㽶Ƶֱ

Skip to content

Morneau, Zokol, 㽶Ƶֱ98 Langley Little Leaguers heading to BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2024

The latest Hall of Champions names were announced Wednesday in Vancouver
web1_231102-sul-bcsportshall-morneau_1
Baseball player Justin Morneau waits his turn to bat during a 2013 game with Minnesota Twins. The New Westminster-raised MLB star, now retired and living in Medina, Minnesota, is among 2024 BC Sports Hall of Fame inductees. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Retired baseball all-star Justin Morneau, golfer Richard 㽶ƵֱDisco Dick㽶Ƶֱ Zokol and broadcaster Don Taylor are among 2024 inductees in the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

Five athletes, three builder-coaches, one team, one pioneer, one media member will be inducted at a gala next May, along with W.A.C. Bennett Award winner Glen Ringdal.

The latest Hall of Champions list was revealed Wednesday (Oct. 25) in Vancouver at the hall㽶Ƶֱs home, BC Place Stadium, including some inductees who㽶Ƶֱve passed.

The 1998 Langley Little League All-Stars Boys will be honoured as a team (baseball), as will the pioneers of the 1921-22 Vancouver Amazons (women㽶Ƶֱs hockey).

Other athletes to be inducted, in addition to Morneau and Zokol, are Amanda Asay (baseball), Ryan Cochrane (swimming) and Cassie Sharpe (freestyle skiing).

The class also includes builders-coaches Beverley Felske (ringette), Dr. Bob McCormack (sports medicine) and Wayne Norton (baseball).

Biographies for the 2024 induction class are posted below, as submitted by BC Sports Hall of Fame.

Since 1966, the hall has inducted 452 individuals and 69 teams to its Hall of Champions, 㽶Ƶֱensuring their legacies will continue to inspire future generations.㽶Ƶֱ

2024 BC Sports Hall of Fame Inductees:

Athlete Category

Amanda Asay 㽶Ƶֱ Baseball

㽶ƵֱOne of Canada㽶Ƶֱs greatest female baseball players. Led Canada to five medals (two silver, three bronze) at the Women㽶Ƶֱs Baseball World Cup during her career. At the 2006 tournament where Canada won bronze, she was the only Canadian named to the World Cup All-Star team. Led Canada to an historic silver medal in women㽶Ƶֱs baseball at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, the first major multi-sport Games to feature women㽶Ƶֱs baseball. Two-time winner of Baseball Canada㽶Ƶֱs female player of the year award (2006, 2016). In 2017, Baseball America ranked her seventh overall in the world among all female baseball players, the only Canadian named to the list. At the time of her tragic death in 2022, she was the longest-serving member of the Canadian women㽶Ƶֱs national baseball team, first joining the team at age 17 and remaining a member for the next 17 years.㽶Ƶֱ

Born and raised in Prince George, resided in Vancouver and Nelson in recent years. Died in January 2022.

Ryan Cochrane 㽶Ƶֱ Swimming

㽶ƵֱCanada㽶Ƶֱs most decorated male swimmer of all-time. Olympic silver medalist in 1500m freestyle at 2012 London Olympics. Four years earlier he won bronze in 1500m freestyle at 2008 Beijing Olympics, Canada㽶Ƶֱs first Olympic swimming medal in eight years and the country㽶Ƶֱs first in the 1500m freestyle in 88 years. Eight-time medalist at the World Aquatics Championships (four silver, four bronze), the most ever won by a Canadian swimmer at worlds. Four-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist. Three-time Pan Pacific Swimming Championships gold medalist. Two-time Pan American Games gold medalist. The multiple-time Canadian national record holder retired after serving as Canadian team co-captain and making another 1500m freestyle final at the 2016 Rio Olympics.㽶Ƶֱ

Born, raised and resides in Victoria.

Justin Morneau 㽶Ƶֱ Baseball

㽶ƵֱConsidered among the greatest Canadian players ever to appear in Major League Baseball. Fourteen-season MLB career (2003-16) playing 1,545 regular season games at first base with the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox. During his career he accumulated 1603 hits, 247 home runs, 985 runs batted in, and a .281 batting average. Winner of the 2006 American League MVP award, one of only three Canadians ever to win an MLB MVP award (Larry Walker and Joey Votto are the others). Two-time winner of the American League Silver Slugger award (2006, 2008) as the top offensive first baseman in the league. Four-time American League All-Star (2007-10). 2014 National League batting champion with a .319 average. Three-time winner of the James 㽶ƵֱTip㽶Ƶֱ O㽶ƵֱNeill Award as Canada㽶Ƶֱs top baseball player.㽶Ƶֱ

Born and raised in New Westminster, currently resides in Medina, Minnesota.

