Paris Midget A Champion and multi-sport star Andy Stryker joins Hall of Fame

Andy “Taz” Stryker stands proudly beside his induction plaque after being honoured as part of the County of Brant Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

George Le Gresley

Sports Correspondent

In the 1970s, Paris was still a small town, often overshadowed by neighbouring Brantford on the ice. While a young Wayne Gretzky was making headlines at the Quebec City Pee Wee tournament, it was Paris’s own Midget A hockey team that captured local hearts—going all the way to win the Ontario Hockey Association Provincial Championship.

Andy Stryker was the most talented player and the leader of this championship team. The 1974-75 Paris Scott Colonels Hockey Team won the OMHA Midget “A” Championship. That team is listed in the Brant County Sports Hall of Fame and appears on the Paris Wall of Recognition.

At Paris High, he was an exceptional cross-country runner and soccer player; in the summer, a gifted baseball player and golfer, whose trademark was his bold red afro, which factored in adding at least 4 to 5 inches to his height.

Andy started skating at his grandparents' farm at age four and grew into what teammate Larry Smith and Doug Delaronde described as a tenacious, intense competitor, who was a great skater known to win most of his battles for the puck in the rink's corners. He was also the team leader and the Major Junior hockey scouts from Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds drafted him to join their team in 1974. Andy attended two training camps with the Greyhounds but left the team to return home, due to a family issue, where he continued to play Junior B hockey for Paris. 

His father, an electrician who immigrated from Holland, made Andy eligible to play in the Dutch hockey league from 1980 to 1986. During that time overseas, he was chosen to play for Holland in a series of games against the U.S.S.R. national hockey team, 

Today, Mr. Stryker lives in Brantford and is the owner of Taz (his nickname) Electric. His mother, children, grandchildren, friends, and former teammates were in attendance. Mayor David Bailey and Councillor John Peirce, who heads the county’s Hall of Fame Ad Hoc Committee, offered their greetings and remarks. Larry Smith, Mr. Stryker’s teammate in a variety of sports, most notably the championship Paris Midget team, introduced him and awarded him the Induction plaque.

Andy “Taz” Stryker – Career Highlights

1962–1975 – Paris Minor Hockey Association

1965–1973 – Paris Minor Baseball Association

1972–1976 – Paris District High School Soccer and Cross Country

1972–1973 – Ontario Bantam A Finalists (Ontario Minor Hockey Association)

1973–1974 – Ontario Midget A Finalists (OMHA)

1974–1975 – Ontario Midget A Champions (OMHA)

1974–1975 – Assistant Coach, Paris Minor Hockey Association

1974 – Paris Golf Course Junior Champion

1975 – Drafted into OHL by Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

1975–1978 – Junior B Hockey (Brantford, Tillsonburg, Preston)

1975–1983 – Player/Coach, Paris Men’s Fastball League

1979 – Paris 29ers Intermediate B Hockey Team

1980–1981 – Dutch National Hockey Team

1980–1981 – Dutch IJS Hockey Bonds Team

1980–1986 – First Division Hockey (Groningen and Den Haag, Holland)

1985–1986 – Dutch First Division Champions

1990 – Paris Selects, Holland Tour Tournament Champions

2008 – Slo Pitch Ontario & National Provincial Champions

2009 – Slo Pitch Ontario Provincial Champions

2015 – Slo Pitch Ontario Provincial Finalists