Text Size
A
A
A
Bookmark and Share
Tourism, Culture and Recreation
April 8, 2013

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

Provincial Annual Awards Handed Out and Five New Hall of Fame Members Honoured

The Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Stars and Legends Awards Gala took place Saturday evening, April 6, 2013 at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John’s. Provincial Annual Awards were presented in eight categories recognizing the best athletic achievements in Newfoundland and Labrador during 2012. Award winners are as follows:

The event also honoured five new Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame inductees. The new inductees are:

The Stars and Legends Awards Gala pays tribute to the provinces best athletes, coaches and volunteers, past and present. It is 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.

- 30 -

Media contact:
Troy Croft
Sport Newfoundland and Labrador
709.576.4932
troy@sportnl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of Finalists for Sport Newfoundland and Labrador 2010 Annual Awards

Hannah Jardin, from St. John’s, helped Team Canada to a historic bronze medal win at the International Basketball Federation under 17 world women’s championships in Amsterdam this past summer. She contributed six points and two rebounds in 13 minutes of floor time in Canada’s 84-77 win over Japan, marking it as the first time Canada has won a medal in a women’s world age-group tournament. In eight games during the tournament, Hannah totalled 85 minutes of floor time, 26 points and 21 rebounds. On the provincial scene, Hannah won a gold medal with O’Donel High School at the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association Hall of Fame Cup and was named tournament MVP averaging 29 points per game. She won a gold medal with O’Donel in the Clarence Sutton Memorial Classic where she was again named tournament MVP. Hannah also won a silver medal in the Four A High School Provincial Championships, scoring 40 points in the overtime final. As a result of her outstanding performance in 2012, Hannah was recruited and accepted a full scholarship to the highly ranked NCAA (NC double A) Division One University of Delaware.

Myles Vincent, from Corner Brook, had great success on the local, provincial national and international baseball scene in 2012. Provincially, Myles pitched a no hitter and was named Tournament MVP and Top Pitcher at the Midget Atlantics; he also pitched a no hitter in the Provincial Senior B Championship Game. At the under 18 Canada Cup National Championships Myles Struck out 11 batters in a 5-4 loss to Saskatchewan, resulting in a tryout and selection to Canada’s National Junior Team. As a member of the Silver Medal winning Canadian Team, Myles pitched a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic, striking out nine batters in seven innings.

Robert Morgan, of St. John’s, is currently the President of St. John’s Minor Baseball Association and has been on the Board of Directors for the past six years. Under Bob’s leadership, St. John’s Minor Baseball applied for and was successful in receiving $125,000 from the Blue Jays Foundation, which the City of St. John’s will be matching for a field project including lighting for one of their minor fields. Robert has done a lot of grassroots work to unite baseball and grow the game in the eastern region and across the province through girl’s baseball, school tournaments, Midget Baseball league and winter training programs.

Lindsey Rayner, from Gander, has been an active volunteer with the Airials Gymnastics Club for the last five years and is the current President of the club. In addition, Lindsey was Acting Treasurer for part of the year. She was also the Airials representative on Gander’s Multiplex Planning Committee, which is pursuing a new space for Airails Gymnastics Club, which would be more conducive to gymnastics training than the rented facility they are currently in. She was Chair of the Finance Committee and served on the Fundraising and Competition Planning Committees. Given Lindsay’s efforts, 2012 has been considered the most successful for the club in terms of both fundraising and annual competition.

Jeff Kirk, of Goulds, continues to be one of the driving forces behind softball coaching development in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is a Master Learning Facilitator and is Softball Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chair of Coaching Development and their Learn to Play Coordinator. Jeff is a member of the current Softball Newfoundland and Labrador Coaching Committee and is in charge of the Skills Development Program during the off-season. He is an active member of the Softball Canada Coaching Committee and was a contributor to the recent Softball Canada Under12 & Under14 Coaches Guides. In 2012, Jeff was the Head Coach of the Kelly’s Pub Junior Canadians Under 21 Junior Men’s Fastpitch Team which won a gold medal at the Canadian Championship. The Kelly’s Pub Junior Canadians went 6-2 in the round robin and 3-0 in the Playoffs to capture another Canadian Under 21 Men’s Fastpitch Championship for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

3Cheers Pub Softball Team became the first team from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the Canadian Senior Men’s Fastpitch Championship in 2012. The team dominated both the round robin and playoff round with a combined 9-0 record and outscoring the opposition 74-4. Sean Cleary, Stephen Mullaley, Jeff Elsworth and Brad Ezekiel were named to the tournament all-star team.

