2016 BC SPORTS HALL OF FAME SHORT BIOS ATHLETE CATEGORY Dave Barr - Golf         

Born and raised in Kelowna. Played in 523 career tournaments on PGA Tour, 1978-2002, winning two: 1981 Quad Cities Open and 1987 Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic. Accumulated 39 career top-10 PGA Tour finishes. Ranked among the top-100 PGA Tour golfers in season-end earnings 11 times. Top ranking was #35 in 1988. First Canadian golfer to earn more than $2 million on PGA Tour. Career earnings topped $2.4 million. Best career result in one of the four ‘Majors’: US Open runner-up, 1985. Captained Canadian team to Canada’s only Dunhill Cup victory in 1994, one of Canada’s greatest international golf victories. World Cup Team title co-champion, with Dan Halldorson, 1985. Joined the Senior Champions Tour in 2002. Became first Canadian and only the third international player to win a Champions Tour event, the 2003 Royal Caribbean Golf Classic.

Dave Cutler - Football      

   

Raised and currently resides in Victoria. Considered one of the greatest kickers in Canadian football history. At the time of his retirement in 1984, ranked as the leading scorer in pro football history with 2237 career points, breaking George Blanda’s mark set playing in the NFL. Played 16 Canadian Football League (CFL) seasons with Edmonton Eskimos (1969-84), retiring as the leading scorer in CFL history (Today, stands 7th overall). At his retirement, held CFL records for most career field goals (464), most points in a season (195), and most field goals in a game (5). Played in 9 Grey Cup championships with Edmonton, winning six (1975, 1978-82), tied for third-most in CFL history. An essential part of the Eskimos’ amazing 1978-82 dynasty. As of 2013, he remained the leading scorer in Grey Cup game history, with 72 points and 18 field goals. Named Most Valuable Canadian in 1975 Grey Cup championship. Three-time Western All-Star (1977, 1978, 1980) and two-time CFL All-Star (1977, 1978). Remains the Edmonton Eskimos career leading scorer to this day.

Geri Donnelly – Soccer    

    



Long-time resident of Port Moody. Original member of the first Canadian women’s national team, 1986. Remained a member of national team until her retirement from international play in 1999. Accumulated 71 international appearances for Canada (at one time a national record) and scored nine goals. Scored both the first and second-ever goals in the history of Canadian women’s national soccer team in a 2-1 win over the USA on July 9, 1986 in Blaine, Minnesota, Canada’s second-ever international women’s match. Captained Canadian women’s national team at the 1995 and 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cups. Scored two goals for Canada at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup, one against England and one against Nigeria. Played a key role on Canadian national squad that won the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s championship. Named Canadian Player of the Year twice, 1996 and 1999. Member of three teams that won the Canadian women’s national club championship: Coquitlam Strikers in 1990 and 1994 as well as Surrey United in 2006. Also helped Surrey United to two national silver medals and three bronze. Named to Canada’s all-time women’s team, 2012.

Steve Nash – Basketball   





   

Raised in Victoria. Universally acknowledged as one of Canada’s greatest athletes of all time. First Canadian basketball player to win the National Basketball Association (NBA) MVP award, 2005. Followed that up by winning the award a second time the next season in 2006. Only the third point guard ever named NBA MVP, joining Bob Cousy and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Eighteen-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers in which he was named an NBA All-Star eight times and led the league in assists five times. Career averages of 14.3 points per game and 6.7 assists per game in 1217 career regular season games. Represented Canada in basketball at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, captaining the Canadian men’s basketball team to the quarterfinals after several victories over heavily-favoured opponents. Started the Steve Nash Youth Basketball program in BC and across Canada reaching over 15,000 participants, 2004 - present. Lou Marsh Trophy recipient, as Canada’s athlete of the year, 2005. Three-time Lionel Conacher Award recipient, as Canadian male athlete of the year, in 2002, 2005, and 2006. General Manager, Canadian Men’s National Basketball Team, 2012 – present.

