George Gortsos - #33 Defenceman

Biography:

George "The Greek" GortsosGeorge began his organized ball hockey career in the TBHA with the Goulding Park Blues in 1984. His introduction to the game was short-lived, however, as he quickly graduated onto the AAA scene shortly thereafter, where he established himself as one of the most recognized and respected defencemen in the game. 

George was the 'Total Package'. He was a team player. Dedicated. Hardworking. A student of the game. The "sockless" speedy defender was an intensely driven competitor and a motivational force who possessed deft ball handling skills along with a deceptively physical demeanor in his play. 

He was a key player on two of the most revered franchises in OBHA history. He was an integral part of the successes achieved by both the Midas Topguns (1987 - 1991) and Fernview Rangers (1992 - 1996), where he amassed a plethora of personal and team accomplishments during his storied tenure. 

Gortsos was one of the most celebrated players in the game. He was a perennial All-star and Outstanding Defenceman who was decorated on numerous occasions at the league, provincial, national and most recently, international level of competition. His trophy case contains (3) TBHA & (4) NWTBHL titles along with (4) OBHA AAA Provincial and (5) CBHA National Championships to go with the inaugural World Championship Gold Medal he helped to commandeer as the captain of Team Canada 1996 in Bratislava, Slovakia. 

George Gortsos, who capped off his illustrious career as the OBHA's Athlete of the Year in 1994 and was later honored as the Most Outstanding Defenceman at the World Championships in 1996, is unquestionably one of the premier practitioners in "Orange Ball" history who has earned his rightful place in the CBHA Hall of Fame.
 

Interview:

George Gortsos has probably played on more Championship teams than any other player in ball hockey. During his twenty five years in the game George won twenty three Championships. George is currently setting up and running Team Canada try out camps across the country. These camps are for players interested in playing on the 2005 National Team. As always George gives credit to others. He says "I have been lucky playing on so many great teams and winning so much. My career has been so dependent on my teammates for success". 

I tried to interview George for this article, but he declined. In true Coach George fashion he wanted others to speak for him. Here are some of the comments that I received when asked about the Coach. 

Championships won:

2 School Championships - High School - Great players like Scott Howson, Nick Lepone, Glenn MacLean and Paul Lethbridge in that league
5 years in a row Goulding Park Championship - Against very good players.. all the above mentioned
5 Ontario Championships
4 National Championships
4 Ontario Gymnasium Championships - Hey that was strong Ball Hockey Remember!
1 World Championship as Captain & World All-star
2 World Championships as a Coach

Jon Pickering (OBHA Hall of Fame) My earliest recollection of George was that he was a very naive young man and he was also a student of the game. Everything that would happen in a game he would learn and benefit from. When he became my defence partner he could run like a gazelle. So, I thought I could use that to my advantage, so I said George track down the guy with the ball, when you get it, give it to me and I'll take care of the rest. We started out as members of the Topguns around 1986. We had heard good things about him and he made our team first crack. 

Sandro Morello: (Co-Captain Team Canada) I've known George since 2001, I met him at the 2001 World Ball Hockey Championships training camp. I could tell right away that he was an intense individual. I was fortunate enough to make t he team and play for him in 2001 and 2003. George is passionate about ball hockey and everything that he does. The time and effort he puts into the program and job he does for the World Championship pulling the team together is second to none. I don't know many people who would put as much time and effort that he does. I wasn't lucky enough to see George play but I know that anyone who speaks of George during his playing days have nothing but great things to say about him. Two words that always come up are heart and intensity. From what I know he was one of those guys that you hate to play against but you would love to have him on your team at any time. You can see why he has had so much success coaching and won two consecutive gold medals with Team Canada. He brings that same passion that he has always had playing to his coaching and transmits that passion and desire to his team. He's proud of his country and his sport and he is a great ambassador for the game wherever he goes. I know that my experience in the 2001 World Ball Hockey Championships changed me not only as a ball hockey player but as a person as well. I owe a large part of that to George. I respect George Gortsos and I'm glad to say that I played for him. I hope he continues to be a large part of our sport. 

Chicki Mentis (Captain, Team Canada) I think George is the perfect person to be in the hall of fame. There is no one more dedicated to this game, playing, coaching or teaching than George. I've known George since 1982, we've either played against each other or with each other and now we coach with each other. That's twenty-two years that we've known each other in this game. My brother and I played against him in 1983. George played for Goulding Park and we played on our team from Jane and Finch. My brother and I moved on to the Villagers and we were the fastest guys around. There was no one who could keep up with us. Then we ran into this guy, we had never seen anybody as fast as us until we ran into George. He had burners to kill; he was the only guy who could keep up with us. We used to have some wars back in those days. Then we joined the Topguns together. We played there for about five years. The three top defenceman in ball hockey history were Jon Pickering, Terry Griffiths and George Gortsos. Those three had the total game all around. For years and years George and I played in the gym with the Knights and we won numerous championships. In all the years that we played together George was my best friend. One of my saddest moments in the game was when we split I left the Topguns and moved on to Maple Precast. 
Fate brought us back together. George became the coach of Team Canada and he solidified that position and made it a great thing to be involved in that program. I've been involved with the team for five years and George is the best coach I've ever had pleasure to play for. There is no one who can motivate a team more than George can, you can do anything after he speaks to you. It has been an honour to be a playing assistant coach and to be named captain for Team Canada. 
George also has a great sense of humour. Get him to tell you about the taxi ride at four o'clock in the morning with a Czech taxi driver in Prague. George had a few beers and it was one of the funniest things that have ever happened to me.

