Top 10 Athletes Born in Hamilton

Over the years, Toronto, Hamilton and Etobicoke have produced a number of incredible athletes. From hockey to basketball, and football to baseball, young girls and boys have honed their craft in Southern Ontario. To recognize them and to highlight some of their phenomenal accomplishments, we are posting a series of Top 10 Lists!

Last time we posted about Toronto's best athletes. Today, we are counting down the Top 10 Athletes Born in the Hammer!

Check out our picks for the Top 10 Athletes Born in Hamilton below! We selected the athletes based on a combination of their individual achievement and impact in their sport. Please note that the list is not structured in any particular order.

1. Kia Nurse, basketball

Kia Nurse plays for one of the greatest teams in the history of college basketball: The Connecticut Huskies. Having won 10 national titles, since 2000, the Huskies recently won their 100th consecutive game. In addition, Nurse also plays for Canada's National Team, where she participated in the 2014 World Championship, 2015 FIBA Americas (where she won MVP) and 2015 Pan Am Games.

2. Rocco Romano, football

Rocco Romano played 14 seasons in the CFL and was a 5-time All-Star. In 1994 and 1996, Romano won the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy as the most outstanding linesman. Winning 2 Grey Cups with Calgary, Rocco was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2007.

3. Ken Dryden, hockey

Ken Dryden is a former NHL goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens. Although he only payed 6 regular-season games, Dryden won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1971 as he carried Montreal to a Stanley Cup victory. Dryden also won the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

4. Carrie Serwetnyk, soccer

Carrie Serwetnyk was the first woman inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame. As a freshman at the University of North Carolina, Serwetnyk won the NCAA's Most Valuable Player award. In 1991, Carrie helped Canada win a silver medal at the CONCACAF Women's Championship and became the first Canadian to play professional in the Japanese Women's League, where she was the top scorer and league MVP.

5. Ray Lewis, track and field

Ray Lewis was the first African-Canadian Olympic medalist, winning a bronze medal as part of the 4x400 metre relay at the 1932 Summer Olympics. Nicknamed Rapid Ray, Lewis won over 15 national high school championships while a student at Hamilton's Central Collegiate.

6. Ron Lancaster, football

Ron Lancaster won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 1970 and 1976. A CFL legend, Lancaster was named the quarterback of 4 All-Star teams and won the Grey Cup twice as a player and twice as a coach. Lancaster was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

7. Lisa Bertoncini, archery

Lisa Bertoncini won the women's World Field Archery Championship in 1984 and was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1999, Bertoncini coached the silver medalist in Men's Archery at the Pan Am Games.

8. Irene MacDonald, diving

Irene MacDonald won Canada's first-ever Olympic diving medal at the 1956 Summer Games. MacDonald also competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics and was a broadcaster from 1976 to 1988. MacDonald is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

9. Florence Harvey, golf

Florence Harvey was the Ontario Ladies Champion 4 times throughout her career and the Canadian Ladies Champion in 1903 and 1904. Harvey also founded the Canadian Ladies Golf Association and is a member of Canada's Golf Hall of Fame.

10. Pat Quinn, hockey

Pat Quinn was a hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Atlanta Flames. Although he played over 600 games, Quinn made his mark as a coach. He reached the Stanley Cup final twice and won the Gold Medal for Team Canada at the 2002 Olympics and 2009 World Juniors. Quinn was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2016.

Did we miss someone? Share your top picks by posting in the comment section below or tweeting at us on Twitter (@truenorthcamps)!

Looking forward to having the next generation of future stars join us this summer at Alexander Park!