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Tourism, Culture and Recreation
February 27, 2009

The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Sports Hall of Fame to Officially Welcome Six New Members

Six new members will be inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame during Sport Newfoundland and Labrador�s Stars and Legends Awards Gala in March.

The new inductees are:

  • Thomas L. Gallant, Builder (Judo)

  • Andrea Hutchens, Athlete (Basketball)

  • Harold St. Croix, Athlete (Athletics)

  • Iain Robert Tennent, Athlete (Swimming)

  • Donald Richard Yetman, Athlete/Builder (Hockey/Baseball)

  • Joseph "Joe" Wadden, Athlete/Builder (Baseball/Basketball)

The Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame is designed to recognize, honour and pay tribute to individuals on the basis of playing ability, sportsmanship and character and who have achieved extra-ordinary distinction in any sport, whether that distinction be achieved in amateur and/or professional athletics. It also recognizes, honours and pays tribute to those individuals who have given distinguished services and who have made a major contribution to the development and advancement of amateur sport in Newfoundland and Labrador. Lastly, it encourages the development of all aspects of sport by permanently recording the achievements and history of such individuals.

"This year's Class of Inductees bring a wide and varied array of accomplishments, they all have left an indelible and lasting imprint on this Province's athletic history," said John McGrath, Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors.

Sport Newfoundland and Labrador is again this year combining its two major recognition events into one celebration � the Stars and Legends Awards Gala. During one magnificent evening to recognize sport excellence, the Provincial Annual Awards and the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place. The "Legends" who have built provincial sports and the "Stars" who will become tomorrow�s legends will be honoured at the Gala.

The 2nd Annual Stars and Legends Awards Gala is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 28, at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John�s beginning at 7:00 p.m. This year�s awards gala, which will be co-hosted by Jonathan Crowe of CBC News: Here and Now and Dr. TA Loeffler of Memorial University, will feature a keynote address by Dr. Steve Norris of the Canadian Sport Centre, Calgary.

Tickets for the Stars and Legends Awards Gala can be purchased by contacting Sport Newfoundland and Labrador at telephone number 709-576-4932 or sportnl@sportnl.ca.

For further information on this year�s gala, visit the event website at www.starsandlegends.ca.

Sport Newfoundland and Labrador is a volunteer organization committed to the promotion and advancement of amateur sport throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contact:
Troy Croft
Sport Newfoundland and Labrador
709-576-4932
troy@sportnl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame new Inductees

Thomas L. Gallant - Builder
Tom Gallant was the founding member of Judo in Newfoundland and Labrador. He started Judo clubs in Corner Brook, Stephenville, and St. John�s and was the founding member of the provincial association in 1969. He served as Vice President of Judo Canada for four consecutive terms and was the founder of the Atlantic Council for Judo which organized all four Atlantic Provinces in one group. Gallant is a National "A" Referee, the only national "A" ranked in the province, and he has officiated at the national and international levels. As a Level 3 Certified Coach for Canada, Gallant coached over 3,000 athletes in Newfoundland and Labrador and produced 19 Black Belts, four national medals, and over 40 Atlantic medals. One of Gallant�s biggest contributions to building the sport of Judo was his work developing, implementing and setting a standard for Judo Canada�s national coaching certification program.

Andrea Hutchens � Athlete
Andrea Hutchens proved to be one of Newfoundland and Labrador�s best female basketball players to play the game. She achieved outstanding success at the university, national, and international levels from 1991-1995. Her recruitment to The University of Winnipeg�s Wesmen basketball team turned out to be a career highlight. Hutchens was part of a team that won 88 consecutive games and three straight national championships. Because of her success at the University of Winnipeg, Hutchens was selected to play on several national teams from 1993-1995 and competed in a number of international tournaments. In October 1995, Hutchens was elected to the Basketball Canada Hall of Fame.

Harold St. Croix � Athlete
Harold St. Croix, through his persistence and dedication, excelled in the sport of athletics. In 1976, St. Croix took third place at the National Juvenile Division, winning Newfoundland�s first ever national cross-country medal. Eighteen years later, he won a bronze medal at the National Cross Country Running Championships. St. Croix holds the all comers road race records for the half marathon and the twenty-mile road race. He won the Tely Ten six times and is one of only two people who have run the Tely Ten in under 50 minutes. St. Croix is the only runner who has won the Tely Ten in three consecutive decades - 1970�s, 1980�s, and 1990�s.

Iain Robert Tennent � Athlete
Iain Tennent was an outstanding swimmer. He competed at the Canada Games and Canadian Nationals, earning one gold and two silver medals. In 1997, he was named a CIAU All Canadian, AUAA Swimmer of the Year, and the University of New Brunswick Athlete of the Year. In 1994 he won four gold medals at the AUAA Swimming Championship. In 1993 he won four gold medals at the AUAA Swimming Championship, was named a CIAU All Canadian, received the Newfoundland Athlete of the Year Award, the St. John�s Athlete of the Year Award, the Newfoundland Unisys Quest for Excellence Award and the AUAA /UNB Swimmer of the Year Award. In 1992 he won four gold medals at the AUAA Swimming Championship, was named the AUAA /UNB Swimmer of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Tennent has set 32 records in Short Course swimming which still stand today. At the international level, he was a member of the Canadian Junior Swim Team which competed in the �8 Nations Cup� in France in 1991.

Donald Richard Yetman � Athlete/Builder
Don Yetman provided the province with many great years of exciting hockey and baseball. He played with three provincial senior championship baseball teams, two provincial junior championship hockey teams, and the St. John�s Townies which won four consecutive Master League All Newfoundland Baseball Championships. Yetman earned most valuable player awards in baseball, hockey, and soccer. Though his accomplishments were great as a player, he also gave unselfishly back to the community as a coach, spending more than 20 years coaching minor hockey and minor baseball. In 1986, Don Yetman was inducted into the St. John�s Baseball Hall of Fame.

Joseph "Joe" Wadden � Athlete/Builder
Joseph "Joe" Wadden enjoyed a remarkable athletic career as an athlete, coach, and contributing executive volunteer. He excelled in baseball and basketball. Wadden was a member of four provincial senior baseball championship teams and two provincial junior basketball championship teams. He coached baseball teams to three provincial junior titles, two provincial senior titles, and two Atlantic championships. Wadden also served as secretary and president of the Newfoundland Amateur Baseball Association. Joseph Wadden has been inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Baseball Hall of Fame and the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Hall of Fame.

2009 02 27                                                3:25 p.m.
 


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