For the first time in the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame’s 50-year history, a women’s hockey team was inducted this year.

The 2003-04 Jean Vanier Catholic High School varsity girls’ hockey team joined the Hall on Saturday night!

It was the first year Jean Vanier (now Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School) had a girls hockey team. The team won both the Georgian Bay Secondary School Championships and the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations “A/AA” gold medal in 2004. The team played its full regular, playoff and championship seasons undefeated.

Some members of the team were in attendance and spoke about the impact coach and teacher Liz Peyton had on their lives.

“We love our coach so much, we don’t want to make her come up here because she hates public speaking,” said player Justine Murphy. “It’s pretty special to be here.”

“Our time playing for Jean Vanier was nothing short of memorable. This is pretty much all because of Peyton,” she said. “Ultimately, she became our friend.”

Also joining the 2024 Hall of Fame class were Andrea Bevan, Andrea Ironside, William “Bill” Kirby, and Don Thorne.

The full story can be found on the Collingwood Today website.

More information about the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame can be found on their website www.collingwoodsportshalloffame.ca

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