Ted Dongelmans

From being mainly a bench player in grade school to being named the best university player in Canada, Ted Dongelmans’ basketball career is a study in resilience and reward.

Inducted in the athlete category, Dongelmans delivered a powerful reflection on his unlikely rise through the sport, including a memory of getting his first shot blocked by a chair during his first high school practice.

But his passion for the game never wavered. After leading Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute to championships in the late 1980s, Dongelmans earned a scholarship to Laurentian University, where he helped his school win two Wilson Cup titles. He would go on to compete internationally and eventually coach young athletes in Orillia and beyond.

“What matters most isn’t the stats — it’s the why,” Dongelmans told the crowd. “Sport teaches leadership, accountability, integrity, and resilience — and kids don’t even realize they’re learning those things while they play.”

He expressed gratitude to his parents, coaches, teammates, and family, including his son Joey and daughter Emma, both of whom are now pursuing basketball dreams of their own.