Sim going into Hall of Fame.

Former NHLer part of 2022 induction class

HALIFAX - You can count on Jon Sim’s Pictou County Major U-15 WearWell Bombers to play tough, honest, hard-working hockey.

After all, it’s those traits, along with offensive skill and a high hockey IQ, which earned their coach a career in the NHL. And now, that career has earned the New Glasgow native entry into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.

Sim was recently announced as part of the 2022 induction class along with fellow athletes Sarah Conrad, a Canadian champion snowboarder who participated in the Olympics, and three-time Paralympic medallist and two-time World Champion sailor Paul Tingley.

Earning entry in the team category is the 1994 Dalhousie women’s CIAU (now U Sports) champion soccer team and in the builders, CIAU winning hockey coach with the Acadia Axemen, Tom Coolen, and Olympic paddling coach Csom Latorovski.

The official induction ceremony is on Nov. 19, at 8 p.m., at the Halifax Convention Centre.

“It’s fabulous to be recognized in a group like that,” Sim said about the honour.

He talked about going in as a representative of his hometown and county, something he still does while coaching the U-15s and, starting next season, as an assistant with the Major U-18 Weeks.

“We’re a small community, and I was really happy for Colin (White) a couple of years ago when he went in,” Sim said. “The two of us in there is neat and, hopefully, it inspires other young hockey players and athletes in Pictou County.”

Along with sharing similar roots and a time period as far as their ascension into the NHL ranks, both men earned the honour of raising the Stanley Cup – Sim as a member of the 1998-99 Dallas Stars, and White on two occasions, both as a New Jersey Devil (1999-2000 and 2002-03).

Sim said that’s a memory that standout but then all of his time in the NHL is memorable.

“Just thinking about my time in the NHL,” he said about what will be going through his mind during the induction ceremony. “It was my dream to do that and to be able to accomplish it and do it for a long time, is something I’ll always cherish.”

Sim’s father Hughie made his mark in Pictou County as a coach, particularly at the U-18 level, and Sim pointed to another area coach who had a positive influence on his early days in the sport.

“I think of a guy like Francis Long who coached me for a long time,” Sim said. “His son and I were really good friends and Francis coached me a lot. He was a great guy to me; took me places, tournaments, things like that and, definitely, a guy I looked up to.”

WEEKS INVOLVEMENT

Already impacting many young area players' development through the Bombers’ program as well as off-season training sessions, Sim will now have a role in helping the 15- to 17-year-old Weeks' players with improving their overall games.

“It’s an opportunity to move up a bit,” he said. “Obviously I’ll still be with my bantam (U-15) team but to help the kids at that age group will be fun. It should be a really good team, so I’m looking forward to it. I hope to learn a bit and pass along some of my experience.”

Weeks’ head coach Kyle MacLennan said the organization is excited to welcome Sim on board.

“He has an incredible hockey background, playing experience at the highest level which is a great asset for our players, and a winning pedigree,” MacLennan said.

“Simmer has done great things for the game in our province and has been instrumental in the development of so many young players. It’s a fantastic addition to the program and I know that he’s excited to get started.”