February 1, 2024

HOCKEY HAWKS HIGH-HATTED

Of the Ontario hockey players who participated at level one championships, those who were honoured with at least three CCAA individual awards all laced up the skates for one team during a five season run as conference champions. The four played on the OCAA champion Humber College Hawks who earned three silver medals and two bronze medals at nationals from 1986 through 1990.

Enshrined in the Humber Varsity Hall of Fame in 2002, netminder Scott Cooper wore a Hawks jersey for two campaigns. The two-time CCAA silver medalist was selected as an OCAA First Team All Star and a CCAA Tournament All Star in 1985-86 and 1986-87. The 1986-87 CCAA All Canadian entered the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Enshrined in the Humber Varsity Hall of Fame in 2002, defenseman Dean Emerson donned a Hawks jersey for two seasons.  The CCAA silver medalist was honoured as an OCAA First Team All Star, a CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, a CCAA Tournament All Star, and a CCAA All Canadian in 1985-86. The 1984-85 OCAA Second Team All Star entered the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2013.

Enshrined in the Humber Varsity Hall of Fame in 2003, forward Paul Jackson wore a Hawks jersey for three seasons setting numerous conference scoring records.  The two time CCAA bronze medalist also earned a CCAA silver medal. He was selected as an OCAA first team all star and a CCAA All Canadian in 1988-89 and 1989-90. The 1989-90 CCAA Tournament All Star also became the OCAA's career leading scorer.

Enshrined in the Humber Varsity Hall of Fame in 2018, defenseman Gerard Peltier donned a Hawks jersey for two seasons after playing two seasons for Canadore. The CCAA silver medalist and CCAA bronze medalist was honoured as an OCAA first team all star and a CCAA All Canadian in 1983-84, 1986-87 and 1987-88.  He was also a CCAA Tournament All Star in 1982-83.

When comparing the achievements of those who played on the five time conference champions to the four athletes from Humber in the CCAA Hall of Fame, it is apparent that the former have been looked down upon in part to the available honours. Cooper, Emerson, Jackson and Peltier could only receive honours in three categories - CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, CCAA Tournament (First Team) All Star and CCAA All Canadian. Of the aforementioned hockey players, Peltier has the strongest case for the CCAA Hall of Fame with four CCAA individual awards (the most of any defensemen in CCAA history) and two CCAA podium finishes.

Peltier also has a stronger case to be in the Hall than any of the enshrined Hawks who participated in non-tournament sports. None were selected as a CCAA All Canadian on more occasions than Peltier. None were chosen as a CCAA Tournament (First Team) All Star on more occasions than Peltier. None have more podium finishes than Peltier.

Furthermore, partiality rather than impartiality came to the forefront with the inclusion of a former Humber athlete from a tournament sport in the 2023 CCAA Hall of Fame class. A  Hawks golfer, who twice placed behind Humber teammates and outside of the top three in individual competition at the CCAA championships, received the call. His lone silver medal in individual competition at nationals is trumped by eight Humber golfers who posted multiple podium finishes in individual competition. In addition, three of the eight were among seven gold medalists in individual competition produced by the Hawks golf program. Nominations require the support of the institution and the enshrined golfer's former coach calls the shots in the athletic department at his alma mater.

While the golfer's selection smelled, his former golf coach's selection in the same class strengthened the stench.  During the nomination and selection process, the coach inductee was both Humber's athletic director and the CCAA's vice president of marketing. Athletic directors have substantial sway in institutional backing as eligibility criteria for the coach and the athlete categories include "must have a CCAA institution in good standing support their nomination". One of the vice president of marketing's responsibilities is to "serve as a member on all CCAA awards committees and be responsible for matters pertaining to awards".

High-hatted? Hands down!


More Articles

Support the site. via the
& affiliate link above. No charge to you.
© 2024 Brian Stein. All rights reserved.