Hall of Fame Announces 2007 Inductees
June 19, 2007 Halifax, NS The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame today announced nine new names for induction into the provincial Hall of Fame. Heading the list of 2007 inductees are three outstanding builders; Steve Konchalski the legendary basketball coach at St. Francis Xavier University, Don Koharski the Dartmouth native who has refereed over 1500 games in the NHL and Dick MacLean the international boxing executive. In the athlete category, six new inductees are added. Two time Stanley Cup Champion Wendell Young, two time Canadian Curling Champion Penny LaRocque, international fastball player and multi-sport star Stan Hennigar Jr., 1950s Senior Hockey star Frank Dorrington, plus two former major league baseball players Charles Smith and Fred Lake complete an impressive 2007 class of inductees. The 2007 Induction Awards Ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, October 19th at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, when the new inductees will be enshrined. Tickets go on sale September 1st at the Hall of Fame. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $5 for students, and children under age 12 are free. For more information: Shane Mailman Facility and Communications Manager [EMAIL PROTECTED] (902) 404 3339 Bill Robinson Executive Director [EMAIL PROTECTED] (902) 404 - 3313 Frank Dorrington Category: Athlete Hometown: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia In the 1950s, Frank Dorrington was a star of senior hockey in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. His stellar hockey career led to many awards and recognitions. Dorrington has been a member of many Championship teams; in the Cape Breton Junior Hockey League, he was the scoring champion and the leading play-off scorer in 1952-53. The next year, as a rookie on the Moncton Hawks he was a Maritime Senior Hockey Champion and an Eastern Canadian Champion, making it to the Allen Cup finals. His individual accomplishments were just as outstanding. As a Miramichi Beaver in1956-57, Dorrington earned MVP and was runner-up for league MVP and led the league in scoring with 40 goals. The following year Dorrington stayed with the Beavers and was once again their MVP, and league MVP, he was their top goal scorer and second in the league, with 54 goals. During Dorringtons professional career, he played with The Johnstown East Coast Jets and the Corner Brook Royals. He was loved by his fans, voted fans favourite Johnstown Jet two years in a row, and in 1985 he was voted best import hockey player ever to come to Newfoundland. He was named Athlete of the Year in Corner Brook in 1969, and in 1973, Frank Dorrington Day was declared by Mayor and Town Council of Corner Brook, making him the only athlete so honoured. On Frank Dorrington Night, his number 17 was retired and hung from the roof of the old hockey arena Humber Memorial Gardens. - more - Stan Hennigar Jr. Category: Athlete Birthplace: North Bay, Ontario Currently Residing in: Fall River, Nova Scotia Stan Hennigar was a natural born athlete who did not focus his energy merely on the fastball diamond, but has made a name for himself in three different sports. Throughout the 80s Stan Hennigar Jr. was a busy man. Hennigar was able to allocate his time well enough to become a world class fastball player, a professional hockey player in the AHL, an Allan Cup Champion in Senior Hockey and a University football player. While playing fastball at the national level, Hennigar placed 1st in the National Tournament in the Midget and Junior divisions three years in a row, 1981, 82 and 83. In 1981 Hennigar had an impressive amount of personal achievements as well; during the National Midget Championships of 81, he won MVP and Batting Champion. While Hennigar spent his summers on first base, he spent his winters in the rink, playing Major Junior, AHL and Senior A hockey. His talent doesnt stop there; Hennigar also played university football with the St. Marys Huskies. This well rounded Nova Scotian athlete, dedicated and disciplined, is an excellent role model for Nova Scotian sport heroes of the future. Fred Lake Category: Athlete Hometown: Cornwallis, Nova Scotia Fred Lake was one of the first Nova Scotians and Canadians to play in the Major League, between 1891 and 1910. This great Nova Scotian was one of the few to ever play Major League Baseball, playing five seasons with Boston, Louisville and Pittsburgh, and - more - winning two National League Pennants in 1891 and 1897. Of every Nova Scotian to play in the Majors, Lake has the 2nd most at bats and 2nd most games played; second only to another 2007 inductee, Charles Smith. After his playing career, Freds love of the game kept him around to manage 3 seasons in the Major Leagues. He is the only person ever to manage both the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Braves. Along with his Major League career, Lake helped establish minor professional baseball in New England. For nearly two decades he played and managed in the New England Professional League. Lake passed away in 1931. Penny LaRocque Category: Athlete Hometown: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Two-time Canadian curling champion Penny LaRocque is being inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Penny has won the womens provincial championships five times, five Mixed Provincial Championships and has won five Provincial Senior Titles as well. In 1983, Penny won the Canadian Womens Title and placed 3rd in the World. Her incredible performance in 1983 also led to her winning the Sport Nova Scotia Team of the Year Award. Her work with a curling rock has earned her many championships and titles, and her competitive drive and wonderful sportsmanship that have earned her Ms. Congeniality awards and six Sportsmanship awards at the National level. Along with being a competitive and honourable athlete, LaRocque is a published scholar. Her studies in recreation for special populations at Dalhousie University allowed her to publish an article on Wheel Chair Exercise for the Disabled Elderly. LaRocque is definitely a role model for our athletes and scholars of the future. - more - Charles Smith Category: Athlete Hometown: Digby, Nova Scotia Born in Digby in 1856, Charles Smith is one of the best Nova Scotians ever to play Major League Baseball, ranked finest Canadian-born 2nd baseman ever to play in the Major