Carl Valentine - Soccer        

   

Long-time resident of Vancouver. Considered one of the all-time great Vancouver Whitecaps/86ers and is the club’s alltime leader in match appearances, totalling 409. Ranks 3rd in points in Whitecaps/86ers club history with 65 goals and 69 assists. Played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in North American Soccer League (NASL), 197984. Key member of Whitecaps’ 1979 Soccer Bowl championship. Ranked as the 39th all-time leading goal scorer in NASL history (44 goals in 165 NASL games). Also ranked 15th in assists (59), and 30th in total points (147). Played for Vancouver 86ers in Canadian Soccer League (CSL), 1987-92. Key member of 86ers’ four-straight CSL championship teams, 1988-91. Represented Canada at 1986 World Cup in Mexico, playing in all three of Canada’s group-stage games. Renowned for setting up both of Canada’s goals versus Honduras in a 2-1 victory (his international debut for Canada) that qualified Canada for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, to this day still Canada’s only World Cup appearance. Made 31 international appearances for Canada, 1985-93, scoring one goal. One of the first four inductees into the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ring of Honour, 2014, joining Bob Lenarduzzi, Domenic Mobilio, and Andrea Neil. Served as Vancouver 86ers head coach, 1994-99. Vancouver Whitecaps FC club ambassador, 2011-present.

BUILDER – COACH CATEGORY Wally Buono – Football 

 

    

Served as BC Lions’ head coach, 2003-11; general manager, 2003-present, and vicepresident of football operations, 2011-present. With Bob Ackles from 2003 onward, played a key role in rebuilding the Lions into the CFL’s leading franchise for the next decade. Returned as BC Lions head coach as of December 2015. Led the BC Lions to two Grey Cup championships (2006 and 2011), adding to three Grey Cups won in Calgary as coach/GM (1992, 1998, 2001) and two as a player with Montreal (1974, 1976). Compiled a 101-60 win-loss record as BC Lions head coach, 2003-11, winning five West Division championships in that time. Winningest coach in BC Lions history. Won two Annis Stukus Trophies as the CFL’s coach of the year with BC (2006, 2011), adding to two earlier wins with Calgary (1992, 1993). Holds CFL record for most Grey Cup wins by a coach with five (Two came with BC Lions). Holds the CFL record for most regular season wins by a head coach with 254 (101 came with BC Lions). Holds CFL record for most first-place regular season finishes by a head coach with 13 (Five came with BC Lions).

Diane Clement – Athletics   

    



Long-time resident of Vancouver. Involved in six Olympic Games during her career, as an athlete, team manager, and media liaison. With husband, Dr. Doug Clement (2000 BC Sports Hall of Fame inductee), served as Canadian team chef de mission at 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Was forced to deal with the fall-out of Ben Johnson’s doping infraction and return of his 100m gold medal. Co-founder of Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club in 1961, which today is one of the strongest track and field clubs in Canada. Co-founder of Vancouver Sun Run in 1985, today one of the world’s largest timed 10km races, attracting over 45,000 participants annually. President of Athletics Canada, 1973-76. Co-Mayor of Athletes Village, with husband Doug 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria and 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Served on the Board of Directors of several provincial organizations, including: Achilles International Track Society, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Sport BC, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Committee. First woman to coach UBC women’s track and field team, 1959.

Allison McNeill – Basketball   

  



Born in Princeton. Head coach of Canadian women’s national basketball team, 2002-12. Guided the Canadian women’s national basketball team to its first Olympic experience in 12 years in 2012, resulting in a quarterfinal finish, equaling Canada’s best-ever Olympic result for women’s basketball. Led Canada to two world championship appearances, in 2006 and 2010 (10th and 12th place finishes respectively). Led Canada to 4th and 6th place finishes at the 2007 and 2011 Pan American Games respectively. Served as associate head coach at University of Oregon, 2001-05. Led Oregon to the 2002 Women’s National Invitational Tournament championship. In 2005, led Oregon to 2nd place in PAC-10 Conference and the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. Served as head coach of women’s basketball at Simon Fraser University, 1988-2001, compiling an impressive 363-79 win-loss record. Her teams made 11 trips to the NAIA national championships. In that time, twelve of her players were named NAIA AllAmericans, eight became part of the Canadian national team program at the junior or senior level, and six players made the Canadian senior national team.

