June 16, 2012

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Brock University Department of Athletics honoured five former athletes, one team and one builder Saturday afternoon at their 8th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2012 includes men’s hockey player Dave Kucharuk, men’s soccer player Dino Perri, men’s swimmer Baldev Ahluwalia, women’s volleyball player Tanya Thorup (Stephens), women's cross country runner Donna Mae Robins, fencing builder Ken Douglas and the 1972-73 men’s rowing team; (Lightweight Varsity) - Malcolm Allen, Wally Braul, Rick Hiscott, Ed Makkreel, Dave Dick, Mike Hoggan, Corrie Willekes, Ian MacFarlane, Dave Derry, (Junior Varsity) - John Orth, Ken Pastachak, Pat Garrett, John Gray, Sisto Piccolotto, Gunther Funk, Dave Hendry, Ross Yeo, Tom Paas and coach Tony Biernacki.

"This is a special day in Brock University Athletics," said Brock Director of Athletics Robert Hilson. "The athletic accomplishments of these individuals is outstanding. They will be forever part of Brock University history. Brock Athletics has experienced tremendous success. To invite those that have contributed to that success back to campus is wonderful for the inductees and Brock University."

Dave Kucharuk was a member of the Brock men's hockey team from 1985-1989. In his four seasons at Brock he was the team’s Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and leading scorer in 1985-86.

That same season he led the OUAA in scoring and was ranked among national leaders in the CIAU.

In the Brock record books, Kucharuk is third all-time in career scoring with 163 points including 55 goals and 108 assists.

He holds the Brock record for most career assists with 108. He also holds three single season records, which includes most points in a season (62), most assists in a season (42) and most points by a rookie (62). 

Dino Perri (1987-91), Men’s Soccer

Dino Perri was a member of the Brock men’s soccer team from 1987-91. In his five seasons with the Badgers he was named the Brock Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Team MVP. 

In his rookie season he was named an OUAA West All-Star and named to the OUAA All-Rookie Team. Perri is one of the top goaltenders ever to wear the Brock uniform. 

In 1990, Perri, led the Badgers to the OUA West Division Final. In the OUA West semi-finals versus Western, Perri showed his outstanding athleticism scoring two goals at the forward position in regulation time.  In the shootout, he played goal and stopped four Mustangs shooters while also scoring the shootout winner. This accomplishment is noted as one of the most historic individual performances in Brock soccer history.

Perri went on to play professional soccer in Hamilton and St. Catharines in the Canadian Professional Soccer League. In 1998, Perri led the St. Catharines Roma Wolves to a CPSL Championship and was named the CPSL Goalkeeper of the Year. 

For the past two seasons, he has led the McMaster Marauders to back-to-back OUA Championships as the head coach.

Baldev Ahluwalia (1988-93) Men’s Swimming

Baldev Ahluwalia was a member of the Brock men’s swimming team from 1988-93. In his five seasons with the Badgers he was named the team’s Most Outstanding Male Swimmer five consecutive times. 

He was a four-time OUA All-Star and was named a CIAU All-Canadian in 1992-93.  He was also a five-time Academic All-Canadian and received the Directors Award in 1992-93.

In his career, Ahluwalia captured nine OUAA medals including one gold, three silver and five bronze.

His lone OUAA gold came as a rookie in 1988-89 where he placed 1st in the OUAA 200m Free. All five seasons he medalled in the OUAA 200m Free: 1989-90 (3rd), 1990-91 (3rd), 1991-92 (2nd) and 1992-93 (3rd). His other conference medals came in the 400m Free: 1988-89 (2nd), 1989-90 (3rd), 1991-92 (2nd) and in the 4x100 relay (3rd).

In 1993 at the CIAU Championships he placed second in the 200m Free earning All-Canadian honours. He also competed for Canada at FISU Championships in 1993.

Tanya Thorup (Stephens) (1989-1994), Women’s Volleyball

Tanya Stephens was a member of the Brock women’s volleyball team from 1989-93.  In her five seasons of competition at Brock, she was named the Most Valuable Player in 1992-93 and also received Female Athlete of the Year honours.

She led her team to back-to-back OUA West Divisional titles and two third-place finishes at the OWIAA in 1990 and 1991. In 1992-93, she received OWIAA All-Star honours as she led the league in almost every statistical category.

Over five seasons Stephens helped lead her team to 49 victories, including the only unblemished regular season in school history in 1991.

Donna Mae Robins (1995-2000), Women’s Cross Country 

Donna Mae Robins was a member of the Brock women's cross country team from 1995-2000. She earned Brock Female Athlete of the Year honours in 1997-98. She was also a five-time Brock Female Runner of the Year. 

She was a three-time first team OUA All-Star and two-time first team CIAU All-Canadian. In 1998, she captured a bronze medal at the OUA Championships and registered a school best fifth-place finish at the CIAU Championships.

Other top performances were 6th at the CIAU Championships (1997), 4th at OUAs (1997) and 6th at OUAs (1999). 

Ken Douglas - Fencing Builder

Ken Douglas was a strong builder of the Brock fencing program. 

He was a member of the fencing program for four seasons from 1965-69. In 1968, Douglas captured Brock’s first ever OUAA individual Championship in men’s foil and captained the team to the program’s first OUAA Championship in school history. He is one of the Badgers top fencers in the program’s history.

After graduation, Douglas went on to be the coach the program for four seasons.  

The Most Valuable player Trophy (Douglas Trophy) is named after Ken Douglas for his contribution and dedication to the Brock fencing program in their early stages as a program. 

1972-73 Brock Men’s Rowing Team 

In 1972-73, the Brock men’s rowing program captured their second OUAA Championship in school history. At the OUAA’s, the Badgers dominated the field winning gold in the Varsity Eight, Lightweight Varsity Eight, and Junior Varsity Eight. 

The Badgers also captured first place at the University of Toronto Regatta, Trent University Regatta, Brock Invitational and McMaster University Regatta.

Overall, the men’s rowing program had one of the most successful seasons in Brock University rowing history. 

In their athletic history, Brock has inducted 37 athletes, 10 builders and eight teams into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Badgers have also captured 29 National Championships and 57 Provincial Championships as a program.

BROCK ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME