The Concordia University Department of Recreation and Athletics inducted several new members into its Sports Hall of Fame at a gala dinner held on the Loyola Campus in Montreal on Sept. 16.
Several athletes, a builder and a team entered the Hall. It is only the 17th time since Loyola College and Sir George Williams University merged in 1974 to form Concordia University that there were inductions.
The 2011 inductees were hockey players Harry Trihey, Arthur Farrell and Jack Brannen in the Heritage category, George Springate, builder; Sir George Williams basketball star Richard Freitag, Loyola basketball standout George Lengvari, Concordia soccer player Alexandra Jones, Stinger football lineman Paul Palma and the 1988 Concordia women’s soccer team.
Harry Trihey, Arthur Farrell, Jack Brannen - Heritage
In 1893-94 Harry Trihey, Arthur Farrell and Jack Brannen were a force on the seven-man hockey team at Collège Ste-Marie, out of which came Loyola College, one of the founding institutions of Concordia University. The winter of 1893 marked the first appearance of a hockey team from the Jesuit institution that played outside the college grounds. The insightful Father Bernard Devlin recognized the extraordinary talent of the young men at the college and arranged games with other schools. But surely he had no idea his actions would set off events that would heavily impact the game of hockey.
George Springate, Builder, Concordia
With great vision and innovation, George Springate helped the Concordia University athletic department usher in a new era of respectability and success. He served as chairperson of the Concordia Stadium Appeal, helping purchase a 3,500-concrete grandstand from the City of Verdun for $1 and raising the funds to move the 270-foot long stands to the university’s Loyola Campus. The stadium opened amid great fanfare on Sept. 9, 1989. Springate also negotiated a campus-wide soft drink agreement with Pepsi-Cola Montreal that included a $250,000 contribution to the Stadium Appeal.
Richard Freitag, Athlete, 1960, Sir George Williams
Richard Freitag was widely regarded as the backbone of the high-achieving Sir George Williams Georgians men’s basketball program from 1956 through 1960. A six-foot-tall guard, he was a brilliant defensive star, playmaker and scorer. A respected leader, he was the captain of the team in his last two seasons. In 1958-59, he was awarded the Col. E. Gill Trophy presented annually to the Sir George Williams athlete that demonstrates the greatest degree of playing ability as well as sportsmanship.
George Lengvari, Athlete, 1963, Loyola
With his leadership and prowess on the basketball court, George Lengvari was instrumental in energizing the Loyola sports scene in the early 1960s. A high scoring forward/centre, he powered the 1962-63 Loyola Warriors men’s team to its first Ottawa-St. Lawrence (OSL) basketball title and a berth at the inaugural Canadian Intercollegiate Athletics Union championship. Lengvari was named MVP of the 1962-63 Warriors.
Paul Palma, Athlete, 1983, Concordia Stingers
Paul Palma was one of the Concordia Stingers football program’s most talented and accomplished offensive linemen. An imposing tackle, he was respected for his work ethic, strength and size. He was highly decorated in his four seasons with the maroon and gold. He was an Ontario-Quebec Interuniversity Football Conference all-star in 1981 and 1982 and a first team Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union all-Canadian in 1982. He was also instrumental in helping the Stingers win the 1982 O-QIFC championship.
Alexandra Jones , Athlete, 1992, Concordia Stingers
Alexandra (Heidi) Jones, a central midfielder with the Concordia University women’s soccer team from 1988 through 1991, is part of a rare, accomplished group of Stinger athletes to be named all-Canadian three times and she is only the second women’s soccer player to reach this esteemed level. Jones was also named a Quebec conference all-star in 1989, ’90 and ’91; these honors preceded her national recognition each season. During her time at Concordia, she co-captained the Stingers and was recognized for her leadership off the field as well.
1988 Concordia Stingers women’s soccer team
A new area of women’s soccer was ushered in at Concordia University in 1988. Lyonel Joseph, a rookie head coach, was hired to lead the program and he brought several new players with him. They came together and made history. The 1988 Stingers posted an 8-0-1 win-loss tie record in the Quebec university conference regular season and a 12-2-1 record overall. The Stingers went up against the McGill Martlets in the conference final. The score was tied 1-1 when Concordia was awarded a penalty kick. Alexandra Jones left her goalkeeping duties to come up and take the shot. She buried it, giving the Stingers their first provincial title and first ever berth at the CIAU championship.
