Humber College Athletics

Humber College has a rich and storied athletics tradition in Etobicoke, with intercollegiate competition officially beginning in 1967. It only took one year before the Hawks claimed their first Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) provincial title – a women’s curling gold medal in the winter of 1969.

While Humber now boasts the most extensive varsity program in the country, with 20 men’s and women’s squads, it still adheres to the same ‘athletics for all’ philosophy that was established over a half century ago. Along with varsity, the department also operates a vigorous intramural program with over 15 sports and annual events at both the North and Lakeshore campus, as well as an expansive recreational menu.

Humber traditionally has considered athletics to be an integral part of the educational experience – highlighted by its national-best 141 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Academic All-Canadian selections. This award is one of the most prestigious honours bestowed upon a student-athlete, epitomizing their commitment to academic success and athletic achievement.

The primary standard had been success against its 27 peer institutions in the OCAA, where the Hawks squads have captured more than 330 gold medals since 1969 – by far the most in the province.

It wasn’t until 1991 when Humber was able to conquer the national mountaintop, as the men’s basketball program won Humber’s first CCAA title. Since then, the Hawks have gone on to capture 66 more national gold medals, setting a new standard that no college in the country can match.

The college’s international imprint has begun to grow over the last two decades, with student-athletes going on to play professionally overseas or representing Canada in basketball, volleyball, golf, curling, badminton, and more.

The Olympics, the biggest sporting event in the world, has seen a handful of Hawks compete, including a duo from Humber badminton in the upcoming games in Paris 2024.

Humber Athletics and the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame have been synonymous for more than two decades, with nearly 100 student-athletes receiving scholarships during that span. Former Humber athletic director Doug Fox – who played an integral role in Humber’s collaboration with the ESHOF – was inducted into the hall in 2013, while retired Sports Information Director Jim Bialek was on the board of governors for nearly a decade.

Faustina Hockey Association

Since its founding in 1935, Faustina Minor Hockey in Toronto has played a vital role in the community, providing affordable hockey experiences for over 25,000 players. The organization, originally established as the Faustina Club, was founded by Ken Cox and a group of local teenagers with the goal of raising money for charitable purposes through dances. Despite interruptions caused by World War II, the club was reorganized in 1947 with a renewed focus on promoting minor hockey in the Lakeshore area of south Etobicoke.

The Lakeshore Memorial Arena, built in 1951, became home to the Faustina Sports Club, offering affordable hockey for young people in the Etobicoke Lakeshore area. The club’s dedication to youth hockey continued to grow, and in 1968, Faustina expanded its programming by offering competitive Select programs as part of the North York Hockey League. In the 2021/2022 season, Faustina took over the York Toros AA Organization, offering GTHL AA programs.

Faustina’s success is largely attributed to its dedicated volunteers, with over 130 volunteers providing coaching, training, equipment, ice time, officiating, and administrative support. The organization’s commitment to creating a “Fun First” experience has led to the development of a lifelong love for hockey in many players. Faustina’s impact extends beyond the rink, with the organization supporting various community causes, including the Daily Bread Food Bank, SickKids Hospital, and the Toronto Firefighters Toy Drive.

Faustina has also established several long-standing traditions, such as Sportsman Night, the Carl Gordaneer Christmas Tournament, and the annual Future Starz hockey school. These traditions, along with the dedication of its volunteers and the support of the community, have helped Faustina remain a cornerstone of the Etobicoke community for over 85 years.

Mimico Lacrosse

The original Town of Mimico, whose name comes from the Ojibwa word meaning “home of the wild pigeon”, was a popular summer vacation destination close to Lake Ontario and its westerly beaches. Originally settled as a farming community, it quickly developed into a hub of activity for new industry; and the ever-expanding railway and heavy manufacturing. Like Toronto, Mimico experienced steady growth during this time, and residents began to settle in the area to work in the local factories, where they were within a short commute to the downtown core.

In those days, you worked for the Railway, Goodyear, Campbell’s Soup or Anaconda Brass.

While the township developed into a bustling suburb of Toronto, the Mimico Lacrosse Club started to churn out some great lacrosse players, builders and teams. Field Lacrosse was played in the early years on pitches bordering Wesley and Portland Streets and at Memorial Park on Hillside Avenue.