Katarina Roxon, from Kippens, continues to dominate the sport of swimming both locally, nationally and internationally. At the Can-Am International Championships Katarina set another national record with a gold medal performance in the 50-metre breaststroke, and secured silver in all other events. At the 2012 Paralympic Trials she won gold in the 100-metre butterfly and bronze in the 100-metre breaststroke. At the Para Olympics in London, Katarina was 5th in the 100-meter Breaststroke; she finished top 10 in the 400-metre freestyle and the 200-metre individual medley.

Ciaran Hearn, of Conception Bay South, has been a key ingredient to The Rock’s success in national competitions over the past six years. Ciaran is a National Team Carded Athlete with Sport Canada and was a member of Canada’s National Senior Men’s team for all 2012 matches. He also established himself as a member of Rugby Canada’s National Men’s Senior Sevens Team where he was a starting player competing in all six of the International Rugby Board World Sevens International Circuit. He was also a member of Team Canada’s Pan Am 7’s Team winning a gold medal.

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

Mount Pearl “Athlete” Raeleen (Dunne) Baggs has exemplified the characteristics of greatness through her soccer career. From her early beginnings as an age group player and throughout her senior years, Raeleen has demonstrated that to excel in sport, you must be physically fit, play with grit, determination and toughness. In addition to this, you must also be a leader who plays with intelligence and an understanding that garnishes the respect of both players and coaches alike. When reviewing her athletic career, one only has to look at her accomplishments to realize that the characteristics that made her unique are what arguably made her one of the best, if not the top female soccer player in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1991 and 1993 she was a member of provincial Canada Games Teams representing the province in both soccer and squash. In 1991 and 1999 Raeleen was invited to national team training camps. 1996 and 1999 were two outstanding years for Raeleen as she competed in two CIAU National Soccer Championships. During both championships she was named: Female Soccer Player of the Year, CIAU All-Star and CIAU Academic All-Star. In 1996 Raeleen attended Acadia University and was named their Female Athlete of the Year. That year she was also named an Atlantic University All-Star. In 1999 she attended Queen’s University and was named their Female Athlete of the Year. That year she also received a Petro Canada Olympic Torch Scholarship. In 2002 and 2005 Raeleen was a member of the provincial soccer team that represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the National Senior Women’s Jubilee Trophy Soccer Competitions. In 2007 the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association named the Jubilee Trophy regular season MVP award the Raeleen Dunne Baggs Award. In 2009 Raeleen was inducted into the Mount Pearl Sport Alliance Hall of Fame. During 2011 she was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame and the Mount Pearl Soccer Hall of fame. Raeleen was named Mount Pearl Sport Alliance Athlete of the Year for 1997, 1999 and 2000. To recognize her strength and playing brilliance the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association named Raeleen their Female Player of the Decade for the 1990s. She was also named the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association’s Senior Player of the Year in 1997 and 1999. With technical ability and a mind to see beyond, Raeleen Dunne Baggs stepped beyond the ordinary and into the world of soccer greatness.

St. John’s Athlete – Veteran Linda (Winter) Barrett was a 1950s athlete who played the sports of basketball, field hockey, badminton, tennis and golf to the fullest. Linda competed in numerous competitions within St. John’s during her athletic career in addition to provincial and national competitions, which is very impressive as there was very little opportunity to compete outside of St. John’s in the 1950s. Linda started her basketball career in 1954 as a member of the Junior and Senior Bishop Spencer School Basketball Teams. On a national level, in 1957 Linda was a member of Memorial University’s Ladies’ Basketball Team that played in an invitational tournament in Nova Scotia. The MUN team was undefeated in all four games they played and Linda helped win the games scoring almost half of the total points during the tournament. Linda was Captain of Memorial University’s Ladies’ Basketball Championship Team in 1959 and was a member of the Championship team from 1956 to 1958. She also excelled at the sport of badminton and from 1957 until 1959 Linda was a member of the MUN Ladies’ Varsity Badminton Team and won both team and individual titles. Tennis was another sport Linda excelled in. She was Riverdale Tennis Club’s singles champion in 1954 and the Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Tennis Champion from 1955 to 1956. Linda’s other sports included field hockey and golf. In 1960 and 1961 she was a member of the Bally Haly Golf Teams that competed in and won the Grand Falls Invitational as well as the Inter-Town Invitational. Her most recent golf accomplishment was a hole-in-one in 2004. She was also a member of the Memorial University Varsity Championship Team for Field Hockey in 1959. Linda was kept busy with her sport involvement; however, she never let her academics suffer. In 1959 Linda received the John Lewis Paton Award recognizing her contribution to athletics and academic standing at Memorial University. Linda was an all around athlete who competed and excelled in as many sports and tournaments that were available for her to compete in. During her athletic career a Canadian Press writer dubbed her “one of the most colorful athletes ever to perform in the Maritimes in the past decade.” Linda was certainly one of the best athletes of her time and generation. In recognition of her athletic contribution to basketball Linda was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