TEAM CATEGORY 1994-95 Kamloops Blazers Hockey       

Won 1995 Memorial Cup, hosted by Kamloops, defeating Detroit Junior Red Wings in the final game 8-2. Progressed through round-robin play with a perfect 3-0 record. 1995 victory was the Blazers’ second straight Memorial Cup and third in four seasons. Blazers’ Shane Doan was named tournament MVP, while Jarome Iginla was named most sportsmanlike player. Western Hockey League (WHL) regular season champions, with a record of 52-14-6. Collected seventh WHL title in 11 years. Collected tenth WHL West Division title in 12 years. Team Mermber Darcy Tucker finished second in WHL scoring with 64 goals and 73 assists for 137 points that season.

Team Members: Jeff Ainsworth, Jeff Antonovich, Terry Bangen (assistant coach), Nolan Baumgartner, Rod Branch, Bob Brown (general manager), Ashley Buckberger, Ed Dempsey (assistant coach), Greg Deverson, Shane Doan, Hnat Domenichelli, Greg Hart, Don Hay (head coach), Brian Henderson (assistant coach), Jason Holland, Ryan Huska, Jarome Iginla, Jeff Jubenville, Aaron Keller, Donnie Kinney, Brad Lukowich, Bob Maudie, Keith McCambridge, Kevin McDonald, Tyson Nash, Cam McCormick, Shawn McNeil, Jeff Oldenborger, Randy Petruk, Scott Sherwood, Rob Skrlac, Andrei Sryubko, Jason Strudwick, Darcy Tucker, Ivan Vologianinov, Bob Westerby.

PIONEER CATEGORY Harry Manson – Soccer   





 



Also known as Xul-si-malt, which means “one who leaves his mark.” Born and raised in Nanaimo. Outstanding, trailblazing Aboriginal player during the early years of organized soccer in BC, despite facing widespread racial discrimination in all facets of life. Was killed in a train accident in 1912 while getting medicine for his infant son. Only player of either European or First Nations descent to play on all three Nanaimo premier soccer teams (Nanaimo Thistles, Nanaimo Indian Wanderers, Nanaimo Association Football Team), 1897-1905, reflecting the high esteem in which he was held as a player. Acknowledged by local press as “one of the best players Nanaimo has produced” at a time when Nanaimo and central Vancouver Island was the leading soccer hotbed in the province. Captained Nanaimo Indian Wanderers, 1897-1905. One of the first two Aboriginal players (the other being teammate James Wilks) to play in a BC provincial championship match, while playing with Nanaimo Thistles, 1898. Scored the first goal of the match versus Victoria YMCA, which Victoria later won 4-3. Selected to play on a Nanaimo all-star team that won the BC provincial championship in 1903, becoming one of the first Aboriginal players (alongside teammates Louis Martin and Joe Peters) to win a provincial title.

MEDIA CATEGORY Wendy Long   

 



Born and raised in Vancouver. One of Canada’s few female sportswriters during the 1980s-1990s. Vancouver Sun sportswriter for nearly two decades, covering the amateur sports beat. Brought focus to women’s and amateur sports that were rarely given space in newspaper sports sections. Has remained working as a freelance sports writer to the present day. Offered the only female perspective of sport in a major BC newspaper during her time at the Vancouver Sun. Covered six Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000) as well as many other international events including the 1999 Pan American Games, 1990 Goodwill Games, 1994 Commonwealth Games, 1989 world alpine skiing championships, 1987 Federation Cup, and the 1991 world track and field championships. Author of Celebrating Excellence: Canadian Women Athletes, published in 1995, one of the best references for background on female Canadian athletes.

W.A.C. BENNETT AWARD Arthur Griffiths  

 



Owner of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, taking over from his father Frank Griffiths in mid-1980s until selling the team in 1997. Chaired the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Bid Society, which, in 1998 obtained the Canadian Olympic Committee’s endorsement to bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. This was the first step in Vancouver’s successful 2010 Olympic bid. Responsible for the formation of the Vancouver Grizzlies NBA franchise and served as its owner, 1995-96. Financed the building of $163 million General Motors Place (now Rogers Arena), which opened in 1995, Canada’s first privately financed arena since Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931. Helped support the creation of Canuck Place children’s hospice in Vancouver, the first free-standing hospice for children in North America, 1995.