)

Born in Oshawa and a lifelong resident of the city, Bob Solomon was the backbone of the legendary Oshawa Tony’s fastball team, serving as the catcher from 1968 to 1978.

Bob guided the team through a dynasty of success. They captured the OASA Senior A championship in three consecutive years from 1968 to 1970, and dominated the Oshawa and District League with championships from 1968 to 1971 inclusive. In 1972, the team expanded its dominance, winning both the Toronto and District and the Ontario/Michigan League championships.

The 1974 season was a pinnacle, as the team won both the Ontario and Canadian championships in British Columbia. During that national tournament, Bob set a Canadian record with 63 putouts, a feat that earned him a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The team’s excellence continued on the global stage. They toured New Zealand and hosted the Canadian championship in 1975, where they were finalists, and competed in the World Series of Fastball in Edmonton in 1976. In 1977, they won all five Ontario Fastball League tournaments. They capped off the era by winning the Ontario Fastball League title in 1978 and finishing third at the World Championships.

Off the field, Bob served as president of the Oshawa Slow-Pitch Association, where he spearheaded the development of ball diamonds in south Oshawa. He also coached at Durham College and played for the successful Roy's Enterprise slo-pitch team.

Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Spotlight: Rob Grepe (builder)

Born in Oshawa, Rob Grepe attended R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate before attending the University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship.

Although entering the Hall as a builder, Rob was a formidable athlete in his own right, competing at OFSAA and national championships in cross country during high school. He later became a Canadian champion in both duathlon and triathlon, competing at three world championships, finishing as high as 10th.

Rob returned to R.S. McLaughlin as a teacher and helped build a high school dynasty as a coach. Between 2002 and 2014, Rob led the Trojans to an incredible 42 LOSSA championships in cross country and track and field, as well as six OFSAA cross country titles and 14 OFSAA team medals. His guidance helped 17 of his student-athletes earn NCAA scholarships. He received the OFSAA Convener Award for cross country in 2022.

Beyond the high school level, Rob spent 10 years coaching track and cross country with the Toronto Olympic Club. He served as a Team Ontario track coach for three years leading up to the 2009 Canada Summer Games and was a member of the coaching staff for Canada at the NACAC championships in 2014. Rob has also been instrumental in the development of elite talent, having coached five Olympic athletes, including Oshawa’s Matt Hughes.

2026 Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Spotlight: Kim Haagmans-Hawke

Born and still living in Oshawa, Kim Haagmans-Hawke is a remarkably versatile multi-sport athlete who has represented Canada on the international stage in four distinct disciplines over four decades.

Kim attended O'Neill CVI and began in gymnastics, competing at nationals in 1977. She soon transitioned to multi-discipline sports, representing Canada in the tetrathlon from 1981 to 1983, achieving a world ranking of second, and the modern pentathlon from 1983 to 1985. Her elite versatility continued into the 1990s in triathlon, where she was ranked as high as fifth in the world.

Later, Kim excelled in cross-country mountain biking, achieving a world ranking of eighth. She captured national masters championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018 and held a world ranking of fourth in 2019. Since her international debut, Kim has never stopped training or racing. A certified personal trainer and spin instructor at GoodLife Fitness for nearly 20 years, she has coached the next generation with the Durham Shredders Mountain Bike Club since 2020.

Her longevity is legendary. In 2024, at the age of 60, she finished second in the Elite Category at the Provincial Mountain Biking Championships, standing on the podium between her two daughters.

Kim was the 1992 Canadian Statesman Athlete of the Year and a three-time City of Oshawa Civic Sports Award winner. A recipient of the Durham Board of Education Volunteer of Distinction Award, she remains a pillar of the sporting community.

2026 Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Spotlight: Ross Francis

Born in Oshawa, Ross Francis was a dominant force on the gridiron, beginning his journey at Eastdale Collegiate, where he played from 1971 to 1976. He was instrumental in Eastdale’s 1974 LOSSA football championship victory, earning recognition as the game’s most outstanding player.

Ross went on to a stellar collegiate career at Queen’s University, playing both offensive and defensive tackle. He captured Yates Cup conference titles in 1977 and 1978 and helped lead the Golden Gaels to the Vanier Cup national championship in 1978. In 1980, Ross was voted the team’s most valuable lineman and MVP, and was named a CIAU all-Canadian. His prowess was not limited to the field; in 1981, he received the Queen’s University Jenkins Award for best combining scholastic and athletic excellence.

Selected in the first round of the 1980 CFL draft by the Edmonton Eskimos, Ross played professionally for Edmonton, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders between 1981 and 1986. He was a Grey Cup finalist with Hamilton and a recipient of a CFL award as part of the most outstanding offensive line in 1983. Ross retired in his prime to pursue a successful career as a corporate lawyer in Toronto after earning his law degree from Osgoode Hall. He currently resides in Huntsville.

Special thanks to the City of Oshawa for welcoming our Board of Governors as we announced the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

This year, we are proud to induct:
• Ross Francis (Athlete)
• Kim Haagmans-Hawke (Athlete)
• Rob Grepe (Builder)
• Bob Solomon (Athlete/Builder)
• 1986–87 Oshawa Generals (Team)

Starting tomorrow, we’ll be profiling each inductee across our social media channels.

Ticket and induction ceremony details coming soon!

The Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame is set to announce the induction class of 2026 in front of Oshawa City Council later this month.

Know of any deserving nominees? Fill our our nomination form on our website!