The impact of Builder Alan Ross’s departure from Britain and arrival to the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador in early 1970 to teach at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and more importantly to coach the game of soccer, is still being felt today. In 1970, Alan’s first varsity soccer team not only went undefeated, it went on to win the Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association Soccer Championship and then the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union National Soccer Championship in Toronto. In 1971 his team went undefeated in winning the Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association Soccer Championship and in 1973 his team again won the Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association Soccer Championship. In 1974 he coached the provincial U-18 team, which won the National U-18 Soccer Championship. In 1973, 1977 and 1981 Allan was head coach of the province’s Jeux Canada Games Men’s Soccer Teams. In 1972 Alan was appointed assistant coach of Canada’s National/World Cup Soccer Team and served in that position for two years. During this time Alan earned his Canadian Soccer Association National Badge Coaching Certificate, which is the highest Canadian soccer certification. His leadership and efforts in developing and advancing the game of soccer at both the provincial and national levels did not go unnoticed. He raised the coaching, refereeing and playing standard throughout the province from 1970 to 1989 and changed the culture of how the game should be played and developed. Recognizing what he had to offer, the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association quickly offered to retain him as their Technical Director. Upon accepting the offer Alan immediately began the task of educating the Newfoundland and Labrador soccer community on what was necessary for soccer players to move forward to become national contenders on a regular basis. His first task was to build a network of certified coaches throughout the province. He accomplished this task by travelling throughout the province conducting coaching and referee clinics along with countless player seminars. As well, he took a number of players, coaches, referees, and some administrators from all regions of the province under his wing to mentor. Believing in what he had to offer, these once young coaches, officials, and players have turned out to be the movers and shakers of today’s Newfoundland and Labrador soccer community. These same people are directing the coaching and player development, overseeing the acquisition of funding for programming and building modern facilities. While the teams and the players he coached achieved success, it was the change in mind set, the philosophy and the approach to moving the game forward that Alan accomplished most. In national and provincial soccer circles today, the name of Alan Ross is frequently mentioned and he can certainly be referred to as the “Father of the Modern Game” in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1985, at the international level, Alan was a Technical Advisor for the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association’s Host Committee, which was hosting a FIFA World Cup qualifying game in St. John’s between Canada and Honduras. This was a critical game for Canada – a win would put them through to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Canada defeated Honduras 2 to 1 and qualified for the World Cup. In 1989 Alan was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame and in1990 he was inducted into the St. John’s Soccer Hall of Fame. His success was recognized nationally in 2008 when he received the Award of Merit from the Canadian Soccer Association. This award was in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the sport of soccer in Canada at both the provincial and national levels.

