FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2006
The Canadian Lacrosse Hall Of Fame Announces 2006 Inductees
Eight new members have been named for induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
The new inductees are builders Rick Richards (Port Coquitlam, BC) and Peter Vipond (Brooklin, Ontario); box lacrosse players Charn Dhillon (Victoria, BC), Greg Thomas (Pitt Meadows, BC), Wayne Colley (Oshawa, Ontario) and George Kapasky (Etobicoke, Ontario); veteran players Mac Tyler (New Westminster, BC) and George Hector “Hec” Mackenzie (Ontario - deceased); and Ontario’s 1985-1991 Brooklin Redmen in the team category.
The new inductees will bring the number of those honoured in lacrosse's national shrine to 421--132 builders, 185 box players, 76 field players and 28 veterans, (those who played prior to 1970).
The formal induction banquet and ceremonies will be held in Burnaby Saturday November 4, 2006 at the Firefighter’s Club in Burnaby, British Columbia. For more inductee information, please refer to the attached pages for bio’s on each inductee.
For tickets call Sohen Gill at 604-421-9755.
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Box Lacrosse Players Category
Charn Dhillon (BC), of Victoria, BC, played 12 seasons in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA), ten with Victoria Shamrocks and two with Nanaimo Timbermen. Dhillon, known as one of the best faceoff men in the game, scored 764 regular season points including 297 goals in 295 games. In playoff action, Dhillon added another 107 in only 55 games. He was a First Team WLA All-Star selection in 1975.
Greg Thomas (BC), of Pitt Meadows, BC, began his 27-year lacrosse career in the Peterborough lacrosse system concluding his eastern play with four seasons on the Junior A Peterborough P.C.O.’s. Thomas lead the P.C.O.’s to two Ontario championships and won a Minto Cup in 1972. In 1973, Greg traveled west and tended goal for 12 seasons in the WLA with Coquitlam (10) and a single seasons with New Westminster and the Burrards. Thomas, a flamboyant stopper, faced 9343 shots while turning away 6948 shots in 269 games for a lifetime save average of 74.3%. Greg bagged one goal and 330 career assists, he still holds WLA records for most points by goaltenders and was a three-time All-Star Team selection. Thomas backstopped Canada West, represented by the Coquitlam Adanacs, to a World Championship in the Nations in 1980 world box lacrosse tournament. After his playing days, Thomas stayed close to lacrosse competing in master’s tournaments and coaching 8 seasons of youth lacrosse.
Wayne Colley (ON), of Oshawa, Ontario, spent most of his life living in the Durham region and as a lacrosse player is undoubtedly one of the premiere goalies of all time. Wayne's Junior career took him to both Oshawa and Whitby from 1974-1978. In Whitby, he was voted top goaltender 3 of the 4 years and he was as All-Star selection each year. From 1979-1990, Wayne tended goal for the famed Brooklin Redmen. In the 1985 Mann Cup final, Wayne emerged as an elite goaltender winning a Mann Cup after being down 3 games to none over the New Westminster Salmonbellies. That year he awarded the Mike Kelly Award as the Mann Cup MVP. During the next 5 seasons, Colley and the Brooklin Redmen advanced to the Mann Cup finals winning the Mann Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1990. Wayne and the Brooklin Redmen won the Harry Lumley Trophy (fewest goals against) in 1980, 81, 83, 1987-1990. He also holds the record for most assists as a goaltender in Mann Cup competition. Wayne Colley is truly one of the best goaltenders of all time and after his playing career was over, his interests turned to coaching and his records in this area are almost as remarkable as his playing stats. Wayne was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999 and into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
George Kapasky (ON), of Etobicoke, Ontario. George Kapasky's lacrosse career spanned a total of 25 years and most of it was spent playing on teams within the Toronto area. He was regarded as one of the best defencemen of his era and was twice voted the Merv McKenzie Award for top defensive player in 1960 and 1966. George was also a great leader both on and off the floor. Not only did he possess defensive skills but he also had superior ball handling skills. His scoring prowess and leadership qualities helped his teams win 2 national titles. In 1955 his Long Branch Monarchs won the Minto Cup and in 1960 he was the captain of the Mann Cup winning Port Credit Sailors. In the 1960 Mann Cup, Larry Ruse and George Kapasky both lead the Sailors with 13 points apiece in 5 games. Over his career, Kapasky played in 6 National Lacrosse Finals. During his Senior career he scored 129 goals and had 174 assists for a total of 303 points in 239 games. After his playing career, George coached at the junior level for a number of years. In 2004, he was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Player Category.
Box Lacrosse Veteran Category
Mac Tyler (BC), of New Westminster, BC. Mac played all of his lacrosse in the Royal City joining the Junior Salmonbellies in 1962 for three seasons. In 1965, he began his Senior career with the O’Keefes. This rugged individual had soft hands and was one of the best creasemen to play lacrosse. Over nine seasons, Tyler netted 307 goals and 262 assists for 569 points for a 1.84 points per game average. He played in five national championships winning three Mann Cups in 1965, 1970 and 1972 – also winning the semi-professional championship over Detroit in 1968. Tyler’s efforts did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the Bill Ellison Trophy for most outstanding player in the 1970 playoffs and was selected to the second All-Star team. Mac Tyler continued to stay involved in lacrosse over the past 30 years serving on the board of director of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the BC Lacrosse Association Appeals Board.
