Sports Hall of Fame welcomes six new members

An induction ceremony was held at the Quality Inn Friday night.

Six people are now enshrined in the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame.

An induction ceremony was held at the Quality Inn on Benson Street Friday night.

Triathlete Simon Whitfield and racecar driver Pat O'Brien go in as athletes while Jim Hulton (hockey), Ken Thompson (curling), Randy Stewart (hockey), and Victor Mendes (soccer) went in as builders.

For O'Brien, who competed in dirt track racing for over 30 years, he was grateful to get the honour.

O'Brien career took off in the early 80s winning in Brockville, Cornwall, and New York state.

He says he couldn't imagine being part of the sports hall of fame.

Whitfield won an Olympic gold medal in triathlon at the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia.

He also won a Canadian Championship in 1998 and a bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in 1999.

Hulton's career accomplishments in hockey included coaching more than 1,000 games including 272 with the Kingston Frontenacs.

He was an assistant coach on Canada's world junior team that won gold in 2005.

Thompson won the Ontario men's curling championship in 1972.

He has also organized several curling tournaments including the 2020 Tim Horton's Brier in Kingston.

Stewart has been involved in minor hockey in Kingston for 32 years.

He was recognized for his dedication to his players and personal involvement in making their minor hockey experience a positive one.

Mendes was a soccer standout both as an athlete and a coach. 

He also served on the Canadian Men's Soccer Team as a video analyst from 2004 to 2018.

Story by Ken Hashizume