Former Cardinal Allan Wins Community Award

Geoff Allen was named this year’s Doug Austin Memorial Award as Niagara Falls sportsperson of the year.

Currently, Allen is not only answering the umpire’s call of “Play Ball!” on the field but also answering the alarm bells at the fire house as a 13-year veteran of the Niagara Falls Fire Department. In his time away from the fire house he is a coach of plyer development for the Greater Niagara Baseball Association as well as the sport lead for baseball at the 2022 Canada Summer Games which will be held in Niagara.

The Doug Austin Memorial Award is handed out annually to recognize the outstanding contributions to sports at the community level in Niagara Falls.

Allen spent 14 seasons in the IBL which included eight seasons with Hamilton as a Cardinal and Thunderbird.

While he is not on the field as much any more in a playing capacity, and not playing at all this year for the first time in 38-years thanks to COVID-19, he has stayed active in the game by coaching his six-year old son’s under-8 Niagara Falls Falcons team.

The award was named after Doug Austin who was a longtime sports editor for the Niagara Falls Review.

 You can read more about the newest Doug Austin Memorial Ward winner by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of the Niagara Falls Review.