Top five biggest sports stories in Hamilton in 2023

It was a big year for sports in Hamilton, with the city hosting the Grey Cup Canadian football championship, Forge FC winning their second straight CPL title – and fourth in the league’s five year existence – in soccer, and NBA baller Shai Gilgeous-Alexander establishing himself as a basketball legend, winning the Northern Star Award as the country’s athlete of the year.

Here are the five top sports stories of 2023 – as written by Insauga reporters – as well as a few bonus tracks.

#1 The Grey Cup comes to Hamilton

With the festivities on and off the field happening in the Steel City, the grey-cup-festivities-touching-down-in-hamilton/   had a massive impact n local business and in the hearts of football loving residents.

The Tiger-Cats didn’t make it to the big dance but Hamiltonians came out in numbers to celebrate the biggest football day in Canada, with the Montreal Alouettes upsetting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the championship game at Tim Horton’s Field.

#2 Hamilton boxing legend dead at 84

Vinnie Ryan, a three-time Irish boxing champion, who coached at the 1996 Olympic Games and at numerous international competitions and locally beloved at McGrory’s Boxing Club, left us at the age of 84.

Ryan, who was a father figure to many up-and-coming fighters, was-known-for-inspiring-youth-athletes/ and also served as president of Boxing Ontario.

#3 Forge is back and so is their winning tradition

The local soccer club handed out championship-medals-this-year/ and even some of their fervent fans got them as the defending Canadian Premier League champions prepared for a new season. The club would end it as champions of the country again in the fall – their fourth title in five years.

#4 Hamilton Bulldogs owner buys NHL’s Ottawa Senators

Michael Andlauer parlayed his success with the Bulldogs into the winning bid for the NHL club, which was put on the market after the death of Eugene Melnyk.

The bidding was hectic, with Andlauer reaching a-deal-to-buy-the senators/ over a group of  of deep pocketed people, from casino developers to Hollywood stars like Ryan Reynolds.

#5 Mohawk basketball coach calls it quits after 18 years

Brian Jonker, who guided the Mountaineers to the national championship in 2012, was mohawk-mountaineers’-winningest-coach ever- when he hung up his whistle after 312 wins and that national crown.

Bonus Tracks

Nick Bontis out as Canada Soccer president

https://www.insauga.com/hamiltons-nick-bontis-resigns-as-canada-soccer-president/

Commonwealth Games will not be in Hamilton in 2030

https://www.insauga.com/2030-commonwealth-games-will-not-be-in-hamilton/

Hamilton Bulldogs move to Brantford approved

https://www.insauga.com/hamilton-bulldogs-move-to-brantford-gets-green-light/