BROCKVILLE, Ont. -
BROCKVILLE, Ont. - An impressive looking wall just became even more impressive.
The five newest inductees into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame had their plaques unveiled in the new location in the lobby of the Memorial Centre on Friday afternoon. There are now a total of 95 plaques representing Hall of Famers on the lobby wall.
Stock car driver Denzil Billings, hockey coach Doug MacLean, equestrian Gina Smith, volunteer Rob Smith and longtime coach Jim Toshack took their place with the 90 previous members in the illustrious Sports Hall of Fame.
In the usual casual induction ceremony following the more formal part of the three-day sports weekend that began on Thursday night, 16 previous Hall of Famers were on hand to welcome the newest additions.
MacLean, who played with the Brockville Braves in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, before going on to a 20-year coaching and general manager career in the National Hockey League, wasn't in attendance on Friday night.
He was at the awards dinner on Thursday night and headed back to Toronto for his analyst job at the FAN 590 and Sportsnet for Friday afternoon, where he talked about the Hall of Fame induction.
"I have to say I didn't expect this," he said. "When you're playing for the Brockville Braves and sitting in Tom's Tavern wondering what you're doing with your life, I didn't think I would ever be inducted into the Brockville Sports Hall of Fame."
MacLean coached in St. Louis, Washington, Detroit, Florida and Columbus until taking the television job in 2009.
"This is an honour. It was a great two years of my life," said MacLean of his time in Brockville, where he met his wife, Jill, of 32 years and has maintained a lasting friendship with billets Ray and Polly Levia. "It was a great experience playing here and it was a time that turned my life around."