Cassie Sharpe 㽶Ƶֱ Freestyle Skiing

㽶ƵֱOne of Canada㽶Ƶֱs best freestyle skiers in recent years. Canada㽶Ƶֱs first-ever Olympic gold medalist in women㽶Ƶֱs halfpipe freestyle skiing (2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics). Followed that up with an Olympic silver medal in the same event four years later (2022 Beijing Winter Olympics). Two-time Crystal Globe winner as FIS World Cup overall champion in halfpipe freestyle skiing (2018, 2019). Two-time silver medalist in halfpipe at FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships (2015 Kreischberg, 2019 Utah). Won five career medals in superpipe at the Winter X Games: two gold (2016 Oslo, 2019 Aspen), one silver (2021 Aspen), and two bronze (2018 Aspen, 2020 Aspen).㽶Ƶֱ

Born in Calgary, Alberta. Raised in Comox, currently resides in Squamish.

Richard Zokol 㽶Ƶֱ Golf

㽶ƵֱOne of Canada㽶Ƶֱs most successful professional golfers during a 22-year pro career (1982-2003) accumulating over $2 million in winnings in that time. Competed in 412 PGA Tour and 53 Buy.com/Nationwide Tour (now known as the Korn Ferry Tour) events during his career, winning one career PGA event (1992 Greater Milwaukee Open) and one Buy.com Tour event (2001 Samsung Canadian PGA Championship). Represented Canada internationally as a member of Canada㽶Ƶֱs World Cup Teams (1992-93) and Dunhill Cup Teams (1985-87, 1992-93). Played key roles in the development of several BC golf courses including Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club in Quilchena and Predator Ridge Resort in Vernon.㽶Ƶֱ

Born in Kitimat, currently resides in Kelowna.

Builder-Coach Category

Beverley Felske 㽶Ƶֱ Ringette

㽶ƵֱConsidered the founder of ringette in BC. In 1974, she was a co-founder of both the Port Coquitlam Ringette Association, the first ringette association in BC, and Ringette Canada. Two years later, she co-founded the BC Ringette Association and later served as the organization㽶Ƶֱs president. Served as tournament director of the first annual BC provincial ringette tournament in 1976, which later evolved into the annual Bev Felske Provincial 㽶ƵֱA㽶Ƶֱ Ringette Championships named in her honour. Helped the Port Coquitlam Ringette Association host the 1984 and 1992 Canadian Ringette Championships, the former the first time that BC hosted the national tournament. Coached Port Coquitlam ringette teams for many years, including winning three consecutive BC provincial 㽶ƵֱA㽶Ƶֱ championships from 1992-94.㽶Ƶֱ

Born in Mountain Park, Alberta, resided in Port Coquitlam and Langley. Died in December 2020.

Dr. Bob McCormack 㽶Ƶֱ Sports Medicine

㽶ƵֱHugely influential in Canadian sports medicine over the past twenty-five years as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in athletic injuries. Worked with dozens of organizations and teams at the varsity, provincial, national, international, and professional levels. Served as the Canadian Olympic Committee㽶Ƶֱs Chief Medical Officer at six Olympics, as well as Team Orthopedic Surgeon, Assistant Chief Medical Officer, and member of the Canadian Olympic Medical Team, covering nearly every Winter and Summer Olympics from 2000-20, ten Olympics in total. Also served as Canada㽶Ƶֱs Chief Medical Officer or Team Doctor at the Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, and World University Games. Appointed the CFL㽶Ƶֱs Chief Medical Officer in 2021. Active in various roles internationally in anti-doping including as a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency List Experts Group and National Olympic Committee liaison.㽶Ƶֱ

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, currently resides in New Westminster.

Wayne Norton 㽶Ƶֱ Baseball

㽶ƵֱKey figure in Canadian baseball in a variety of roles for over forty years. Founded and served as general manager of the National Baseball Institute (NBI) based in Vancouver (1986-95), developing top Canadian prospects, nine of whom were later drafted into Major League Baseball including Corey Koskie, Matt Stairs, and Rob Butler. From 1973-86, he served as coach and general manager of Canada㽶Ƶֱs senior national baseball team and as Baseball BC㽶Ƶֱs executive director developing programs and coaching manuals still in use today. Founded Canada㽶Ƶֱs junior national team. Served as a Canadian scout for both the Baltimore Orioles (1996-99) and Seattle Mariners (2000-17), identifying several Canadian players who went on to play in MLB.㽶Ƶֱ

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Moved to Port Moody in 1966 and resided there for the remainder of his life. Died in January 2018.

