(Halifax N.S.) – Runner Annick deGooyer, men’s volleyball player Terry Martin and the 1996-97 men’s volleyball team will be inducted to the Dalhousie Sport Hall of Fame on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Presented by Morneau Shepell, the ceremony will take place at the Westin Nova Scotian, in conjunction with the Tigers annual gala and auction.
“Our inductees are incredibly deserving of this special recognition as they have contributed significantly to Dalhousie’s long tradition of excellence,” says Dalhousie’s Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, Tim Maloney. “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to what will be a special evening paying tribute to this year’s Hall of Fame class.”
The 2020 Sport Hall of Fame inductees include:
Annick deGooyer
Originally from Yarmouth, N.S., Annick deGooyer was a member of the women’s cross country and track and field teams for four seasons from 1983 to 1987. During her time at Dalhousie, she earned nine gold, four silver and one bronze medal, helping the Tigers to two cross country and two track and field team championship titles. She also had tremendous success at the national level, highlighted by a bronze medal in the 1000m event at the 1986-87 CIAU track and field championships after earning a seventh-place finish at the national cross country championship earlier in the year.
“I was fortunate to train and compete with an exceptional group of teammates and coaches, many of whom I am still close with today,” says deGooyer. “Although I know we worked hard, what stays with me years later is how much fun we had - the workouts, the trips and the time we spent together. The Tigers were a huge part of my university years, and I feel very honoured to be included in this year's class of inductees."
Terry Martin
Terry Martin landed on Dalhousie’s Halifax campus in the fall of 1994. A four-year member of the men’s volleyball team, he made an immediate impact on the program earning AUAA and CIAU rookie of the year honours in helping the Tigers to a bronze medal finish in just his first season. A four-time AUAA all-star, he was honoured twice as the AUAA player of the year and as a CIAU first team All-Canadian. Martin was also his team’s MVP at the end of two seasons and was named the Climo Award winner as Dalhousie’s male athlete of the year those same years.
Martin also had great success on the national stage as a member of the FISU and national B team in 1996 and 1998 before joining the senior national team from 1998-2008. He went on to enjoy a 16-year professional career in Europe.
“This is an exceptionally unexpected and emotional honour for me,” says Martin. “I felt honoured to have been accepted into my program at Dal and sneaking my way onto the team in my first year was a dream come true. I was very privileged to have had the opportunity to play on some excellent teams with some amazing players who took me under their wings and set me on a path of competing at high level sport which lasted almost 20 years.”
1996-97 Men’s Volleyball Team
The 1996-97 edition of the Dalhousie Tigers men’s volleyball team is the most decorated in the history of men’s volleyball at Dalhousie. They went 10-0 in AUAA conference play and went on to capture their 11th consecutive conference championship title. Ranked as high as fourth nationally during the season, they earned victories over Saskatchewan and Calgary at the CIAU championship to advance to the gold medal game for the first time in program history. The Tigers lost the match 3-0 to the number one ranked Alberta Golden Bears in the final to earn a silver medal.
Captain Eric Villeneuve and Terry Martin were both named CIAU championship all-stars and All-Canadians, while Al Scott was named both the AUAA and Dalhousie coach of the year.
“Our team had great success on the court and I really believe a big reason for that was how tight-knit the group was,” says Villeneuve. “We had so much fun together - a lot of laughs all the time. To me, that is very important as you grind through a long season. Teams that are close on and off the court will usually have success and I felt like this team was a great example of that.”
Dalhousie is pleased to welcome back Morneau Shepell as the presenting sponsor of the event. “We are proud to partner with Dalhousie University in presenting the 2020 Hall of Fame Gala,” says Jeff Alexander, Market Executive at Morneau Shepell. “Dalhousie has a long history of excellence, both academically and athletically. This partnership is a wonderful opportunity to give back to our community, and an excellent strategic business fit for Morneau Shepell. We are pleased to be able to align ourselves with a high-performance and high-recognition brand, while supporting an institution that is educating the leaders of tomorrow.”
The Dalhousie Sport Hall of Fame Gala & Auction features a reception for guests to view silent and live auction items, followed by a three-course dinner, Hall of Fame induction and live auction. The evening will be hosted by Bruce Rainnie. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 902-494-3754.
About the Dalhousie Sport Hall of Fame
The Dalhousie Sport Hall of Fame is designed to recognize individuals and teams who have achieved excellence while representing Dalhousie University in athletic competition. The first induction ceremony took place in October of 2004 and took place biannually until 2015 when it was combined with the Tigers annual dinner and auction.
About Morneau Shepell Inc.
Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrative approach to employee assistance, health, benefits, and retirement needs. The Company is the leading provider of Employee and Family Assistance Programs, the largest administrator of pension and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity, and improve their competitive position.
Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves more than 20,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With almost 4,000 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.