George Hector ‘Hec” Mackenzie (deceased) (ON), born in Elba, Ontario on May 11, 1916. Hec was a consistent outstanding goal scorer throughout his twenty year playing career which started in 1930, playing Junior in Barrie and ended in 1956 in Alliston. During his career, he played lacrosse in Barrie, Alliston, Bradford, Fergus and Brampton. In 1934 in the final game of the Ontario Intermediate A finals his team, Bradford, won 9-8 and Hec scored all 9 goals. He played with Rusty White, J.J. Hill, J.P. Bergin and against the Gair Brothers, George Thompson, Cheevers and Jack Bionda. In addition to his playing career Hec was instrumental in starting lacrosse in Guelph. He managed teams in Fergus during the lean years, coached minor league, Junior and Senior teams for 23 years from 1946 to 1969. Mackenzie won championships in Fergus in 1946 and 1958 with the Senior B team and in 1959 and 1960 with the Juvenile team. He was also an excellent hockey player playing Senior A with Cornwall in the 1930’s.
Builders Category
Rick Richards (BC), of Port Coquitlam, BC, has been involved in lacrosse since 1969 beginning with the Grandview Minor Lacrosse Association where he was a director and coach for 10 years. Within the same time frame, Rick spent time as a Vice President and President of the BC Lacrosse Association Senior Directorate. Richards was seen as a tireless volunteer with the Vancouver Burrards from 1983-1996 where he held various roles from director, general manager, Vice President and equipment manager. Rick continued to stay involved in lacrosse at the national level with the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame from 1996-2005 as a governor and chairman of the board. He was instrumental in fundraising, updating displays, revising rules and regulations and by-laws to preserve the heritage of lacrosse for the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He currently stays active as the past chairman of the board of governors for the hallowed hall.
Peter Vipond (Ont), of Brooklin, Ontario. The Brooklin Redmen were the powerhouse in the east and the brains behind the bench was none other than Peter Vipond, the winningest coach in Senior A/Major Lacrosse history.
Peter’s career began as a player of the Oshawa Green Gaels where he won the Minto Cup in 1967, 1968 and 1969. He continued to play Senior lacrosse for the Brooklin Redmen in 1971,1976,1977 and 1981.
After his playing days, he coached the 1984 Whitby Warriors to a Minto Cup. In 1985, he moved on to coach the Brooklin Redmen to an eastern championship and met the New Westminster Salmonbellies for the Mann Cup. The Redmen lost the first three games of a best of seven series and won the next four games to claim the Mann Cup. Over the next six years, Brooklin would continue to be in the Mann Cup final winning the cup in 1987,1988 and 1990.
The Brooklin Redmen, guided by Peter Vipond, a person known for his innovative coaching style and great interpersonal motivating skills, dominated eastern lacrosse during the late eighties. This team won a record 84 straight wins from 1986 to 1989. Peter continued coaching in the nineties and was successful again in 2000 helping the Brooklin Redmen to win another Mann Cup. He has spent most of his lifetime supporting and promoting lacrosse as a player and a coach. In 2004, Peter was recognized for his effort being inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Vipond continues to be involved in lacrosse today. He is currently the head coach of the Ottawa Titans Junior A team.
Team Category
Brooklin Redmen Team 1985-1991
The 1985-1991 Brooklin Redmen were a machine in Ontario winning the east seven years in a row while winning four Mann Cups in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990.
In 1985, the Redmen travelled to the west coast to take on the mighty New Westminster Salmonbellies and were quickly down 3 games to none. For the only time in Canadian Mann Cup history the Redmen came back to win 4 games straight and win the national title. Goaltender Wayne Colley lead the Redmen to victory and was awarded the Mike Kelly Award for most valuable player in Mann Cup series. During those 7 years, three Redmen won the Mike Kelly Award (Mann Cup MVP); Wayne Colley (1985), Jim Meredith (1987) and Paul Gait (1990).
If winning the Mann Cup wasn’t enough, the Redmen were noticed at home for their achievements. The Bucko MacDonald Trophy for the Major Series scoring champion was given to a Brooklin Redmen player all seven years of the championship reign; Gil Nieuwendyk (1985), John Fusco (1986), Derek Keenan (1987), Derek Keenan (1988), Gary Gait (1989) and Peter Parke (1990 & 1991). The Redmen also dominated the Jim Murphy Trophy for the Major Series Most Valuable Player award winning it six times; John Jordan (1985), Derek Keenan (1987 & 1988), Gary Gait (1989), Peter Parke (1990) and John Fusco (1991). Two Redmen defensive players, Kevin Antram (1987) and captain Blaine Harrison (1989) were recognized for the top defensive player award while goaltenders Wayne Colley, Ted Sawicki, Ken Passfield and Chris O'Reilly's names appear on the Harry Lumley Award for top goaltenders from 1987-1990.
To this day, two Brooklin Redmen appear on the top 50 all-time list that covers box lacrosse dating back to 1931, John Fusco (8th) with 832 assists and Tom Wreggitt (9th) with 831 assists, as top playmakers in the all-time record books.
This team went through the entire 1987, 1988 and 1989 season without incurring a single loss. A record 84 straight wins until finally losing a playoff final to Peterborough Lakers on August 26, 1989. Peter Vipond, the winningest coach in Senior A/Major lacrosse history was the coach for all those years while Mike Gray followed by Bob Duignan were the genius general managers behind the dynasty.
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