Don
Gerry is probably best known as the quarterback of the famed, and
former, Hamilton Blue Devils (one of the few teams to give the Ottawa
Nepean Canadians competition the last few years). Don is also is the
men’s “AA” President of Hamilton’s “Golden
Horseshoe Touch Football Association.” He also runs the very
popular Dave Nelson Early Bird Tournament, the first stop
on the prestigious Trillium Tour. Somehow, in between defending
the streets as one of Toronto's finest, Don finds the time to volunteer
much of his time to Touch Football in Ontario.
These
days Don can be found playing option/back up QB for the well respected
Burlington Spartans, as well as coach and alternate qb for Team Canada.
Return to top
Russ
Henderson has brought his incredible on and off field work ethic to
the offices of Touch Football Ontario. Known as one of the architects
behind the dynasty-labeled Toronto Landell Lightning (3 time National
Champs), and current contenders, Russ now shares his recipe for success as the Director of
Men’s Football. Although many of our women’s teams left
TFO to play flag football some years ago, all have since
returned, and we owe much to Russ’s efforts during his years as the Women's Director. Only a few of us truly know the hours that Russ had sacrificed during those times.
Aside
from Directing Men’s football, Russ is the President of the
Toronto Touch Football League. Russ is also the general manager and
head coach of the men’s and women's Team Canada. On top of everything
Russ does for Touch Football in Ontario, he finds the time to negotiate
multimillion dollar deals as a land developer.Return
to top
A
long standing player on the Trillium Tour, and in the Ottawa Nepean
Touch Football League, Brent is best known these days as one of the
most respected officials on the field. Always having an excellent
understanding of the game, Brent utilizes his keen grasp to fairly
officiate the most prominent of Championship games.
Brent,
as the title states, is also the Referee in Chief of Touch Football
Ontario. The tasks that Brent undertakes prior to every tournament,
are unenviable. Brent has the complex mission of fielding referees
for the thousands of games that occur over the course of the Trillium
Tour. Hindrances like referee levels (who to place where), last minute
cancellations, schedules, paychecks, and conflicting games with player-reffs,
are just some of the many obstacles that Brent must overcome every
season, and in every tournament. I’m proud to say that Brent
always, in his friendly fashion, comes through in the clutch for TFO.
The tour just couldn’t run properly without Brent behind the
helm of the officials.Return to top
Joanne,
over her many years of service, has been one of the most influential
voices for women in touch football. With her no nonsense approach,
and strong work ethic, Joanne can be highly credited for bringing
women’s football, touch or flag, to the competitive levels appreciated
today.
In 2007, Joanne became the Director of women's football for TFO. This was a very natural progression, as Joanne's dedication to our sport is second to few. Women particpants across this province are in the very best of hands with Joanne at the helm.
After
toiling with competitive squads in her many years as a player, Joanne
finally tasted elite women’s gold in 2004 when her Ottawa Roadrunner
squad won their first Canadian Elite Championship.Return
to top
One
of Toronto’s finest, Steve finds the time, in between defending
Toronto's streets, to dedicate many hours to Touch Football in Ontario.
Not only does Steve run the final stop on the Trillium Tour with his
Toronto Rockets team (Unionville Invitational) he coaches two women’s
teams and a men's team, two of which earned Canadian championships
(Rockets and X-Men) in 2005. He also works very hard at perfecting
the draws that the women and men compete in.
Steve,
with his friendly approachable nature, can always be found strategizing
with his teams, as well as working behind the scenes during tournaments,
making our Tour ever the more prominent.Return
to top
Melissa Carty has been one of the most feared receivers in women's football since she was introduced to the Tour via the Ottawa Roadrunners in the late 90's. Now residing in Toronto, Melissa has taken her game to a new level with the Toronto Rockets. in 2005, she would help lead her team to their first Elite Canadian title.
Melissa has now taken her passion for football into the TFO offices. This past off-season, Melissa joined the Women's Committee, and will also sit on the disciplinary side of things as well. Always a strong volunteer at our events, Melissa is a welcome addition to the team.Return
to top
Little introduction is needed for Marife Vlillagonzalo. Marife is best known by her infamous nickname, "Mouse". For many years, Mouse has been the quarterback of the Toronto Rockets, one of the most consistently excellent teams on the Tour. As is well known, Marife, as quarterback, and on defense, lead her Rockets to a memorable Elite Canadian title in 2005. Despite a massive roster shuffle the following season, Mouse and her Rockets continued to be a force at every Tour stop.
At the end of the 2005 campaign, Mouse put together a statistical analysis that included every competing team from that season. Her task was immense, but the results offered members a dynamic review of their performance that season. She would continue contributing to the statistical aspects in 2006, before officially joining the team in 2007.
Not only will Mouse be our official Statistician, she sits as the Secretary of all meetings, as well as on the Women's Committee. TFO is beyond pleased to welcome her to the staff.Return
to top
Dave
Thomspon and his Burlington Spartans have become synonymous with class
and prestige. A long time Elite player on the Trillium Tour, Dave
has also been a long serving TFO executive. Bringing high intellect
and common sense to the table, Dave is largely responsible for bringing
Touch Football Ontario to the level of respectability that is inherent
in it today.
On
the men’s committee, Dave makes the final decisions on rankings
and draws. Although it’s impossible to please everyone, Dave
works diligently, always bringing a fair and reasonable decision to
the table.
