StFX Sports Hall of Fame to welcome Don Dempsey and David Purcell

The StFX Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony is taking place this Thursday evening, September 30th on the campus of StFX University. 

The StFX Department of Athletics is pleased to be inducting four athletes, one builder and one team into the 2010 induction class. The four athletes receiving entry include X-Men football players Burns McPherson (1970) and Don Dempsey (1985), X-Women basketball standout Diane Orsini (1971) and X-Men hockey forward David Purcell (1988). Being inducted into the builder category is former X-Men hockey coach Danny Flynn (1979) and entering in the team category is the 1986 AUS champion X-Women soccer team.

Each day this week, leading up to the Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction ceremony, we will profile one or two of the inductees and highlight their accomplishments.

Don Dempsey (1981-1985) Football. Don, an excellent football player, enters the Hall of Fame as a two time CIS All-Canadian, an AUS offensive all-star and an AUS Most Valuable Player. Don was also a two-time StFX Male Athlete of the Year.  He was a dominant force at running back throughout his career and he was a huge contributor to exciting StFX football teams that won AUS conference championships in 1982 and 1983.  At the conclusion of his football career, Don was third in AUS conference history in career rushing yards.

David Purcell (1984-1988) Hockey. David, an exceptional hockey player, enters the Hall of Fame as a three time AUS all-star, twice earning honours as the AUS Most Valuable Player. David was a prolific goal scorer with the X-Men hockey team, leading the team in scoring for four consecutive seasons.  In his final year, he led the conference in scoring with 66 points, including a CIS record 40 goals, earning him CIS All-Canadian status. David was also a three-time recipient of the StFX Male Athlete of the Year award. David, who played four years with the X-Men, currently sits fifth overall in the AUS record book in career regular season scoring with 224 total points (116 goals and 108 assists) and second overall in career goals, only one short of the current leader who tallied 225 points over five seasons of play.

The StFX Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1976 and exists to honor those individuals who have contributed significantly to StFX sports as athletes, teams or as builders. Those chosen inductees have exemplified the spirit and ideals of Xaverian athletics in their professional and community lives.

The induction portion of the evening this coming Thursday night will be webcast live courtesy of StFX Athletics and the Streaming Sports Network. Click on www.ssncanada.ca beginning at 8:00 pm AST to tune into the event.