GBSHOF CELEBRATES NEW CLASS AND NEW HOME

by Tony Fiorello

Artifacts from the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Tony Fiorello.

The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame has a pair of reasons as cause for celebration in 2024.

The first, as is the case every year since 1991, is a new class of inductees. The following 12 individuals (plus one team) will be enshrined at the GBSHOF’s annual dinner on November 12:

Kevin Cadle (posthumously) – high school basketball star, international and Olympic basketball coach and sports broadcaster.

Vic Carucci – nationally recognized reporter with 40-plus years covering the NFL.

Norm Foster (posthumously) – high school coach at Iroquois and Amherst.

Warren Gelman – three-sport high school athlete and longtime youth hockey administrator in Western New York.

Rob Gronkowski – four-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowl tight end.

Rick Lancellotti – minor league baseball standout with Bisons and premier youth baseball instructor in Western New York.

Bridget Niland – standout track athlete and college sports administrator.

Brooks Orpik – Boston College defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion.

Cecelie “Ces” Owens – holder of numerous Buffalo State basketball records and the founder of Goals, Integrity, Respect, Leadership and Sports (G.I.R.L.S.) Foundation.

Walt Stefani – volleyball player, coach and administrator in Western New York.

Ed Van Tine (posthumously) – trailblazer, known as the “Godfather” of lacrosse in Western New York.

Paul Wieland (posthumously) – groundbreaking communications professional for the Buffalo Sabres.

St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team 1967-70 – 2024 Team of Distinction.

The second reason is the GBSHOF has a new home. After previously having its artifacts enclosed at the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo, the GBSHOF has moved into the building that hosts Dave and Adam’s Card World at 8075 Sheridan Drive in Williamsville.

“After several years in storage, we're extremely happy to partner with David and Adam’s and we are very grateful for their support and their ability to house a display that everyone in Western New York can enjoy,” GBSHOF president John Maddock said. “This is the first organized public viewing of the new display of the Hall of Fame and the people at Dave and Adam’s have been so helpful and accommodating in bringing this project to fruition.”

“For years, I would often stop by the display outside the Sabres’ team store and check out the newest Hall of Fame class – and being a collector at heart, frankly, I would covet some of the sports memorabilia,” Dave and Adam’s CEO Adam Martin said. “But in 2018, the Hall lost its home.

“Over the last 30-plus years I’ve gotten to know many of the inductees, and for the past six years their accomplishments have been without a place for fans to learn about them and share their stories. So with great pride, we welcome the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame to Dave and Adam’s.”

Additionally, the GBSHOF announced their annual monetary awards from the Amateur Sports Development Fund. The ADF has distributed more than $200,000 to amateur athletes, teams and organizations seeking financial assistance to foster the pursuit of a higher level of athletic achievement.

This year’s recipients of the awards are:

Amherst Youth Basketball

Anthony Delisanti

Boys and Girls Club of Holland

DeSales Catholic School

Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Programs

PGA Reach WNY

Police Athletic League of Buffalo

Springville Little League

St. Benedicts School

Touching Bases Softball League

WNY Special Hockey Assn