Coyne’s Lifetime of Dedication to Sport Recognized with Hall of Fame Induction

Paris Independent Staff

Staff Contribution

For nearly six decades, Bob Coyne has been a driving force behind sport development and youth mentorship across Brant County. On Saturday, October 11, the community celebrated his remarkable contributions as he is inducted into the County of Brant Sports Hall of Fame as a Builder. The ceremony took place at the Burford Community.

Coyne’s legacy stretches far beyond the ice. Since beginning his coaching journey in 1966 with Shallow Creek Outdoor Youth Hockey, he has dedicated his life to fostering inclusion, skill development, and sportsmanship across multiple disciplines including hockey, track and field, cross-country, and inline hockey.

From 1969 to 1998, Coyne worked extensively with athletes at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind and through the Ontario Blind Sports program, coaching a range of sports and championing accessibility and participation for all athletes.

He spent decades helping hockey players refine their game as a power skating instructor, first with the Wayne Francis Power Skating School (1977–1984) and later through his own Bob Coyne Power Skating School, which ran successfully from 1984 to 2018. His expertise was sought by elite junior programs, including the Brantford Alexanders and Hamilton Steelhawks, and he provided skate sharpening services at the 1986 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Coyne also left a lasting impact in local minor hockey. From 1978 to 2018, he coached and developed players in the Brantford and Burford Minor Hockey Associations, leading teams to tournaments across Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Among his highlights was earning a bronze medal at the Stockholm Cup in 1986.

In addition to traditional hockey, Coyne’s leadership extended into the world of inline and roller hockey. He coached Team World Inline between 1999 and 2004, capturing four gold medals and one silver, and served as a consultant for Team Canada Inline and as Head Coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers Roller Hockey Team. He was also instrumental in founding the Ontario Minor Roller Hockey Association.

Coyne’s commitment has been recognized through numerous awards, including the BMHA President’s Award (1994–95, 2009–10), the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism (2011), and the Paul Harris Fellow Award (2012).

Through it all, Bob Coyne’s impact has been defined by his unwavering belief that sport builds community and character. His induction into the Sports Hall of Fame honours not just a lifetime of coaching, but a legacy of leadership that has shaped generations of athletes in Brant County and beyond.