September 19, 2006 Source: :
http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/pac/newsrel.nsf/f8e26b1a592c9edb8525676a0048614a/a614ac2d0df81775852571ee006fbf17!OpenDocument Sports greats to be honoured by Alumni Association at Hall of Fame ceremony (WINDSOR, ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER 19, 2006) – The University of Windsor’s Alumni Association will recognize this year’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees with ceremonies this Saturday, September 23, 2 p.m., in Ambassador Auditorium, CAW Student Centre, on the University of Windsor campus. 2006 Alumni Association Sports Hall of Fame inductees include: Rick Cranker (BA‘75, BEd‘76), to be inducted into the Administrator/Builder/Coach category. Cranker was a Men’s Lancer Hockey player from 1971 to 1974, but is known for his term as Lancer Hockey assistant coach, a position he filled from 1982 to 1985, followed by a position as head coach from 1985 to 1999. Among other achievements, he coached 500 games as head coach and had the OUAA winning percentage with .584. Cranker was awarded the 1990/91 University of Windsor Gino Fracas Coaching Award, he was named the OUAA Western Conference Coach of the Year from 1991 through 1998 and coached his team to its 10 best seasons in Lancer Hockey history, with the team making the playoffs in 12 of 14 years. Under the coaching of Cranker, Lancer Hockey enjoyed its first OUAA playoff victories and OUAA playoff series victory; its first season as Western Conference regular season leaders and playoff champions resulting in its first trip to the Queen’s Cup tournament during the 1997/98 season. The 1997/98 season held the team’s best-ever record with 22 wins, three losses, and one tie to lead the Far West Division, winning the Western Conference playoff championship and winning the only Queen’s Cup championship for the men’s hockey team. This was followed in the 1998/99 season with a Western Conference playoff championship and a spot in the CIS championship tournament. Jerry Slavik (Honorary Doctor of Laws ‘06), to be inducted into the Administrator/Builder/Coach category. Slavik has combined his love of running with his commitment to public service, helping to organize fund-raising events for nearly every public service organization in the Windsor and Essex County area. He was the founder of Windsor’s first road running club - the Windsor YMCA Road Runners, and was the founder of the annual Percy Such Run, which continues to the present. He co-founded Walkers and Runners Around the County of Essex (WRACE) in 1980 and has organized and served in various capacities at every WSSA, ECSSA, SWOSSA, OFSA and KCSSA track and field and cross country meet for many years. He was the 1989/90 recipient of the University of Windsor "A" Athletic Award for Contribution to University Sports and is also a member of the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame. Slavik was recognized for his contributions to the University of Windsor and his community when he was presented with a Clark Award in 2004 and an honorary Doctors of Laws degree in 2006. Kathy Adkin (BHK ‘87, BEd ‘88), to be inducted into the Athlete category. Adkin holds three volleyball team records in serving aces, digging efficiency and serving efficiency. She was named all-star of several university exhibition tournaments during her career and was named OWIAA league all-star twice. In addition to athletic prowess, Adkin was also awarded the Governor General’s Medal as top student on three occasions. Since graduation, Adkin has coached the senior girls’ volleyball team at Blenheim District High School while working as a physiotherapist.
. Colleen Hogan (BHK ‘87, Bed ‘90), to be inducted into the Athlete category. Hogan was a basketball player while studying at the University of Windsor from 1983 to 1990. She was named a Banner Shield Award winner as the University’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1986/87, and shared the award in 1987/88 with fellow inductee, Maxine Walkes-Thompson (BA ‘87, BComm ‘89). Hogan earned OWIAA All-Star awards from 1986 through 1989 and was recognized as one of the top point guards in Ontario basketball. She was voted team MVP during the 1986/87 and 1987/88 seasons. Hogan averaged more than 15 points per game during her career and was considered one of most tenacious players in the history of the University of Windsor women’s basketball program. Peter Ott (Bcomm ‘82), to be inducted into the Athlete category. Ott is one of the most recognized fencers in University of Windsor history, receiving the President’s Olympic Shield as Athlete of the Year in both 1980/81 and 1981/82. He is the only four-time individual sabre fencing champion in the history of OUAA fencing, and led the University of Windsor’s 1982 team to an overall OUAA championship by one of the largest margins in the event’s history. Ott was a two-time Canadian Men’s Junior Champion, a four-time Canadian National Junior team member and a member of the 1978/79 Canadian National Team. He competed in the 1978 Commonwealth Games Fencing Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, took part in the World University (FISU) Games in Mexico City, and finished in the top four during three separate Canadian National Championships. The Sport Achievement Award was established to recognize alumni who achieve greatness in sport, other than as a participant or as a member of a Purple Raider or Lancer sport team. Robert (Bob) Gage (‘44), to be inducted into the Sport Achievement category. Gage is a graduate of Assumption College and served with the armed forces during World War Two. Following the war he wrote for Canadian High News, a weekly publication geared to high school sports in Ontario. He began his 33-year career with the London Free Press in 1949 as a sports writer and is widely considered to be the dean of Canadian high school, university and amateur sports reporters. He established the annual Bob Gage Athletic Leadership Awards at the University of Western Ontario to recognize three athletes who are leaders on the field and in the classroom. He is also responsible for the Bob Gage Trophy presented annually to a Western basketball player, and the Bob Gage Award for fledgling sports writers at the Western School of Journalism. During his career, Gage attended the Olympic Games in Rome, Tokyo, Mexico City, Munich, Montreal and Seoul. He covered Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Cardiff, Jamaica, Edinburgh, and Edmonton, as well as the Pan American Games in Winnipeg and Puerto Rico. As one of Canada’s most decorated sports reporters, Bob "Scoop" Gage was inducted into the OUAA Football Legends Hall of Fame, the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame and Western’s W Club Hall of Famers. Bill Thomson (‘44), to be inducted into the Sport Achievement category. Thomson started his basketball career in high school playing for both Sandwich Collegiate and Assumption High School, before training as an air gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force at 18. He played basketball with the London Senior Basketball League while attending the University of Western Ontario before returning to Windsor to attend Assumption College. He later played for the Junior Varsity Crusaders.
Thomson’s coaching career began in 1952 when he volunteered to coach the Sandwich Collegiate girls team. He stayed with the team for the next 25 years during which time they won seven high school championships in a 10-year period. He coached the Central United Church Men’s Basketball team to three city-wide championships and two Ontario Church Basketball Men’s Intermediate Championships. As well, he coached the Pillsworth Sportland Aces Women’s basketball team to a number of regional, provincial and national championships, and led an all-star women’s team to a championship during the 1971 Canada Winter Games in Saskatoon. Thomson continued his coaching career through 1980, participating in the Ontario Ladies Basketball Association Masters Tournament in 1979 and the Windsor Ladies Basketball Association Old Timers Championship in 1979. The Team Achievement Award recognizes Purple Raider and Lancer Teams which have won a Provincial Championship and/or competed with distinction at the highest level of intercollegiate competition available at that time. Team Achievement Award Recipients: 1953/54 Assumption Purple Raider Men’s Basketball Team 1956/57 Assumption Purple Raider Men’s Basketball Team 1966/67 University of Windsor Lancer Women’s Volleyball Team Additional information on team achievements is available at - 30 - CONTACT: Lori Koutros
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