The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame will induct six new members in the Spring of 2026. “We are very proud to announce the addition of these inspiring athletes and sport builders,” said Jamie Wolverton, the Hall of Fame’s executive director, in a news release. The new members will be added during the induction ceremony on May 23 at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton. “We are also very excited to recognize the City of Moncton as the host community for our 56th annual induction gala,” said Wolverton. The new Hall of Famers are: Marc Beaudoin Marc Beaudoin of Moncton has helped develop track and field, cross-country and running athletes from the regional to the international level for more than 40 years. He was head coach of New Brunswick’s Canada Games team, the Jeux de la Francophonie team and several national teams. Tom Coolen Tom Coolen of Fredericton has coached hockey at various levels in Atlantic Canada and professional teams in Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Scotland, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Latvia and the United States. He was an assistant coach for Latvia’s national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Sam Johnston Sam Johnston of Miramichi holds an eighth-degree black belt in taekwondo. He won a world championship in 2017. He was the New Brunswick, Maritime and Eastern Canadian heavyweight champion. Geneviève Lalonde Geneviève Lalonde of Moncton is a two-time Olympian. She is the only Canadian woman to compete in a final in the 3,000-metre steeplechase in a world championship or Olympic competition. She is a four-time Canadian steeplechase champion and three-time Canadian cross-country champion. She competed in 13 countries during her competitive career. Donald Ryan Donald Ryan of Fredericton has been head coach of the wrestling team at the University of New Brunswick for more than 33 years and a 16-time winner of the Atlantic University Sport award for wrestling coach of the year. Ryan served as vice-president of United World Wrestling Americas and president of the Commonwealth Wrestling Committee. Heather Smith Heather Smith of Tantramar won four national curling championships and 17 provincial championships. She competed in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts six times and won a bronze medal in 2012. Tickets for the Hall of Fame induction gala will be available through the Capitol Theatre box office beginning Dec. 1. Details are available online. More than 800 people have been inducted since New Brunswick’s Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1970. The Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization “dedicated to preserving and promoting the province’s sporting heritage.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