Dave
can still be found lacing up the cleats alongside his Burlington Spartan
teammates. Over the years, Dave has enjoyed considerable success as
the GM and stand out defensive back of this team. There hasn’t
been a squad out of Ontario that has earned the respect, and elite
level accomplishments that his Spartans have.Return
to top
Like
most of our staff members, Sean has been involved with touch football
for many years. Making his name as a clutch receiver “back in
the day,” Sean is best known these days as an invaluable member
of our men’s committee. He’s also well known as the head
coach of the famed former Ottawa Shamrocks, and the present day Ottawa
Mudpigs.
Although
Dave Thompson has the final say on the men’s rankings, and tournament
draws, it’s Sean who does much of the leg work behind the scenes.
Speaking with new team managers, and associates of these squads, Sean
works thoroughly, doing his finest to find the perfect rank for new
teams. Spending endless hours on these tasks, Sean has long since
established his invaluable worth to Touch Football Ontario.
Sean
can be found pacing the sidelines, coaching his Mudpigs, as well as
donning the stripes to referee games on the Tour and for the Ottawa
Nepean Touch Football League.Return to top
One
of our longest serving executives, Don is also the President of the
Kingston District Touch Football League. In addition, Don runs the
largest and most popular stop on the Trillium Tour, the Limestone
Classic. Anyone who has attended that event will have fond memories
of K-town's weekend nightlife, and the warm social atmoshpere that
always surrounds the fields of play.
Players
can also recognize Don as a prominent player on Kingston's infamous
Stooley's Stingers squad. The Stingers have sinced merged with legendary qb Barry Hughes, and his Ottawa Cobras. Since their merger, the Cobras have become one of the most competitive, and fastest rising squads on the Tour.Return
to top
Anyone
who has had to place a call to TFO’s head office in Ottawa,
would probably have encountered the pleasantness of Barry Lauzon.
Barry has been the biggest unsung hero for TFO during the last couple
of years. Whether he’s filing team rosters, handling registration,
speaking to teams about various issues, or preparing for every Trillium
Tour stop, Barry can always be counted on to continue making Touch
Football Ontario the attractive service it has become.
Barry
can be found refereeing games on the Tour and for the ONTFL. He can
also be seen plugging away on a variety of tasks at the TFO offices
on 37 Rita (Ottawa).Return to top
A
long time player with the feared Hamilton Red Eyes, Al also serves
on the Disciplinary committee. During his last three years of service,
Al has always been there to complete his duty when called upon. Bringing
a great deal of common sense and level-headedness to the table, players
faced with disciplinary action can rest knowing that Al will always
suggest fair consequences.Return to top
Gordie
is probably best known as the illusive quarterback of the now defunct
Ottawa Bulls/Playground Legends. With his hot hand and quick feet,
Gordie orchestrated one of the most explosive offenses on the tour.
With
his father bringing TFO onto the web, Gordie took the initiative and
brought back the popular “In Touch” newsletter. Although
older prints of the newsletter exceptionally documented stops on the
trillium tour, the expense of the pamphlet, coupled with its black
and white print, limited what it could entail. As a graphical and
web-based student, Gordie used his skills to bring the “In Touch”
newsletter to the web. Through pictues, write ups, customized player
cards and team photos, the “In Touch” newsletter has become
a hot monthly publication. Most recently, Gordie gave a facelift to
the tfont.com website after taking over as webmaster, which includes our flashy new intro on the homepage. He also created,
and administers, the always popular message
boards.
These
days Gordie can be found playing quarterback for his Elite level Ottawa
Capitals, one the highest scoring teams on the Tour, as well as playing
receiver/option for Team
Canada. Return to top
Whether
it’s a problem with our servers, computers, or any other technical
glitch, Dan Gillespie can always be counted on to bail us out. As
a player, referee, and technical supporter, Dan’s heels are
planted deeply in TFO’s roots. Although Ed Laverty can be credited
for truly bringing TFO onto the world wide web, the process would
have been a painful one if not for Dan’s efforts.
Dan
can be found refereeing on the tour, and playing alongside his Ottawa
Badger teammates. Return to top
Like
Dan Gillespie, Don Knowles has made himself available, offering his
computer expertise to the offices of TFO. Not only has Don contributed
to minimizing computer glitches, his solid ideas have helped professionalize
Touch Football Ontario.
Don
can be seen on the tour refereeing, or playing alongside his Ottawa
Cobra teammates.Return to top
A
very gifted graphical artist, Chad has contributed a great deal to
Touch Football Ontario. His brilliant work (including the official
TFO logo) can be found scattered all over the tfont.com website, on
various shirts, bags and other apparel distributed over the years.
Chad’s work has gone a long in way in legitimizing the presentation
of Touch Football Ontario.Return to top
Don
Moulds has been playing Touch Football in Ontario for some time. His
best days, arguably, were when he was torching defenders as a silver
haired masters player (over 35) on the Ottawa Bombers. Smoking players
nearly half his age when his team played in the open, Don helped make
the Bombers one of the most feared offensive units on the Tour.
Still
playing in the Ottawa Nepean Touch Football League, Don also volunteers
as our accountant.Return to top
Gabe
Romain is a technical writer who shares his professionalism with Touch
Football Ontario. Through proofreading and editing most of our write
ups, Gabe has contributed greatly to the presentation of TFO. Whether
it’s in our newsletters, or through the many write ups found
on this website, Gabe has played a large role in ensuring that anything
written on this site is fit to be seen.Return
to top
TOUCH
FOOTBALL ONTARIO
37 Rita Ave, Nepean, Ontario, K2G 2G5
TOLL FREE: 1-866-749-3721 • LOCAL: (613) 228-3567
FAX (613) 228-8373
Email: Ed
Laverty- TFO President (ed.laverty@travel-net.com)
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