2023 STFX Sports Hall of Fame inductees unveiled

Antigonish, NS – STFX Athletics is pleased to announce the Class of 2023 inductees into the STFX Sports Hall of Fame, including four athletes: Varouj Gurunlian (basketball), Tony Grassa (football), Tanya (MacMillan) Feltmate (soccer) and Sheila (Murrin) Smith (basketball); Laurence Streete (rugby, football and hockey), as a builder, along with the 1958-59 X-Men Basketball and 1983 X-Men Football squads in the team category.   

This year's induction ceremony, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6, at 7:00 p.m., at STFX's Barrick Auditorium in the Brian Mulroney Institute for Government.

The 2023 STFX Sports Hall of Fame inductees:

ATHLETES:

Varouj Gurunlian (Basketball, Class of 1980 and 1981)

This 6'2" guard brought his dynamic talents to Antigonish where he earned three AUAA all-star selections in a four-year stint with the White and Blue; first-team (1980-81) and second team (1977-78, 78-79). In 1980-81, Gurunlian garnered a second team All-Canadian nod while leading the X-Men to an AUAA banner – the first of the era led by legendary head coach, and STFX Sports Hall of Fame member, Steve Konchalski. That season, Gurunlian received the most valuable player award from the annual STFX Invitational tournament. He capped off the campaign with the distinction of being named the 1981 STFX male athlete of the year.

After a summer with the junior national team, Gurunlian went on to play eight seasons with the Canadian men's national team (1977-1984), capturing gold at the 1980 Commonwealth Games. He was also a member of the Canadian contingent that qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, which were eventually boycotted by several nations. 

Now 13^th on the all-time X-Men Basketball scoring list, with 2,035 points, Gurunlian was in second spot when he graduated. Known affectionately as 'Vee,' Konchalski says Gurunlian – a two-time STFX grad – is one of the best student-athletes to don the White and Blue for X-Men Basketball.

Tony Grassa (Football, Class of 1982)

An anchor along the X-Men line for five seasons, the offensive tackle-guard earned consecutive AUAA offensive all-star and CIAU All-Canadian selections (1980, 1981), while collecting the conference lineman of the year award in 1981. He was also the winner of the J.P. Metras Trophy as the CIAU's top lineman in the country that same year.

Despite being under the average height for an offensive lineman, Grassa never let that stand in the way of his being one of the finest linemen ever to play on the STFX gridiron. His football techniques and his determination were second to none, and former X-Men assistant coach Phil Hughes – himself a STFX Hall of Famer – placed him as one of the three top linemen he ever coached.

Having kicked off his White and Blue career with an AUS championship in 1978, Grassa wrapped it up with the MacKinnon Award as the players' MVP for X-Men Football in 1982.   

Tanya (MacMillan) Feltmate (Soccer, Class of 1987)

The offensively-gifted student-athlete left an indelible mark on STFX Athletics over four seasons, including topping the White and Blue in scoring from 1983 to 1986.

A two-time AUAA all-star in both the 1985 and 1986 seasons, the prolific goal scorer would have assuredly garnered more individual honours, but they were not awarded at the conference and then-CIAU level in previous seasons. As her head coach – STFX Sports Hall of Fame member Peggy Gallant – would attest, Feltmate was second-to-none in Canada when it came to finding the back of the net. 

Feltmate will be heading into the STFX Sports Hall of Fame for a second time; she and her teammates from the 1986 AUAA champions (the first conference crown for an X-Women team) were inducted in the team category in 2010. They were also history makers as the first X-Women team to receive a call to the Hall.

Sheila (Murrin) Smith (Basketball, 1988 and 1990)

In five unmatched seasons with the X-Women Basketball program, Smith was named an AUAA second-team all-star on two occasions (1987 and 1990), while collecting a pair of MVP trophies for the White and Blue (1988 and 1990). She also capped off her final varsity season with the 1990 STFX Female Athlete of the Year award.  

Smith stands sixth in X-Women scoring, with 911 points; her 13.6 points-per-game average place her fourth in program history. Her 368 field goals rank her fifth in school history, while she is positioned just outside the top-10 (11^th) with 386 rebounds.

Along with her statistical successes, she is regarded as a true leader, one of the best teammates and competitors in X-Women Basketball history.

BUILDER:

Laurence Streete (Rugby/Football/Hockey, Class of 1955)

Laurence 'Larry' Streete will enter the StFX Sports Hall of Fame posthumously in the builder category. Although he played only one varsity season, the multi-sport player left a lasting legacy as the first BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) student-athlete at STFX, making him one of the true builders and pioneers of athletics at the university.

A native of Whitney Pier, Cape Breton, he excelled over a one-year period with the X-Men rugby and football programs. He also contributed to the hockey team as an assistant manager.