Gus Kourousis (Ball Hockey Great) I remember when one day a young and upcoming kid went one on one on him and beat the best defenceman in the game. To this day Mr. Gortsos still has trouble remembering that play. It was an honour to play with the man. You take someone aside and you try to mimic someone who represents the game to the best it can be. I'm glad I had a chance to play with him. He did teach me personally a lot about the game and made me a better player overall.

Tony Ianitto: (Quebec Ball Hockey President) The best way to describe him....a very poised and determine man. George is very dedicated and loves the game of ball hockey...actually a very good model for young ball hockey players that want to succeed.

Paul Roy: (Red Lite Captain) I've known George since the 2001 Team Canada training camp. He was the most inspiring ball hockey figure that I ever met. George pushed me to achieve goals that I didn't think I would achieve one day. I think he is the second best defenceman ever to play the game, right after me.

Mike Futa: (General Manager, Owen Sound Attack, OHL) I have been fortunate enough to play against him when I was a member of Maple Precast. His passion for the game is unmatched. I fell in love with the game of ball hockey and it was an unbelievable conditioning sport, He just loved the sport and showed me how much you could use it as a conditioning stint for your ice hockey season. Whatever George does he wears his heart on his sleeve and it was his passion for the game that convinced me to become part of the Topguns. The mystique and pride he had with the Topguns made it an easy decision make. Once you get behind the doors with him you thought he was intense, but he just wanted to win. He worked harder than anybody in the game, on his game. For a guy who didn't have the blazing slap shot or was the big power play guy he outworked everybody. He was tough to match your offense against because he was so good at getting under your skin and keeping you off your game with his work ethic. I got to know him on a personal level and he has a great sense of humour, where he keeps the dressing room light. His sense of language and his raspy voice would get you down when you were playing against him.
When he became a Fernview Ranger, the team became family too him. This was probably the closest group in his life. This was a team that stuck together as a group and George being the lead guy in the group, taught me stuff about team and family that I have taken to my coaching career in the OHL. You learn things from guys like George. I'm very fortunate to have known him.

Dom Di Gironimo: (CBHA President) As a player, there were not many faster than George. As a leader, there were not many more dedicated to his teammates. As a competitor, there were not many fiercer. All in all, this made George one of the greatest defenceman to ever play the game.

Dan Ranalli: (The General) George....hmmm...Well, I have played against him...with him...and have later in my career had the pleasure of coaching #33....He is the consummate professional both on and off the playing surface. A great athlete and an even better person who, without a doubt in my mind, is the best ball hockey player of all time and I say that with reverence to all the other great players that I have known and played with in my career. Why George? There are few individuals in any sport that can elevate the level of play in their team mates like 'The Greek' can by the way he plays and how he expects others to play around him. He was a very skilled player as well as a student of the game who exudes success. That is why if I were to have to build a team from scratch, George would be my #1 draft choice.... (Followed by Bruno Pullara, of course).....
That is why he is such a great coach and the leader of our nation in ball hockey....and the reason why the Team Canada program is where it is today.

Fernando Alves: (British Columbia Ball Hockey President) George's dedication to our beloved sport is unsurpassed. This in conjunction with his commitment to detail has given our Team Canada program a great advantage over other competing nations. George's seemingly unending pursuit of improvement coupled with excellent communication skills and a relentless passion for ball hockey have made him the perfect individual to lead our Team Canada program into a prosperous future. His "Lead by Example" philosophy is the icing on the cake that makes George the ultimate ambassador for our sport both nationally and internationally.

Ken White (CBHA Executive Director) When I met George in the early 80's he was a gangly tall kid with a great laugh and attitude. Never one to boast or brag, George would always compliment his team mates for the success each team would have. He was always interested in the mechanics of the game. His work ethic is legendary. The "Greek" has had an influence on this sport well over his six foot plus status. I admire him very much and as a co-founder of the cbha, I am hard pressed to find many others who have done more for the game of orange ball.

Bob Dawson: (Assistant Coach Team Canada) George was quite a competitor. He is the mastermind behind Team Canada. George thinks outside the box and he is universal. He has plenty of desire and his first love is ball hockey and everything else comes afterwards. That kind of compassion makes him a quality coach and player. George is also an excellent mentor to other players in the game.
 

Career:

•  1984 Goulding Park Blues 
• 1986 Con Drain Barons 
• 1987 - 91 Midas Topguns 
• 1992 - 96 Fernview Rangers