Ron Sedlbauer grew up in Burlington and played numerous sports as a youngster but his first love was hockey. He played all his minor hockey in Burlington and advanced to the Rep level representing the City of Burlington.
He attended Burlington Central High School where he was a member of their Championship Junior Football team in 1971. He also participated in Track and Field at Central and represented the school in the Provincial (O.F.S.A.A.) Track and Field Championships in the shot put.
While playing for the Burlington Midget Rep Team, Ron excelled and at the conclusion of the season in 1971, he was drafted by the Hamilton Red Wings Jr. A Hockey Team. Ron played in 129 games with Hamilton over two seasons, scoring 31 goals and 28 assists. In 1974 Hamilton traded Ron to the Kitchener Rangers to help them with their run for the Memorial Cup. Ron tallied 29 goals and 25 assists in his 54 games in Kitchener.
Ron was the Vancouver Canuck’s first pick and 23rd overall NHL draft pick in 1974, the highest draft pick in Burlington’s hockey history. Ron began his professional career with the Canuck’s farm team, the Seattle Totems, and enjoyed 26 games with the Canuck’s in his first pro season scoring his NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ron progressed well and soon became a full-time regular on the Canuck’s roster. During the 1978-79 season, Ron set a Canuck’s goal-scoring record with 40 goals and 16 assists that season. Ron won the Cyrus McLean trophy as the Canuck’s leading scorer that season and established a club goal-scoring record that stood up for many seasons.
During the 1979-80 season, Ron was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks and scored his 100th NHL goal that season against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The following season Ron was traded to the Leafs where he played his final season before retiring to join the family business in his hometown of Burlington. Ron still resides here with his wife Sue and son Brendon.
Through Ron’s business, Cougar Shoes, Ron has Chaired the company’s annual Charity Golf Tournament that has raised in excess of $1 Million dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada. Ron remains active in hockey and is currently the sponsor and President of the Burlington Cougar Junior A Hockey Team, a true hometown boy that gave back to his community.
Ron has received many awards for his athletic accomplishments. At the same time, Ron is very proud of his contributions to Burlington and the local community. Most recently, in February 2009, Ron was honoured at a gala dinner at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto as Canadian “Shoe Person of the Year” in recognition of his career in the footwear industry and his life of charitable work.