There will be something missing at the Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame induction ceremony tonight - or rather, someone.

Alex Bunbury, one of the country's all-time leading goal scorers, had planned to fly in from his home in Minnesota for the event. Heck, he even bought his plane tickets.

Then early this week, he realized his Green Card had expired.

He could leave the United States, but there was a chance he might not be allowed back in.

"I am devastated because I was so looking forward to this," he said in a phone interview Tuesday. "It's such a great honour. It was going to be a joyous time for me and my family, but I just can't take the chance."

Bunbury, who headlines this year's crop of inductees, was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada as a child. In 1980, made the cut with the Quebec Selects as a 12-year-old - an opportunity that paved the way to dozens of national team appearances.

In total, he represented Canada in 21 youth internationals, including the FIFA World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union in 1985 - the same year he kick-started his professional soccer career as a striker with the Hamilton Steelers.

Over the next four seasons, he scored 28 goals in 76 games before moving on the Toronto Blizzard, Montreal Spura, West Ham United and Maritimo in Portugal, where he remains the club's all-time leading scorer.

He returned to North America in 1999 and retired after two seasons and an MLS championship with the Kansas City Wizards.

Bunbury made his debut with Canada's senior team while still a Steeler in 1986. In the 11 years that followed, he earned 65 caps and 16 goals - including a record 11 in World Cup qualifiers.

He was twice named the country's player of the year before being inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2012, he was named to the all-time men's team as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebrations.

Even with all his success, though, it's his time in Hamilton that stands out.

"When I reflect on my career, that was probably the most inspirational and motivational part," he said. "The people were great, a hard-working town. There's no substitute for that."

Bunbury likewise inspired those in the city. Just ask Vince Micieli.

"Seeing how great he did, it gave us hope that maybe we could be playing professional for our hometown team or somewhere else in the Canadian Soccer League," said the president of the Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame. "He was a very influential player and he was a great guy on and off the field."

Joining Bunbury in the Hall are five individuals and three teams or programs.

Frank Riga made a mark in the city as a coach, trainer and administrator, but it is his accomplishments on the pitch - including a League Cup, Spectator Cup and Ontario Cup with Hamilton Italo - that earn him a place in the Hall.

The same goes for Eversley "Bo" Lewis, who was born and raised on soccer in Bermuda before signing with Aberdeen as a teen in 1961. After two seasons with the Scottish League squad, the left winger immigrated to Hamilton where he suited up with Steelers, Primos and Hamilton City.

Robert Logan "Whitey" McDonald, the final player inductee, immigrated to the city from Ireland as a toddler. He played halfback for the Hamilton Thistles, Toronto Ulster United and the American Soccer League's Bethlehem Steel in the early 1920s before being scouted and signed by the Glasgow Rangers.

Al Carrafiello, the former president, vice-president and director of the Hamilton District Soccer Association, is being inducted to the Hall for his "outstanding" dedication to building the sport, while Alex Weir gets the nod for officiating.

The 1976 Saltfleet Go Ahead Soccer Club enters the Hall for winning every tournament it entered, while Dundas United Men's earns a spot in the club category for its success between 1980 and 2000 - a period in which the team appeared in the Ontario Cup Championship game six times and won twice.

Finally, the men's program at Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School goes into the Hall because of its tradition of excellence. Since it was formed in 1977, the Express has won 14 city and regional championships and 10 OFSSA medals.

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"They're household names in Hamilton starting from Alex all the way down," Micieli said of the 2015 class. "Whether they've played professionally or not, they've contributed to Hamilton soccer in such a way that has influenced future generations."

The induction ceremony, the Hall's fourth annual, takes place at Michelangelo Banquet Centre.

2015 Inductees

PLAYER CATEGORY

Frank Riga

Alex Bunbury

Eversley (Bo) Lewis

Robert Logan (Whitey) McDonald

BUILDER CATEGORY

Al Carrafiello

OFFICIAL/REFEREE CATEGORY

Alex Weir

CLUB OF DISTINCTION

Dundas United Men's 1980-2000

TEAM OF DISTINCTION

1976 Saltfleet Go Ahead Soccer Club

Roster: Ernie Cicchi, Peter Appelman, John Bijman, Dennis McEniry, Andrew Dalton, Terry Giangregorio, Kirk Gomez, Marty Tosello, John Carlin, Lou Nagy, Gord Noble, John Giftopoulus, John Tallach, Steve Jacobs, Gunther Schneider, and Alex Hajdu

Coaches: Fred Pretto and Nino Favarro

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

