Inducted 2023
Eric Easton has been an outstanding racquetball player for over 40 years, beginning his racquetball career in 1972. His success at the provincial and national level is unmatched in the sport and matched only by a few in other sports. A decorated player, he has won more than 10 provincial singles and doubles titles and has won 11 Canadian National Championships. In 1997, Eric was ranked as one of the top 50 men’s singles players in all of Canada.
Outside of competitive play, Eric has been an extremely dedicated member of the racquetball community. Over the past 40 plus years, he has given back to the sport sharing his time, expertise, and passion with the entire Newfoundland racquetball community as an exemplary executive, committed coach, and dedicated referee. He has served on the Newfoundland Racquetball Association board in various roles for 25 years, including 11 years as their president where in 2001 he launched and ran a competitive junior racquetball program to develop more young talent to compete at provincial and national levels. He coached the St. John’s team for the Newfoundland Winter Games in 1978, was the racquetball team coach for the Canada Winter Games in 1983, and the NL Provincial Junior team which competed at national events. Serving as a referee at national and provincial tournaments, he has maintained his Level 3 referee certification since the mid-1980s and in 2011 he was selected to serve as Chief Referee for the Racquetball Canada Singles Selection Event.
Eric has been an instrumental force in keeping racquetball alive in the province. Within the past 15 years he has continued to build upon his legacy of growing the sport in Newfoundland and Labrador. He has operated numerous refereeing clinics throughout the province, helping to train new referees to officiate at local and provincial tournaments. His dedication and tireless efforts are unsurpassed in the country and only matched by a few. Held in the highest regard by the Canadian Racquetball Association, he was bestowed their highest honour, the Ivan Velan Award in 2004 in the builder category for his long-time service to racquetball in the province.
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