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
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