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Broderick John

John Charles Broderick
Sport: Lacrosse:   Year Inducted: 1968

1908 Olympic Lacrosse Champion and gold medalist John Charles Broderick was born in Cornwall on June 5, 1875.

A gifted athlete, John learned and played lacrosse for years. He was a prominent lacrosse star and was a member of the Cornwall Lacrosse Club of the early 1900’s. He rubbed shoulders with the great Newsy Lalonde and Cy Denneny.

In 1908, by virtue of his amateur status, John was recruited to play for Team Canada at the Olympic Games in London. Upon arrival in London, Team Canada was assured of at least a silver medal when only Great Britain would make up the opposition, as Australia and South Africa resigned. Four future Canadian Sports Hall of Fame lacrosse players would make up part of the talented team.

The game was played October 24th and after trailing 1-0, John scored the second Canadian goal of the game and they never trailed again winning the one game show down 14-10. It would be Canada’s second straight gold medal and their last, as the sport never made another official appearance at the games.

Off the lacrosse field, John worked in the family business (his family operated the Broderick Hotel on Sydney Street); and in 1916 at the age of 41, John shaved two years off of his age and signed up for the Great War in Europe. He achieved the rank of “Sergeant” while overseas.

John Broderick would come home from Europe and he continued in business.

He died in 1957, and he is buried in St. Columban’s Cemetery in Cornwall.