The list of great Canadian athletes and builders who have made an impact in their sport at home and abroad is long and impressive.
And with the deadline for nominations for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 quickly approaching, Canadians across the country can have their say as to who will join the current list of sports icons.
Until Jan. 31, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is accepting nomination forms from all Canadians for athletes and builders who qualify for the honour under the Hall’s eligibility criteria.
Those interested in partaking in the nomination process are recommended to complete a nomination form (English | French), and mailing, faxing or emailing it to the following:
Mail: 169 Canada Olympic Road SW | Calgary, AB | T3B 5R5
Fax: 403-776-1090
Email: nominations@cshof.ca
Notable omissions from the Hall of Fame include:
Shawn Tompkins
Hometown: Tillsonburg, Ont.
Sport: Mixed martial arts
Bio: Shawn Tompkins was born on March 16, 1974 in the small town of Tillsonburg, Ont., just 50 kilometres outside London, Ont. He studied karate from the age of six, achieving third degree black belt in Shotokan, and took up kickboxing at 16, amassing Canadian and North American titles before taking to mixed martial arts.
His biggest claim to fame in MMA was his well-renowned Team Tompkins gym in London, Ont., which he opened at the age of 18. With a focus on Muay Thai kickboxing, it developed young local talent and was the springboard for current UFC stars Mark (The Machine) Hominick and Sam (Hands of Stone) Stout. He encouraged Stout to join the gym while he was dating his sister Emilie, whom Tompkins later married.
Tompkins moved to Las Vegas in August 2007 to become head trainer at the world-famous Xtreme Couture gym. There he also took over coaching duties from former UFC heavyweight champion and close friend Bas Rutten for the Los Angeles Anacondas of the relatively short-lived, team-based International Fight League. One of the team’s stars was Chris (The Polish Hammer) Horodecki, one of Tompkins’ London-based pupils.
In October 2009 he left his post at Xtreme Couture to become head coach at the TapouT Research and Development Training Center, also in Las Vegas, where he continued to develop some of the top MMA fighters in the game.
Tragically, on Aug. 14, 2011, Tompkins passed away at the age of 37 from a sudden heart attack in his sleep.
He was nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2011 World MMA Awards, which were presented on Nov. 30. He did not win (Greg Jackson got the nod) but the award was renamed the Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year Award, and Tompkins was also posthumously given a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He had a brief pro MMA career from 2000-01 but went 0-4. Nicknamed “The Coach,” his strengths were always as trainer, cornerman and close friend to nearly everyone who got to know him.
Craig Forrest
Hometown: Coquitlam, B.C.
Sport: Soccer
Bio: A native of Coquitlam, B.C., goalkeeper Craig Forrest was the most successful Canadian ever to play in English soccer, and arguably Canada’s greatest player.
Forrest left home as a 16-year-old and after several years earned a starting position with Ipswich Town, helping the club win the English second division crown in 1991-92.
As a result, Ipswich gained promotion to the Premiership the following season in 1992-93 – a far cry from today where foreign imports make up the majority.
Forrest was not only a fan favourite with the club, but was also named Ipswich’s most outstanding player in 1995.
After several seasons with Ipswich Town, and a brief loan stint with Chelsea, Forrest moved to West Ham United where he played another five seasons. During his time with the Hammers, Forrest played alongside such notable stars as Paolo Di Canio, Rio Ferdinand and Stuart Pearce.
Forrest was also a loyal servant of the Canadian national team, earning 56 caps for his country between 1988 and 2002. The highlight of his international career came when he helped Canada win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and was named tournament MVP and Most Valuable Goalkeeper.
Forrest was also in net for Canada’s famous 1-1 draw with Brazil in Edmonton, a month before the South Americans won the 1994 World Cup.
In 2001, Forrest was diagnosed with testicular cancer and after beating the illness, was forced to retire from soccer the following year.
Rick Fox
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Sport: Basketball
Bio: Born in Toronto, Ont., to a Bahamian father and Canadian-Italian mother on July 24, 1969, Rick Fox spent much of his young life in the Bahamas and United States.
After attending Warsaw High School in Warsaw, Ind., Fox opted to attend the University of North Carolina to play basketball for the Tar Heels. In the 1990 March Madness tournament, Fox hit a buzzer-beating shot to eliminate the top-seeded Oklahoma Sooners and advance UNC into the Sweet Sixteen.
He then led the Tar Heels to the Final Four of the tournament in 1991.
Fox departed UNC as the Tar Heels’ all-time leader in steals with 197 and never missed a game in four years, tying a school record with 140 appearances overall.
Drafted in the first round, 24th overall, by the Boston Celtics in the 1991 NBA Entry draft, Fox became the first Celtic to start in his NBA debut since the great Larry Bird.
Dubbed a versatile small forward with a scorer’s touch, Fox played in 81 contests as a rookie and averaged eight points per game. As a result, he was named to the 1991-92 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
In 1994, Fox represented Canada at the FIBA International World Championships in Toronto. Canada earned a 4-4 record in the tournament, finishing seventh among 16 participating nations.
Serving as Celtics team captain in 1996-97, Fox averaged 15.4 PPG and made 101 three-pointers in what would be his most productive NBA season. He also set a franchise record with 167 steals that year before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in the off-season.
During his first year with the Lakers, he posted season-highs of 31 points and 10 rebounds, adding 4 steals and 3 assists, in front of his hometown crowd as the Lakers topped the Raptors 114-105 in Toronto. His time in Los Angeles turned out to be fruitful, winning three-peat NBA titles with the powerhouse Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Fox ended his NBA career in 2004 after 13 seasons as a professional, nine of which he helped his team reach the playoffs. He scored 8,996 points, grabbed 3,517 rebounds and dished out 2,649 assists in 930 NBA games.
Read the previous three candidates: Matt Stairs, Mike Vanderjagt & Greg Moore | HERE