2025 Inductees Announced For Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame

Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors have announced the names of six people as inductees for the class of 2025.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

The following are this year’s inductees:

Paul Day (Builder: Lacrosse)

The Peterborough-born coach is well-known in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) communities. As the general manager of the Peterborough Lakers, Day assembled four consecutive Mann Cup championship teams. He won two NLL Championships with the Buffalo Bandits and four with the Rochester Knighthawks. Day played for the Minto Cup Champion Peterborough Jr. Maulers. He is currently the general manager of the NLL’s Philadelphia Wings. He has also been inducted into the Ontario and Canadian Lacosse Halls of Fame.

David Lean (Athlete: Water Skiing)

Peterborough-born and Apsley-raised, Lean competed in two World Water Ski Championships, was a North American Water Ski Champion, a three-time Canadian Champion, the 1960 Ontario Water Ski Champion – closed and open, the 1964 and 1965 Ontario Open champion and was the 1966 Canadian Invitational overall and tricks champion. He was the first Canadian to complete the ‘wake toe hold’ trick in competition. He was a regular performer at the annual Canadian National Exhibition Water Ski Show.

Frank Mazza (Athlete: Wheelchair Paralympian)

Born with cerebral palsy, Mazza started racing in 1982 and represented Canada internationally from 1983 to 1986. Known as "‘Fast Frank Mazza,’ he was a gold medal Paralympian and a gold, silver and bronze World Games Paralympic medalist among his many accomplishments. Frank raced using only his left arm to propel his wheelchair while competing against two-arm wheelers. He held national and provincial records in many events.

Bill Plager (Athlete: Hockey)

Plager came to Peterborough in 1962 to play for the TPT Petes. He spent the 1963-64 season with the Lachine Maroons before returning to play for the Petes from 1964 to 1966. With stints in the CHL and AHL, he would go on to play for the NHL's Minnesota North Stars, Atlanta Flames and St. Louis Blues. He got the rare opportunity to play for four years and teamed up with his brothers Barclay and Bob while playing for the St. Louis Blues. The 68-69 Blues were Western Division Champions and Stanley Cup finalists. Following his 294-game NHL career, Plaguer returned to Peterborough. He contributed to the community by coaching PHA boys and PGHA girl’s teams.

Andrea (Cranley) Prieur (Builder: Lacrosse)

Peterborough native and St. Peter High School graduate Prieur has travelled the world as a member of the Canadian Medical team at Olympic, Commonwealth, Pan Am and World University games over her 20+ years as an athletic therapist. She has been a head therapist for several championships in Canada, including IIHF World Women’s Hockey, Canadian Figure Skating, CPGA Golf and Varsity and Club sports. Through ongoing education and experience, Andrea has prepared to become a world-class therapist, providing medical service to high-prestige events.

Darl Sutherland (Athlete: Long-Distance Running)

Sutherland’s career started when he came to Peterborough from Bancroft to attend Sir Sandford Fleming College. He is an OCAA gold medalist and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association cross-country silver and bronze medalist. He captained the Fleming Knights to the 2001-02 OCAA Championship. As a marathon runner, he has won numerous events and competed in the Boston, Philadelphia and New York Marathons. He is one of Peterborough’s most prolific distant runners. Running has been Darl’s life, translating into coaching high school track and field and Special Olympics. He continues to coach at Sir Sandford Fleming College and Team Ontario.

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