In 1931, when the Canadian Lacrosse Association chose the Box game as its new form of play, the Mimico Lacrosse Club built an outdoor box at the corner of Church Street (Royal York) and Drummond Street, where the game has been played continuously until today. It was known across the province as the “Drummond Street Bowl,” which included a dirt floor and old railway boxcars for dressing rooms. Outdoor games at night in front of thousands were the norm for our sport in the golden age. The roar of the crowd and the announcer’s call of the game could be heard all over town.

The Mountaineers brought recognition to the town more than any other sports team, with Mann Cup wins in 1932 and 1942 and Eastern Canadian Senior titles in 1943 and 1947. In WWII, Conn Smythe’s 30th Light Anti-aircraft Battery, dubbed “The Sportsmen’s Battery,” included every member of the Mimico Mountaineers who won the 1942 Mann Cup.

Minto Cup victories were recorded in 1938 and 1951, with Eastern Canadian supremacy logged in 1941 and 1946. Mimico minor lacrosse teams also shared in the success of the Junior and Senior teams, with provincial titles earned as well.

At one point in time, the Southern Etobicoke area boasted thriving lacrosse associations in Mimico, Long Branch and Alderwood, all within minutes of each other. The 1970 Lakeshore Maple Leafs and their Minto Cup win was a combined team from these associations.

Participation in lacrosse dwindled in the late 1970s and 1980s. The Junior A Mountaineers’ last season was in 1978. A short list of dedicated volunteers kept the club afloat, putting in long hours at the arena with various fundraising activities, and driving kids to games and tournaments, keeping the pride and history of Mimico Lacrosse alive.

With the advent of professional box lacrosse, there seemed to be a renewed interest in the game, and membership was on the rise. In 1993, the Mimico Jr. B Mountaineers returned to the ranks of junior competition when a group of former players decided it was time for the players to stay home to play the game. The new team embraced the history of Mimico Lacrosse, honoured past greats from the club, and broadcasted home games on Rogers Cable. Interest in this new team and the sport of lacrosse in the community continued to grow.

Mimico Lacrosse continues to enjoy much success as one of the most significant associations in Ontario with a local box lacrosse league, rep box and field teams at each age division, a thriving women’s field lacrosse program, as well as teams in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (Junior A) and Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (Junior B) and Women’s Major Series Lacrosse (WMSL).

Today, Mimico Lacrosse owes so much to those who came before and laid the foundation for 125 years of memories. There are so many great players, coaches, volunteers and builders of the game from our community, who contributed at the provincial and national level, and each has their own story. Some of these greats have been recognized with inclusion in the Canadian and Ontario Lacrosse Halls of Fame. We appreciate their contribution, and we hope that we honour them with the Mimico Lacrosse Club as it stands today.

Since 1890, Mimico Lacrosse has provided a fun, safe and inclusive lacrosse program that is open to players of all ages and skill levels.

Mimico Lacrosse is the oldest and largest lacrosse club in the City of Toronto. With a wide range of programs for both boys and girls, we are proud to offer a comprehensive experience for kids to learn and play Canada’s national sport in the nation’s largest city.

Rod Toner

In 1953, three fathers in the Humber Valley area of Etobicoke wanted to enable their 7 and 8 year old sons to play hockey. Stafford Smythe, whose father Conn Smythe was one of hockey’s elder statesmen and President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, naturally wanted his son Tommy to be able to play. His good friend, well-known sportsman Jack Stafford Jr., wanted the same opportunity for 7 year-old son John. Ray Picard, father of 7 year-old Alan, was talked into getting involved as well, and the three men began plans to form a Humber Valley hockey team.

A notice was put up at Humber Valley Village School on Hartfield Road, and the following Saturday Lambton Park’s outdoor rink overflowed with interested parents and children. The Humber Valley Hockey League was born.

Two teams were formed the first year- the Hornets, coached by Jack Stafford, and the Redmen, led by Ray Picard – and they played as Atoms in the Toronto Hockey League, the forerunner of the GTHL. At the time, Atoms were players aged 10 and under. Their first game, at the old Ravina rink in the Annette/High Park area, ended in a scoreless tie. By the end of the first season, the Hornets and Redmen were tied for 3rd place in the league, forcing a sudden-death playoff which the Hornets won 3-0.

At the banquet ending the first season, the guest speaker was none other than retired Leaf goaltender Turk Broda. In only its 2nd year, Humber Valley fielded an unbelievable 12 teams in the THL. At the Atom level, the Elfs, Frys, Imps, Shrimps, Squirts and Tom Thumbs carried the Humber Valley colours.

The Hornets and Redmen played in the Pee Wee division, while the Jets, Kings and Rams made up the league’s Minor Bantam entry. The Aces were the first Bantam team for Humber Valley. For the first time, Humber Valley entered teams in the King Clancy series, a post-season THL tournament.

As in any year, the success of this second season was the result of the hard work on many people, a few of whom deserve special mention, such as: Jack Coulter, Murray Dryden, Russ Hicks, Ross Johnstone, Pat Patterson, Bill Sanagan, Harry Stayley and George Williams Jr.

In year 3, the enthusiasm and coaching efforts of the Humber Valley parents paid off with 2 championships. Humber Valley’s Squirts won the THL Atom championship during the regular season, and the White Shirts – an All-Star team made up of players from all the house league Atoms – took the King Clancy championship. But the real excitement of the 3rd year occurred at the Tyke level, which then included all players under 9 years old. The final game of the Easter Timmy Tyke Tournament saw the Humber Valley Tykes squaring off against their Scarborough counterparts. After regulation play the score was tied 1-1. Two 5 minute overtime periods failed to break the deadlock, forcing a shoot-off which was won by Bruce Dempster, who counted for both Humber Valley’s goals. The tournament MVP was Tim Ecclestone – later to become an NHL star – whose father Bill coached the team with Doug King.

During these beginning years, games and practices were held on the ice surfaces of Ravina, Lambton Park and Anglesey Park – the first community outdoor artificial rinks in the Metropolitan Toronto area. Parents at this time not only coached and managed their children’s teams, but also officiated in the house league programs.

By the 4th season, the league had grown to 18 teams from Atom to Minor Midget. At the end of the year Humber Valley, Queensway, Alderwood and Northern Etobicoke entered teams in a tournament held by the newly- formed Etobicoke Hockey Association, with the stated purpose of determining an all-Etobicoke champion. During its first few years of existence the league blossomed and grew under the Presidencies of co-founders Stafford Smythe and Jack Stafford Jr., both of whom had the ability to draw many other volunteer parents to work with them in making the league a success. Since those early days, Humber Valley has enjoyed a reputation as an outstanding amateur hockey organization, and all the league executives, team officials and players who have been active in the association since then owe a huge debt of gratitude to Stafford, Jack and their contemporaries.

West Mall Minor Hockey Association

Founded in 1962 by the then Cloverdale Merchants Association. Home games commenced playing at an outdoor rink at the base of Shaver Avenue in Central Etobicoke until the mid 1960’s then relocated to the outdoor rink at Burnhamthorpe and the West Mall hence the name that remains till this day. When the indoor rink Etobicoke Centennial opened in 1968 this became the permanent home for games and the outdoor rink was kept for practice currently for the House League.

West Mall played initially in the EHA with a strong House League of over 700 players and today’s version of A rep hockey against other Etobicoke based organizations like Royal York, Alderwood, Faustina, Martingrove, North Etobicoke, St Benedict’s etc. In the City amalgamation of hockey, West Mall joined the MTHL which later grew to the GTHL which the league is a member. Initially the Rep teams played in green and gold as the Wolves until the 1990’s when the Rep teams became the Lightning with blue, silver and white and the league was granted AA status in some divisions and even had a Juvenile AAA team.

The elected Boards of Directors have always been a stable group and although the current group averages 20 plus years of service per person many who had the opportunity to work with the founding fathers of the club, Bernie Ginger, Ralph Currie, Harold Birch and Charlie Cromwell to name a few. Where the pride and values established continues.

West Mall as an organization participates in many community based fund raisers such as an annual food bank drive at Christmas, individual teams often participate in community based programs an example being this year’s Pee Wee A team which won the Chevrolet Good Deed Cup for their work in supporting the Parkdale Community Food Bank

For over 20 years West Mall further supports our players long term growth by offering up to 4 Scholarships for Post Secondary education for both House League and Rep players each year. Each players who qualifies is awarded $500.00.

West Mall has also waived existing House League players’ registration fees upon family tragedy (example death of a parent) in order to lessen the burden.