Lou Belcourt
Induction Award
A lifelong resident of Flos Township and Elmvale, Lou Belcourt forged a legendary multi-sport legacy fuelled by an elite competitive spirit. As a premier All-Star catcher, Lou teamed with his Hall of Fame brother, Leo, to form a formidable, celebrated battery, backstopping eight championship fastball teams including the Elmvale Palace Hotelmen. A cleanup powerhouse, his strategic leadership and clutch 18th-inning RBI drove the 1977 Elmvale Merchants to the historic OASA Intermediate "C" Provincial Championship. On the golf course, Lou captured multiple club championships and recorded six holes-in-one, while simultaneously representing the Elmvale Curling Club in competitive provincial playdowns. A versatile community builder, Lou served as Curling Club President and coached the 1962 Elmvale Bantams to a Little NHL Provincial Title.
Member Details:
Category: Athlete
Year of Induction: 2026
Sport(s): Fastball (Primary), Hockey, Golf, and Curling
Nominator: Tim Belcourt
Date/Place of Birth: July 15, 1938 / Barrie, Ontario
Highlights:
Pre-1961: Lou began playing organized fastball with Junior and Senior Edenvale teams.
1961: Formally joined the Elmvale team in the competitive Georgian Bay League.
...more highlights
Narrative:
Lou Belcourt's name is synonymous with competitive grit, leadership, and athletic longevity in Springwater Township. A lifelong resident, Lou spent his early years on the family farm located on the third concession of Flos Township before moving to Elmvale in 1961. Though he excelled on the curling ice and the golf course, it was on the fastball diamond where Lou solidified his status as an all-time local great.
...more narrative
Anecdotes:
The Marathon Man Behind the Plate: Catching a standard seven-inning fastball game is physically demanding, but Lou's durability was unmatched. In major O.A.S.A. competition, he caught two historic marathon games:a staggering 21 -innings battle in Meafort and a legendary 18-inning Southern Ontario final in Etobicoke where he hit the game winning RBI.
...more anecdotes
Quotations:
"On a cold, wet, snowy Thanksgiving weekend, Elmvale emerged as provincial champions...
though many Elmvale teams tried for many years, the '77 Merchants remain the only provincial
Elmvale men's team winner." — Excerpt from the 2026 Hall of Fame Nomination
Galleries:
Links:
Acknowledgements:
Springwater Sports Heritage appreciates receiving the material compiled from nomination papers submitted by Tim Belcourt, supplemented by Elmvale Curling Club historical records and O.A.S.A. archival footage.