Team Category

1998 Langley Little League All Stars Boys Baseball

㽶ƵֱFinished tied for third at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, one of Canada㽶Ƶֱs best-ever finishes in the tournament, captivating the BC sport community. No Canadian team has finished higher in the 25 years since Langley㽶Ƶֱs result. Earlier in the tournament, Langley finished first in the four-team International pool, going 3-0 with victories over Mexico, Europe, and Japan. The All Stars missed a trip to the final by a single run falling to Japan 3-2 in extra innings in the semifinal. Pitcher Jeff Duda set a LLWS record of 17 strikeouts in that semifinal game, a record which still stands to this day. To reach Williamsport, Langley won the Canadian Little League Championship defeating the Glace Bay Colonels 3-1 in the final. Langley compiled a perfect 16-0 record through district, provincial, and the Canadian championships.㽶Ƶֱ

Team Members: Andrew Bell, Faizan Choudhry, Clayton Deglan, George Duda (coach), Jeff Duda, Mike Erickson, Brad Fraser, Mark Henderson, Jared Krause, Jordan Lennerton, Brett Logan, Brad MacDonald, Dave Mihalech (coach), Tanner Mikesh, Karl Reddick, Brian Sargent (manager), Sean Sargent.

Pioneer Category

1921-22 Vancouver Amazons Women㽶Ƶֱs Hockey Team

㽶ƵֱThe first BC team to win the Alpine Cup at the 1922 Banff Women㽶Ƶֱs Tournament Championship, known at that time as 㽶Ƶֱthe female equivalent of the Stanley Cup.㽶Ƶֱ The winner of the Alpine Cup as part of the annual Banff Winter Carnival was emblematic of women㽶Ƶֱs hockey supremacy in western Canada. The Amazons represented Vancouver in the Banff Women㽶Ƶֱs Hockey Tournament every year from 1921-27, also finishing as the runner-up in the 1921 tournament. The Amazons also won the 1921 Women㽶Ƶֱs West Coast Championship competition held in Vancouver, going undefeated and not conceding a single goal. This tournament involved teams from Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle and was promoted as the 㽶Ƶֱfirst international women㽶Ƶֱs hockey series.㽶Ƶֱ The Amazons were also trailblazers in that they were likely the first BC women㽶Ƶֱs team in any sport to travel and compete outside BC, as well as extensively within the province.㽶Ƶֱ

Team Members: Lorraine Cannon, Thelma Elmsley, Beatrice Green (chaperone), Nan Griffith, Elizabeth 㽶ƵֱBetty㽶Ƶֱ Hinds, Florence Johnson, Mayme Leahy, Greta Maddison, Isabel McLeod, Guy Patrick (manager), Kathleen (Carson) Patrick, Norah Senkler, Phebe Senkler, Helen Tees, Amelia Voitkevic.

Media Category

Don Taylor

㽶ƵֱOne of BC㽶Ƶֱs most popular and widely-respected sports broadcasters bringing British Columbians 㽶Ƶֱup to date in the world of sports㽶Ƶֱ for over forty years. Known for his often hilarious delivery of sports highlights complete with impressions, catch phrases, and obscure sports trivia. From 1985-2000, he was widely considered the most popular on-air host of CKVU㽶Ƶֱs Sports Page, which was hugely influential across the province. Later he served as on-air host of Sportsnet Connected㽶Ƶֱs nightly highlights show in BC (2001-14). At the same time, served as a TEAM/TSN 1040 radio co-host alongside David Pratt, Barry Macdonald, and Bob Marjanovich (2003-21). Since 2021, he has co-hosted Donnie and Dhali: The Team, the daily sports talk show on CHEK TV alongside Rick Dhaliwal.㽶Ƶֱ

Born and raised in North Burnaby, currently resides in Port Moody.

W.A.C. Bennett Award

Glen Ringdal

㽶ƵֱOver 35 years working in sports management, public relations, business development, and promotion in BC sport including for each of the 㽶ƵֱBig Three㽶Ƶֱ Vancouver professional sport franchises. Served as Vancouver Canucks vice-president and director of marketing/communications (1986-95), contributing to the creation of Canuck Place Children㽶Ƶֱs Hospice and securing General Motors as the title sponsor of the new arena, GM Place. Served as BC Lions president (1997-2001) increasing ticket sales three-fold. At the same time, he also served as Vancouver 86ers/Whitecaps president (1998-2001) keeping the struggling franchise operating during challenging financial times and overseeing the club㽶Ƶֱs transition back to the Whitecaps name. Later served as general manager of the Langley Events Centre (2008-11) and president of both the BCHL㽶Ƶֱs Chilliwack Chiefs and Chilliwack㽶Ƶֱs Prospera Centre (2011-18).㽶Ƶֱ

Born in Vancouver, currently resides in Coquitlam.



Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news for Surrey Now-Leader and Black Press Media
Read more



(or

㽶Ƶֱ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }