Brock men's basketball celebrates success at Annual Gala event

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - Monday night the Brock University Brock men's basketball team celebrated their program's success as they hosted their 4th Annual Gala Dinner at Amici's Banquet & Conference Centre.

It marked the 20th Anniversary of the first basketball National Championship in school's history as the 1991-92 CIAU Championship team was inducted into the Brock Basketball Hall of Fame.

The members of the 1991-92 CIAU National Championship Team are Gord Wood, Brian Bleich, David Picton, Pat Sullivan, Allen MacDougall, Rob DeMott, Mike Pullar, Joe Dekker, Kevin Stevenson, Jamie Huebert, Stath Koumoutseas, Glen Tone, head coach Ken Murray, assistant coaches Brian Mulligan and Bill Liddell, manager Stan Leene and academic advisor Don Ursino.

"This was a very special group of guys to coach," said former head coach and Hall of Famer Ken Murray. "Our lineup had it all from stars, leaders, role players and characters. To go on the 14 game win streak like we did and win the school's first basketball National Championship is something I will always cherish. I would like to thank those who supported us along the way including administration, staff, students (bucketheads), fans, parents, boosters and sponsors."

The team had great leadership under head coach Ken Murray and had one of best starting five in Canadian University basketball history which included Gord Wood, Brian Bleich, David Picton, Allen MacDougall and Rob DeMott.

"To honour this team at the 20th Anniversary is something very special," said Brock men's basketball head coach Brad Rootes. "This team paved the way for the overall success of the Brock basketball program and we are honoured to induct them into the Brock Basketball Hall of Fame. Tonight brought back so many great memories of an historic event in Brock University history and I would like to thank all those in attendance who were there to share this special moment."

This championship team still holds the school records for Most Wins in a Season (31) 31-8 overall record, Most Consecutive Wins (14), Highest Single Scoring Average (91.6 PPG), Highest Single Season Field Goal % (53.1%), Highest Single Season 3-Point % (43.1%), Most Field Goals in a Single Season (1290) and Most Free Throws made in a Single Season (706).

Peter Partridge, a local businessman and strong supporter of the Brock Basketball program, was in attendance to present Tom Goldspink with the Peter Partridge Booster Club Award.

Goldspink, a Brock University graduate and silver Badger, has been a longtime supporter of Brock University and the basketball program. He was the donor for both men's basketball National Championship rings in 1992 and 2008. 

The Badgers also presented the Jimmy Rose Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named after the legendary coach of the NFCVI Red Raiders. The Chief as they called him, led his team to 3 OFSAA
Championships in a row on two separate occasions. He is also the only high school basketball coach that has been inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.

Niagara coaching icon Brian Mulligan presented the 2012 Jimmy Rose Lifetime Achievement Awards to Les Potapczyk, Bruce Stiefelmeyer and Bill Rootes (posthumous recipient).

All three individuals were historic builders of the Niagara Falls basketball program. 

Former recipients of the Jimmy Rose Lifetime Achievement Award include Brian Mulligan (2005), Murray Mulligan (2006), Larry Miller (2007), Ron Lemon (2008), Ralph Nero (2008), Jay Triano (2009), Ken Walsh (2009), Don MacDougall (2011) and Wynand Groen (2011).