Hall of Fame Announces 2007 Inductees

Wed Jun 20 08:55:19 EDT 2007

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., 1950’s 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

sporthalloffame at eastlink.ca

(902) 404 – 3339

Bill Robinson

Executive Director

billr at eastlink.ca

(902) 404 - 3313

Frank Dorrington
Category: Athlete
Hometown: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

In the 1950’s, 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 Dorrington’s professional career, he played with
The Johnstown East Coast Jets and the Corner Brook Royals. He
was loved by his fans, voted fan’s 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.

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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 80’s 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 doesn’t
stop there; Hennigar also played university football with the
St. Mary’s 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 
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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, Fred’s 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 women’s
provincial championships five times, five Mixed Provincial Championships
and has won five Provincial Senior Titles as well. In 1983, Penny
won the Canadian Women’s 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.
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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 
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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
isn’t merely described by his performance between the posts.
After a stellar hockey career as a player, Young didn’t 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 team’s 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 NHL’s second most senior
official behind referee Kerry Fraser. This past year, Koharski
was invited to be the Honorary Referee-In-Chief of the 
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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: Queen’s, 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 Men’s Assistant Coach, and for four years he
played the role of Head Coach. Konchalski coached the Nova Scotia
Junior Men’s 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.

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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 80’s MacLean attended five Commonwealth
Games, three Olympic Games, and three World Championships as
a representative of Canada.

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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
koho at aol.com

Steve Konchalski
Home: (902) 863 - 5388
Work: (902) 867 - 2128

Henry Richard MacLean (deceased)
Carol MacLean
(902) 454 - 2289

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