Bay Roberts Builder Wayne Russell has had a remarkable career utilizing great expertise, clear understanding, solid devotion and willingness to work long and hard to earn extremely valuable respect and admiration with the Canadian, especially Newfoundland and Labrador, athletic community. Beginning from his time as a minor softball coach to his service as a major contributor to the Canadian Olympic Association, Wayne Russell has been a credit to sport, his province, and especially to himself. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Wayne spent time in Labrador City coaching minor hockey teams of all levels that competed in provincial championships and tournaments in Quebec including the international peewee tournament held in Quebec City. In 1986 Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador approached Wayne to chair its Hockey Development Council and sit as its representative on the Development Council of Hockey Canada. Wayne’s national and international contributions to sport began in 1990 when Hockey Canada asked him to chair its Council. In 1995 he was elected to the Hockey Canada Council and went on to serve as Executive Vice-Chair in 1997 and Chair for two years beginning in 1999. Wayne was Canada’s representative at meetings in Spain that resulted in NHL players performing at the 2002 Olympics. He also played a role in the selection of Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe and Pat Quinn to lead Canada’s Men’s Hockey Team at the 2002 Olympic Games. In 2001 he joined the Board of the Canadian Olympic Committee and in 2005 he was elected Treasurer, a position he still holds today. In 2003, he chaired the caucus for Canadian Olympic Winter Sports. In this position he assisted with the creation of “Own the Podium” and served as both its first Chair and first CEO. During his time as Chair the committee was successful in raising $110 million so that “Own the Podium” could assist Canadian athletes in preparing for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Wayne also brought focus to the Canadian women’s program and the national women’s team. In 2007 he accepted a request from the Ottawa Senators to help their organization with a bid to host the World Junior Hockey Championship. The bid was successful and this competition came to Ottawa in 2009. Wayne represented hockey on the Board of the Canadian Olympic Association and was the leader for the Canadian Hockey Delegation to the 2000 “Open Ice Forum” that examined the state of hockey in Canada. He was involved with merging the original Hockey Canada with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to create the current Hockey Canada. During his time as an official with Hockey Canada, he led the Canadian delegation to several international meetings, including talks with the International Ice Hockey Federation, NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, which concluded the agreement under which NHL players now compete in the Olympic Games. Provincially and locally Wayne has received a number of honors because of his involvement in sport. These honors include Life Membership in Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador, a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame, the first recipient of the Joe Byrne Award for Hockey Development and a Queen’s Jubilee Medal. The great respect that he has earned at every level of his athletic community involvement is demonstrated by the importance of the positions to which he has been elected and appointed. His outstanding performances in a wide range of positions, of varying levels of value, are certainly acknowledged by the responsibilities that have been entrusted to him.

St. John’s Athlete Nicola Will established herself as one of the best runners to ever compete in Newfoundland and Labrador. She set numerous records in both road running and track and field events, and held an impressive winning streak in a wide variety of running events. To this day her records set in the Tely 10 have been unmatched. Nicola’s athleticism helped her race competitively not only in Canada but also on an international level. Her first international accomplishment was in 1984 when she finished second in the Springbank International Road Race in London, Ontario. Over a distance of 7.5 kilometres Nicola defeated two, six-time All American champions. In 1985 she represented Canada at the Toronto International 10-kilometer Race where she set a provincial best time of 33 minutes 32 seconds and finished the race in second place. In 1986 Nicola was selected to the Canadian team for the IAAF World Women’s Road Race Championships in Lisbon, Portugal and was the second Canadian finisher over 15 kilometres. Nicola has also left her mark through national competition. In 1984 she competed in the Ontario 3000 championship; in 1985 she won the Atlantic Brooks 10k Road Race for Women in Halifax and finished second in the Brooks National 10k Road Race for Women in Toronto. Throughout her athletic career Nicola has set numerous course records for the Atlantic Provinces and has established herself as one of the most respected runners in Canada. The first time Nicola made her presence known was in 1980 when she finished third in the Tely 10, improving her time by 18 minutes from the previous year’s Tely 10. By 1981 she was considered the top-ranked track athlete in several events. 1982 marked her first ever Tely 10 victory. On the provincial level from 1981 to 1987 Nicola had a streak of being unbeaten by any women in Newfoundland and Labrador at any distance in the track, road race or cross-country events. This included all distances starting from the 800 metres to the half marathon. During this period she also set numerous records in road running and track. From 1981 to 1986 she set provincial junior and senior records at distances on the track from 800 metres to 10,000 metres. In 1984 she took more than one minute off the existing senior Tely 10 record with a time of 56:04. That year she was named the Newfoundland and Labrador Female Athlete of the Year as well as St. John’s Female Athlete of the Year. In 1986 she set a Tely 10 record with an amazing 55:47 win, the first female ever to record a top 10 overall finish, coming in 8th place. Nicola was the only woman to accomplish this feat up until 2007 and her record still stands over 20 years later. Throughout her Memorial University athletic career Nicola won three Atlantic University Athletic Association (AUAA) cross-country titles and had many wins on the indoor track at distances from 600 to 3,000 metres. From 1981 until her retirement in 1987 it had been said that Nicola Will rewrote the record books in track events.

2013 04 08                             3:20 p.m.

 
Last Updated:
This page and all contents are copyright, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, all rights reserved.