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Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 30, 2009

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

Provincial Annual Awards Handed out and
Six New Hall of Fame Members Honoured

The Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Stars and Legends Awards Gala took place Saturday evening, March 28, at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John�s. Provincial Annual Awards were presented in seven categories recognizing the best athletic achievements in Newfoundland and Labrador during 2008.

The winner of the Margaret Davis Memorial Award 2008 Junior Female Athlete of the Year is Victoria Ralph of Carbonear.

The winner of the Joe Mullins Memorial Award 2008 Junior Male Athlete of the Year is Matthew Young of Corner Brook.

The winner of the Graham Snow Memorial Award 2008 Executive of the Year is Bev Power of Labrador City.

The winner of the John Drinkwater Memorial Award 2008 Coach of the Year is Patrick Parfrey of St. John�s.

The winner of the Ed Browne Memorial Award 2008 Team of the Year is The Rock Rugby Team,

The winner of the Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award 2008 Senior Female Athlete of the Year is Nichole Adams, of St. John�s.

The winner of the Ferd Hayward Memorial Award 2008 Senior Male Athlete of the Year is Frank Walsh, of St. John�s.

The event also honoured six new Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

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 Stars and Legends Awards Gala pays tribute to the province�s best athletes, coaches and volunteers, past and present. It�s designed to bring current day athletes and those of the past together to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments and history of sport in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Doug Fowler, President of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador said, "You could see the pride on their faces throughout the evening and it was evident that receiving this recognition amongst the entire sporting community meant a great deal."

- 30 -

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

BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of Finalists
Sport Newfoundland and Labrador 2008 Provincial Annual Awards

Senior Male Athlete of the Year

Frank Walsh, of St. John�s, was an instrumental member of the Senior Rock Rugby team recording a 3rd national title in four years. He was selected to the National Senior Men�s team for the fall tour to Europe.

Senior Female Athlete of the Year

Soccer player Nichole Adams, of St. John�s, a member of EPR Kirby/The Dock, emerged as the top goal scorer at the BMO National Women�s Championships, helping her team to a fourth-place finish. Nichole was voted the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

Junior Male Athlete of the Year

A member of the Silver Blades Skating Club, Matthew Young, of Corner Brook, set a new provincial record at the 2008 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals.

Junior Female Athlete of the Year

Carbonear native Victoria Ralph won a bronze medal at the National Wrestling Championships and was named for the second straight year most outstanding wrestler at the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association (CAWA) Atlantic Championships.

Coach of the Year Award

Patrick Parfrey, of St. John�s, was head coach for The Rock, the Rugby Canada Super League gold medalists and the Rugby Canada Super League Eastern Conference gold medalists. He was also Head Coach for The Rock U18 which were the national bronze medalists and the Eastern Canadian gold medalists.

Executive of the Year Award

Bev Power, of Labrador City, is the Chair of the Board of Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador. She was appointed to Skate Canada�s Board of Directors and served on five Skate Canada Committees. Under her leadership and focus of growing sport in the province, the number of figure skaters has grown to 4,700, a new provincial record.

Team of the Year Award

The Rock Rugby Team were the Rugby Canada Super League gold medalists, taking the national title for the third time in four years. They were also the Rugby Canada Super League Eastern Conference gold medalists.

Biographies of Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame New Inductees

Thomas L. Gallant - Builder

Tom Gallant 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 20-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 - 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

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 03 30                                                4:10 p.m.
 


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