Ottawa, Ont. - Softball Canada is pleased to name the distinguished inductees of the 2025 Hall of Fame class. This year’s class represents the highest standards of excellence, leadership, and dedication to the sport. The Hall of Fame Banquet will take place during Softball Canada’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled for November 8th in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“Congratulations to this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. Your accomplishments on the field and your contributions beyond it have helped shape the legacy of softball in Canada. We are truly fortunate to have individuals like you in our community, people who lead by example, elevate the game, and inspire others through your passion and dedication. To your families, friends, and supporters, thank you for the unwavering encouragement that has helped make these achievements possible.” – Mike Branchaud, CEO, Softball Canada
Softball Canada proudly recognizes the following individuals/teams as inductees to the Class of 2025:
Athlete Category:
Jeff Ellsworth (PEI)
Builder Category:
Bev Adams (NB)
Coach Category:
John “Les” Howey (NL)
Umpire Category:
Lou Davis (NS)
Team Category:
2015 WBSC Men’s World Cup & Pan American Games Gold Medal Team
2015 Women’s Pan Am Gold Medal Team
Bev Adams (Rusagonis, N.B.) dedicated over 30 years to the development of softball in New Brunswick and across Canada. She joined the Softball New Brunswick board in 1998, serving as region 3 Director and Learn to Play Chair before being elected President in 2005, a role she held until 2017. Bev was instrumental in launching the Learn to Play program in New Brunswick. A tireless volunteer, Bev supervised more than 15 Canadian and Eastern Canadian Championships and coached numerous minor teams across the province. She also contributed to the first edition of The Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball in Canada.
Her contributions were recognized with the 2014 Softball Canada Rose Hodgson Volunteer of the Year Award, Sport NB’s Volunteer Administrator of the Year, and induction into the Softball New Brunswick Hall of Fame in 2018. Bev’s passion and leadership left a lasting impact on the sport and community she loved.
Lou Davis (Lower Five Islands, N.S.) devoted more than three decades to officiating at the highest levels of softball, earning a reputation for professionalism, integrity, and leadership. A Softball Canada Level V umpire, Lou officiated at numerous Canadian Championships and several international tournaments during his 32-year career.
From 1998 to 2018, he served in multiple leadership roles with Softball Nova Scotia’s Umpire Executive, including Fundy Region Umpire-in-Chief, Deputy Umpire-in-Chief – Fast Pitch, and Provincial Umpire-in-Chief in 2009. Known for his ability to manage games with fairness and respect, he was equally dedicated to mentoring fellow officials, generously sharing his knowledge to strengthen the umpiring community.
Respected on and off the field for his dedication, passion, and professionalism, Lou Davis leaves a lasting legacy within Nova Scotia’s and Canada’s softball communities.
Jeff Ellsworth (O’Leary, P.E.I.) is one of the most accomplished and longest-serving players in the history of Canada’s Men’s National Team. Debuting at the 2006 WBSC Americas Qualifier, he went on to compete in four WBSC World Cups, earning Bronze in 2009 and leading Canada to Gold in 2015. That same year, he also captured Gold at the Pan American Games, closing his playing career on a high note before coming out of retirement in 2019 to help secure another World Cup Bronze. Ellsworth’s international playing career also includes Gold at the 2012 WBSC Americas Qualifier, the 2008 Tri-Nations Cup, and multiple medal-winning performances on the world stage.
Since retiring, Ellsworth has made a significant impact as a coach, leading Prince Edward Island’s women’s team at the 2009, 2017 and 2025 Canada Games, serving as Head Coach of the Canadian U18 Men’s National Team for three cycles, and currently serving as Assistant Coach of the Men’s National Team for the past two cycles.
John “Les” Howey (Conception Bay South, NL) has been an integral figure with Canada’s Men’s National Team program for more than three decades, contributing to multiple podium finishes on the world stage. Joining the National Team staff in 1991, he helped guide Canada to Pan American Games Gold in Cuba and WBSC World Cup Gold in the Philippines the following year. He has since served in various roles including; coach, scout, and operations manager at numerous WBSC World Cups, Pan Am Games, and Pan Am Qualifiers, highlighted by double Gold at the 2015 WBSC World Cup and Pan American Games, as well as multiple silver and bronze medal performances.
Renowned for his keen scouting eye, strategic preparation, and commitment to athlete development, Howey continued to have an impact on the game as Assistant Coach of Canada’s Men’s National Team until his retirement this season.
The 2015 WBSC Men’s World Cup & Pan American Games Gold Medal Team delivered a historic summer, capturing back-to-back gold medals on home soil. They first struck gold in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, defeating the defending champions New Zealand 10-5 in the final for their first World Title since 1992 and third overall. A week later in Ajax, Ontario, they went undefeated at the Pan American Games, edging Venezuela 2–1 in a thrilling gold medal match for their incredible eighth consecutive Pan Am Games title. Over the span of two world-class tournaments, Team Canada posted an incredible 17–1 record cementing their place in Canadian and World softball history.
The 2015 Women’s Pan American Games Gold Medal Team added to Canada’s historic summer with a dramatic 4-2 extra-inning win over Team USA, stopping the Americans’ dominant run of seven consecutive Pan Am Games gold medals. After seven scoreless innings, Canada erupted for four runs in the top of the eighth and held the Americans to two to secure their first Pan Am gold medal in 32 years. Prior to the gold medal finish, Canada would come second to the USA in the last four Pan Am Games marking another historic accomplishment in the same calendar year.
Annually, Softball Canada inducts up to five (5) inductees from the region hosting the Annual General Meeting at the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet. Nominations are reviewed by a Selection Committee, who select candidates based on their accomplishments and contributions to the sport of softball.
