Hall of Fame Day
Grimsby’s Paul Day has been inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Photo by: LAURA KUPSEY.
Paul Day received some unexpected good news recently.
The 52-year-old Grimsby resident, who is already a member of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, was informed he was being inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the builder’s category.
“Obviously it’s an honour and surprising because I still feel like I’m in the middle of my coaching and GM career,” said Day, who is the head coach and general manager of the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.
Day had no idea he had been nominated.
“In the baseball hall of fame, you see the guys sitting around waiting for the call,” he said. “I got a call and you’re kind of surprised. I didn’t even know who else was going in and then he called back and told me who was going in.
“It’s great.”
Day said being inducted into the builder’s category is special.
“You really represent everybody who has taught you and everybody you have coached with, all the players who have played for you and the people who have give you the opportunity,” he said. “I’m really fortunate. I’ve been around a lot of great players and a lot of great lacrosse people.”
Day began his coaching career with the St. Catharines Athletics in 1993 after a storied playing career.
“In St. Catharines Buff McCready, Brian Allen and Bob Luey gave me a chance to coach junior A when I was 24,” he said.
As well, Day coached the St. Regis Indians in 2009 and was an assistant coach with the Brampton Excelsiors of the Major Senior League in 2010. He was also the GM of the champion Team Canada Indoor team in 2007, and assistant coach in 2011 and 2015. He is currently the coach of the Peterborough Lakers of the MLS.
On the pro side, Day coached the Rochester Knighthawks on the NLL for more than 18 years before taking the job in Philadelphia full time three years ago when he retired from the Niagara Regional Police.
His playing career is also noteworthy, highlighted by a pair of Minto Cups as a defensive specialist with the Peterborough Maulers in 1986 and 1987.
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to sports, it has given Day a rare opportunity to reflect and even relax a bit. He’s been home-schooling his son Mac while his wife, Angela, a sergeant with the Niagara Regional Police, has been working. He is also using the time to do even more research on the game he loves.
“I’m just trying to learn as much as I can. It’s the only real downtime I’ve had in years to listen so I’m listening to podcasts from coaches and GMs and I’ve done a lot of analysis on last five NLL drafts, trades, just to try and improve as a GM,” he said.
He is hopeful a dinner for the inductees scheduled for November in B.C. will still be held. He is also excited to be inducted along with the 1990 and 1991 Minto Cup champion St. Catharines Athletics. Randy Mearns, one of Day’s closest friends, was a member of both teams.
“I coached and played with Randy. He’s an unbelievable guy. One of my favourites in lacrosse,” Day said.
BPSN and the COVID-19 pandemic
Like all small businesses dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, BPSN is not sure what the business landscape will look like when things return to normal. Our website is financed primarily through advertising revenues and partnership agreements with many local sports and educational organizations in Niagara. Our goal is to continue providing our readers with the extensive local sports coverage you have come to expect from our site. Since our inception, we have written more than 2,800 stories on our local athletes and teams. Many of our readers have given us one-time donations or send us monthly contributions to help offset our costs. We would be eternally grateful if others would consider doing the same by using the Support Us button located on the right-hand side of our home page below the mosaic.
Thank you for your continued support.
Bill and Bernie.
