NBSHF Announces Class of 2026

Fredericton, N.B., Nov. 4 – The six new Hall of Famers elected to the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame were announced today in Fredericton.  "We are very proud to announce the addition of these inspiring athletes and sport builders into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame" said Jamie Wolverton, Executive Director.  "We are also very excited to recognize the City of Moncton as the host community for our 56th annual Induction Gala."  These individuals, who have made a lasting impact in their field of sport, will be inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame on May 23, 2026, at the Capitol Theatre. The achievements of these inductees will join the legacy of over 800 fellow Hall of Famers enshrined in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame since it was formed in 1970.

2026 inductees include:

Marc Beaudoin of Moncton has been involved in developing athletes in track & field, cross county and running at the regional, provincial, national and international levels for over 40 years.  Beaudoin was head coach for New Brunswick’s Canada Games team and for various national teams, including the Jeux de la Francophonie international.

Tom Coolen of Fredericton has coached various levels of hockey throughout Atlantic Canada and coached professional hockey teams in Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Scotland, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Latvia, and the U.S. and was an assistant coach for Latvia’s national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Sam Johnston of Miramichi is an 8th-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Johnston was the New Brunswick Heavyweight Champion, Maritime Champion, Eastern Canada Heavyweight Champion and won a World Championship gold medal in 2017.

Geneviève Lalonde of Moncton is a two-time Olympian in athletics, four-time Canadian steeplechase champion, and three-time Canadian cross-country champion.  Lalonde has competed internationally in 13 countries over her competitive career and is the only Canadian woman to advance to a final in the 3000-meter steeplechase in a World Championship or Olympic competition.

Donald Ryan of Fredericton has been the head coach of the UNB wrestling program for over 33 years and 16-time winner of the Atlantic University Sport wrestling coach of the year.  Ryan has served as Vice-President of United World Wrestling Americas and President of the Commonwealth Wrestling Committee.

Heather Smith of Sackville has won four National Curling Championships, 17 Provincial Curling Championships and competed in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts six times, winning a bronze medal in 2012.

Tickets for the 56th annual Induction Gala may be purchased at the Capitol Theatre Box office starting on December 1^st and event details are available now at www.nbsportshalloffame.com/induction2026.

About the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame

The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame is the lead authority in preserving and promoting New Brunswick's rich sporting heritage.  As a non-government incorporated charity, run mostly by volunteers, we operate the only Sports Museum in New Brunswick.  We celebrate the stories of New Brunswick's most inspiring athletes and leverage the power of sport to enrich lives and demonstrate the positive impact that sport and the community of the people involved in sport have in shaping the lives of our youth.  By honouring our best, we inspire the rest!

Media Contact: Jamie Wolverton, NBSHF Executive Director ed@nbshf.ca  (506) 457-8841

Online: www.nbsportshalloffame.com / Facebook: NB Sports Hall of Fame / Instagram: @NBSHF