Joe Caruso inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame
Joe Caruso’s induction into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame last week stands as a fitting tribute to one of the most respected and beloved figures in the history of the Brampton Excelsiors. A lifelong Brampton resident, Joe was one of ten children in the well-known Caruso family, owners of the historic Caruso Fruit Market on Main Street, one of Brampton’s original downtown merchant businesses. He grew up when lacrosse was the heartbeat of the Brampton community. Crowds packed old Rosalea Park and later Memorial Arena, businesses closed early on game nights, and the entire city rallied behind the Excelsiors. Inspired by that passion and pride, Joe developed a lifelong love for the game and helped carry forward Brampton’s rich lacrosse tradition for decades.
Known affectionately throughout the lacrosse world as “Pal Joey,” Joe combined elite talent with humility, kindness, and sportsmanship. Always smiling, approachable, and respected by teammates, coaches, opponents, and fans alike, he was admired as much for his character as for his ability on the floor. Over a remarkable 27-year career, Joe competed at the sport’s highest level of the day until the age of 38 and consistently ranked among Ontario’s elite scorers, finishing among the league’s top ten scoring leaders ten different seasons across Junior A and Junior B lacrosse.
As captain of the 1952 Brampton Excelsiors, Joe helped lead the team to Brampton’s first-ever Minto Cup championship, a defining moment in both Excelsiors and city history. One of Joe’s fondest memories was the championship parade that followed, when he and co-captain Jack Sibbald rode through downtown Brampton before thousands of cheering fans welcoming home their champions. The following season, Joe captured the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A Most Valuable Player Award in 1953, highlighted by a legendary seven-goal performance that secured the Excelsiors a berth in the finals. At the senior level, he helped lead Brampton to Mann Cup finals appearances in 1961 and 1962. He earned the Calvert MVP Award in 1963 as the most valuable player on Brampton’s senior lacrosse team.
Even after his playing career ended, Joe remained dedicated to the Excelsiors and the sport of lacrosse through his work on the Excelsiors executive board. In recognition of his lifelong contributions, he was named a Brampton Excelsiors Life Member in 1989 and inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Association Hall of Fame in 2008. Joe Caruso will be remembered not only as one of Brampton’s lacrosse stars, but also as a humble and genuine person who left a lasting impact on the Excelsiors, the sport, and the Brampton community.
