Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in downtown Vancouver today,
July 19, 2007. This was a celebration of excellence and reunion of
legends, as this years’ ceremony welcomed inductees Lars Hansen
(player) and the 1929-30 UBC Women’s team from 2006, and Bob Phibbs
(player) and the 1976 Senior Men’s Olympic team, which included 2 Manitobans in Bob Town and Martin Riley.
“Canada Basketball is proud to welcome another group of celebrated teams and individuals into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame family,” said Canada Basketball President, Robert Gordon. “This is a great evening to honour these inductees and their great contributions game of basketball, as well as celebrating the growth of our sport across Canada.”
Topping off the event was a keynote address by NBA legend and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta Hawks), who shared high-flying stories about his passion for the game. Joining Dominique was NBA player Samuel Dalembert from Philadelphia 76ers.
The event served as a reunion for the 1976 Senior Men’s Olympic Team, many of whom have not seen each other in years. This 16-member team, featuring seven current individual members of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, were all present to receive their distinguished enshrinement.
“That was a groundbreaking team for Canadian basketball and set the standard that this country could and would become a power," said Steve Konchalski, assistant coach of the 1976 team. "It was an honour to work with Jack ... he gave credibility to the coaching profession in Canada. He was definitely the leader and that's why people everywhere called him The Coach." The late Jack Donohue was represented by his wife, Mary Jane Donohue.
The 1929-30 UBC Women’s team was represented by Vancouver’s own 96-year old Mary Campbell. Mary is also a distinguished member of the Basketball BC Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. The 1929-30 UBC team was proclaimed World Champions of women’s basketball after defeating France in the final game of the tournament.
Lars Hansen was a member of the Senior Men’s national team for many years, and won an NBA Championship with the Seattle Supersonics in 1976. He was also the first Canadian to be drafted into the modern day NBA. Tonight marked a double induction for Hansen, both as a player and teammate with the 1976 Senior Men’s Olympic Team.
Bob Phibbs enjoyed an extraordinary career at Western and earned five CIAU Championships throughout his playing career and also represented Canada at the 1952 Olympics.
As part of the celebrations, Canada Basketball presented the Naismith Award of Excellence to Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer and legendary coach, Ken Shields, represented by his wife Kathy Shields (also a member of the Hall of Fame). Ken is the most successful coach in the history of Canadian Interuniversity basketball and a member of the Order of Canada. The outstanding athlete award was presented to Danielle Peers, a multiple-gold medallist with the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association.
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Canada Basketball is a private, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to the growth of the sport in Canada. Just as important, Canada Basketball is focused on the development and preparation of Canada’s national teams for the Olympic; Pan American and FISU Games as well as the World Championships. The aspiration of Canada Basketball is to instill the pride, commitment, passion and respect that Canadians personify into the development of basketball across the country and internationally.
For more information please contact:
Basketball BC Canada Basketball
Choyal Brown Tanya Phillipps
Manager of Marketing and Communications Manager of Marketing & Events
Tel: 604-718-7857 Tel: 416.614.8037 x 219
e-mail: cbrown@basketball.bc.ca e-mail: tphillipps@basketball.ca