After excelling athletically in high school at Sydney Academy – primarily as a rugby player – and the newly-opened Xavier Junior College in Sydney before moving to the Antigonish campus for his history-making stint in White and Blue, Streete was inducted into the Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame in 2015.

Starring as an X-Men Rugby player, Streete led his team to impressive victories over American powers Princeton and Brown universities in tournament action. After the team disbanded, then-Athletic Director Fr. Andy Hogan and others encouraged Streete to make the move to football, where the incredible student-athlete fashioned an all-star campaign at running back.

The late educator was also a successful mentor and coach at Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. He mentored many young prospective student-athletes and was instrumental in guiding the decisions for many to attend his alma mater at STFX. Streete maintained a strong connection to X and was a fantastic supporter over the years, often travelling back for Homecoming weekends and other occasions.

TEAMS:

1958-59 X-Men Basketball

In a history-making season, the varsity squad – one coached by Alex MacAdam – won the Maritime Intercollegiate crown, as well the Canadian Senior 'B' Championship. They are also recognized as the first 'official' Atlantic university men's basketball champions, helping ring in the modern era for the sport in this part of the country.

In winning the Maritime championship, the White and Blue lost only two games. They defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies (in a two-game playoff) to capture the Nova Scotia banner before defeating the New Brunswick champion Mount Allison Mounties to secure the regional crown.

Although there was no collegiate championship tournament, the X-Men entered the Canadian Amateur Basketball Association (CABA) playoffs for the chance to play for a national title. After victories over Dalhousie and St. Dunstan's, they dropped the opener of the best-of-three final to the Centreville Legionaires of New Brunswick, before securing the senior 'B' championship with consecutive victories.

In the dream season, the X-Men lost only four games.

Along with Coach MacAdam (builder), key contributors to the championship run – leading scorer Paul Davenport; Ernie Foshay, who also played four seasons with the X-Men Football team; and league MVP Bob Moran – are members of the STFX Sports Hall of Fame as athletes.

Team members of the 1958-59 X-Men Basketball squad include: Ralph Chisholm, Terry Daigle, Paul Davenport, Bill Davis, Ernie Foshay, Dave Gouthro, Steve Haggan, Ed Hilton, Jack Kelly, Jack MacLean, Carl Marsh, Bob Monteiro, Bob Moran, Joseph Sanborn, Ray Somerville, Jim Walsh, Student Manager John Dougher, and Head Coach Alex MacAdam.

1983 X-Men Football

The 1983 X-Men football team captured the second consecutive AUAA banner for the program with a thrilling 33-23 victory over the rival Acadia Axemen. Finishing with a 6-2 record that season, the White and Blue led the conference in total yards (2,014) and interceptions (19). 

Running back Don Dempsey, who was inducted into the STFX Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete in 2010, was named the AUAA most valuable player and received an All-Canadian selection. Another X hall-of-fame inductee – linebacker Pat Jancsy – led the AUAA with six interceptions, while also earning All-Canadian status.

Along with Dempsey and Jancsy, Paul Dundon, Bill McIntyre, Kevin Reaume, John McIver and Shawn Northfield were named AUAA all-stars in 1983. 

Although they did not get the opportunity to play in the Atlantic Bowl – the AUAA boycotted the championship that season in protest of the CIAU's effort to move annual game away from its traditional home in Halifax – the 1983 X-Men left White and Blue supporters with countless memories of a fantastic season.

Team members of the celebrated STFX gridiron squad include: David Austin, Ron Blair, John Caplice, Dave Corney, Don Dempsey, Paul Dundon, Joe Gaff, Paul Gagnon, Steve Gorgichuk, Howie Haskings, Pat Jancsy, Mike Joyce, Paul Kane, Greg Knap, Bruce Loney, Paul Loparco, Bob Lupinski, Bernard Lyons, Mark MacDougall, John MacLean, Paul Martin, Robert McClure, Andy McConnell, Tom McEachern, Bill McIntyre, John McIver, Jim Melvin, Jadran Mlinarevic, Steve Mosher, Mike Munroe, Dave Muller, Frank Muller, Shawn Northfield, Kevin Reaume, Martin Rochon, Billie-Rae Sommerville, Jeff Stanley, Bob Stevenson, Bill Stillman, Marcel St. Pierre, Ken Swick, Alan Tracey, Joe Widdifield, Equipment Managers Robert Cullen & Richard Peters, Head Trainer Johnny Pike, Student Staff John Frezell, Kent MacDonald & Brian Haley, Assistant Coaches Lance Bullock, Phil Hughes & Scott Spurgeon, and Head Coach John Musselman.

-30-