Perhaps the last major sports event before the hockey season gets underway is the Summer Olympics. Every four years, top athletes from around the world gather to compete in various athletic competitions to capture the pride of a nation.

As has been studied, playing other sports in the off-season helps to build a complete overall athlete and learn new skills. The OMHA will be well represented in Paris as five members of Team Canada played OMHA hockey growing up. You never know if you're playing against a future gold medalist.

We want to wish these athletes and all of Team Canada the best of luck in going for gold this summer! For more information and biographies, click here.

Name: Corey Conners
Hometown: Listowel
Event: Golf (August 1)
OMHA Team: Minto/Listowel (2004-10)

Conners was a member of the Listowel Cyclones team that won #RedHats in 2009. His Olympic debut was at Tokyo 2020, finishing in 13th place, five strokes back of the winner and two strokes back of the bronze medallist. It was Canada’s best Olympic result in men’s golf since the sport returned to the Olympic program at Rio 2016. His second career PGA Tour victory came in 2023, winning the Valero Texas Open.

Name: Michael Foley
Hometown: Milton
Event: Cycling - Track (August 5)
OMHA Team: Milton Winterhawks (House League, 2005-15)

Foley started cycling at the velodrome in Milton when it opened in 2015 and began competing a few weeks later. He had been mountain biking and road cycling for several years prior. In Tokyo 2020, his Olympic debut, he finished in fifth place as part of the men's team pursuit, Canada's best result in the event since 1932.

Name: William Jones
Hometown: Jerseyville
Event: Sailing (July 28)
OMHA Team: Ancaster (Local League, 2004-13)

Making his Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020, Jones and his partner Evan DePaul finished 19th in the Skiff (49er) event. Since then, him and his new partner Justin Barnes earned a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan Am Games which secured their spot in Paris. For good luck, Jones likes to wear mismatched socks.

Name: Pierce LePage
Hometown: Whitby
Event: Athletics - Decathalon (August 2)
OMHA Team: Whitby Wildcats (House League, 2006-13)

LePage set a personal best record in the decathalon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships with 8701 points and a silver medal. During that time he recorded new personal bests in the 400m (46.84 seconds), 110m hurdles (13.78 seconds), and discus (53.26 metres). He finished in fifth place at Tokyo 2020, his first time competing at the Olympics.

Name: Stephen Maar
Hometown: Aurora
Event: Volleyball - Indoor (July 28)
OMHA Team: Aurora Tigers (2005-07)

Maar finished in eighth place (quaterfinals) with Team Canada in his Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020. In other tournaments over the years he was named Best Spiker, Best Outside Hitter and Best Outside Spiker. A graduate of McMaster University, Maar won two silvers and two bronzes with the Marauders.