Leagues, by Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. With Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo, Worchester, Louisville, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Washington and Boston, Smith played over 1000 Major League games. Along with being named the finest Canadian 2nd baseman ever to play in the Major Leagues, and he holds the records for most games ever played at 2nd base, by a Canadian. Of all Canadians ever to play Major League Baseball, Smith is ranked in the top ten of games played(8th), hits(8th), runs scored(6th), triples(4th) and stolen bases (3rd). Of all Nova Scotians ever to play in the Major Leagues, Smith is ranked 1st for every offensive category. Although Smith passed away in 1927, it is a great honour for the Hall of Fame to tell everyone of his achievements. Wendell Young Category: Athlete Hometown: Halifax Two-time Stanley Cup winner, Wendell Young is the only hockey player ever to win all four major North American hockey championships (IHL Turner Cup, AHL Calder Cup, OHL Memorial Cup and NHL Stanley Cup). Young holds many goaltending awards in the AHL and the IHL; most consecutive playoff wins in the AHL 1988 and in the IHL, most consecutive wins by a goaltender and longest unbeaten streak by a goaltender in 1997. Wendell racked up several goaltending records making him the IHL Chicago - more - Wolves franchise leader among goaltenders in games-played (322); wins (169); saves (8,467); minutes (17,912); play-off wins (19); saves in one season (1,771) and shutouts (16). His greatness isnt merely described by his performance between the posts. After a stellar hockey career as a player, Young didnt stop there. Young was the goaltending coach for the Calgary Flames from 2001 to 2003, then retuned to the Chicago Wolves, to serve as goaltending and strength and conditioning coach in 2003. He is currently serving his third year as the Assistant Coach for the Wolves, and the teams executive director of team relations. Young is very well-known in Chicago for giving back to the community, and the game of hockey. Along with his great hockey achievements he has been recognized as the IHL Man of the Year and PHPA Man of the Year in 2001 for his community service. Donald Koharski Category: Builder Hometown: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia For the past 29 years, Don Koharski, has been one of the top officials in the National Hockey League, refereeing over 1500 NHL games. Not only has he made it to the big leagues, but through his hockey official training camps, he has allowed at least three others to reach the NHL along with him. He has had the honour of refereeing 1506 regular season games, 235 play-off games, 11 Stanley Cup finals, Canada Cup finals in 1987 and 1991, and NHL All Star games in 1992 and 2000. In 1996, Koharski was recognized for refereeing his 1000th NHL game, and in 2006, he was honoured for his 1500th game. He is currently the NHLs second most senior official behind referee Kerry Fraser. This past year, Koharski was invited to be the Honorary Referee-In-Chief of the - more - World Indoor Lacrosse Championships held here in Halifax. His leadership and knowledge of hockey has influenced those he has taught and all others who strive to officiate in the NHL. Steve Konchalski Category: Builder Hometown: Queens, New York Currently Resides in: Antigonish, Nova Scotia Steve Konchalski is the well-known basketball coach for St. Francis Xavier University, coaching there for 29 years. He has led his team to the playoffs 30 times, earning 9 league titles. Out of 13 National Tournament appearances, Konchalski has earned 3 National CIS Canadian Championships, and Atlantic University Sport has named him Coach of the Year six times (82,90,99,00,02,05) and was named CIS Coach of the Year in 2001. For 16 years Konchalski was the National Mens Assistant Coach, and for four years he played the role of Head Coach. Konchalski coached the Nova Scotia Junior Mens team for three years, including the 2001 Canada Games team. On the world stage, he has coached 3 Olympic teams. Konchalski has previously been inducted to the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame, the St. F X University Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, and for his dedication to the sport of basketball he was the inaugural recipient of the Frank Baldwin Memorial Award. Now to add to his achievements, he has been inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. - more - Richard Henry MacLean Category: Builder Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia For over 30 years, Richard Henry MacLean had a phenomenal impact on the sport of boxing in Nova Scotia and Canada. He began as the Director of Citadel Amateur Boxing Club and later became the Director of the National High Performance Centre for Atlantic Canada and then took the position of President of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association for five years. During his time of presidency, participation in the sport tripled and reached an all-time record high that was not surpassed until a decade later when female and recreational boxing began to increase. Also during this time, Canadian boxers achieved previously unheard of success in many international tournaments, including a medal sweep in the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Richard was also instrumental in bringing the World Cup of Boxing to Canada hosted in Montreal in 1981. At this tournament, Richard watched Hall of Famer, Ricky Anderson win silver. Overlapping positions slightly, he then became Chair of the Management Committee for the Atlantic High Performance. Throughout the 80s MacLean attended five Commonwealth Games, three Olympic Games, and three World Championships as a representative of Canada. - 30 - For information: Frank Dorrington (902) 752 - 5961 Stan Hennigar Jr. (902) 860 - 0336 Fred Lake (deceased) Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (519) 284 - 1838 Penny LaRocque (902) 835 - 2079 Charles Smith (deceased) Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (519) 284 - 1838 Wendell Young (847) 612 - 4497 Donald Koharski (813) 417 - 4760 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Steve Konchalski Home: (902) 863 - 5388 Work: (902) 867 - 2128 Henry Richard MacLean (deceased) Carol MacLean (902) 454 - 2289 Al's Fastball News *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball VIA http://www.webbox.com
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