Sports Hall of Fame Latest Inductees

Ron Aboud is among the most accomplished quarterbacks in Concordia Stingers history and a defining leader of the program’s modern era. A starter from his first game in 1987 through 1991 and team captain for three seasons, he never missed a game and graduated as the conference’s all-time leader in career completions and passing yards.

Ron was a conference nominee for national Rookie of the Year, a three-time Shrine Bowl MVP, a two-time All-Conference selection and a second-team All-Canadian quarterback in 1990. That year, he earned the Alouette Alumni Award as Quebec’s top university football player and was a Hec Crighton Trophy conference nominee as national MVP, confirming his status among the elite quarterbacks in Canadian university football.

Recognized for both academic and athletic excellence, he received multiple leadership and dedication awards. They include the Fondation de l’Athlète d’Excellence du Québec entrance scholarship, the Russ Blackwell Trophy for Most Dedicated Player and the Merit Award for Commitment to Excellence in Varsity Sport.

Ron finished his playing career as a professional starting quarterback and team captain of the Aix-en-Provence Argonautes in France. Beyond that, he made lasting contributions as a championship-winning coach at Vanier College, developing future university all-star quarterbacks

One of Concordia’s most decorated women’s basketball players, Patricia Demers began playing the sport at age 11 and, as a teenager, competed in basketball and track and field. While studying commerce at Cégep Ahuntsic, she won three provincial and two national championships, earned back-to-back All-Canadian honours and established herself as a rising star in Canadian basketball.

Patricia continued her academic and athletic career at Concordia, spending five seasons with the Stingers women’s basketball team, while completing a bachelor’s degree in applied social sciences and a master’s degree in administrative sciences (management).

A dominant presence on the court, she became the first female Concordia athlete — and one of the university’s first athletes overall — to earn five provincial first-team all-star selections, an extraordinary distinction. She also helped lead the Stingers to two provincial championships.

After graduation, Patricia played professionally in Switzerland before moving into sports leadership and management. Since 2011, she has worked with the Aléo Foundation. Serving as executive director since 2016, she advances its mission to support and empower student athletes — giving back to the very organization that supported her with a scholarship during her Stingers days.

Patricia is also the proud mother of three young adults.

Skill, intensity and passion defined Sharon Sandy’s Concordia basketball career. Her elite athleticism and exceptional speed made her one of the most versatile and recognized guards in the Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF) and the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU).

Following the 1990–91 season, Sharon earned QSSF Rookie of the Year honours, received the Laurie Brodrick Award as Concordia’s Outstanding Female Freshman Athlete, and was named to the CIAU All-Canadian Rookie Team. She continued to excel throughout her university career, earning three consecutive QSSF All-Star selections and being named Sun Life Athlete of the Month in April 1992.

A dedicated captain, Sharon led her team to the 1994 QSSF provincial title and secured a place at the CIAU Nationals in Calgary. That same year, the team was recognized by Concordia as Female University Team of the Year.

After graduating, Sharon played professionally in Switzerland and has since coached extensively.

In 2012, she was inducted into the Champlain College Hall of Fame in recognition of her outstanding contributions to post-secondary basketball. In 2021, Sharon returned to Concordia as an assistant coach, bringing her experience, leadership and passion for the game back to the program.

Ron Rappel served as Concordia University’s head athletic therapist from 1986 to 2004 and was the architect of the modern varsity athletic therapy program. At a time when services were fragmented and team-specific, he established a centralized model that provided comprehensive medical care to all varsity athletes.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Ron developed and led an extensive internship program, guiding hundreds of athletic therapy students while ensuring consistent, high-quality care across every varsity team.

He developed strong physician partnerships, continually improved clinical operations and played a key role in establishing full-time athletic therapy and strength and conditioning positions to better support athlete health and performance.

In addition to his clinical leadership, Ron served as an associate professor of Exercise Science, teaching emergency care and related courses. Nationally, he served as president of the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association and helped bring its national conference to Concordia.

Ron’s leadership set enduring standards for athlete care and athletic therapy education at Concordia. After leaving the university, he became a highly successful healthcare entrepreneur and business leader.

Pat Sheahan began his university career in 1975 as a member of Concordia’s inaugural Stingers varsity football team. In his graduating year, he received the Brodrick Award recognizing outstanding all-round academic and athletic achievement.

A decade later, at just 32, Pat returned to his alma mater as head coach of the Stingers. Over 11 seasons at Concordia, he led the Stingers to a 61–44–1 record highlighted by two Dunsmore Cup championships, an Atlantic Bowl victory and the program’s first Vanier Cup appearance.

Over a distinguished 45-year coaching career, Pat reached the national championships five times with five different programs.

He is recognized as one of Canada’s premier university football coaches, winning five conference Coach of the Year awards, the Frank Tindall Trophy as national university football coach of the year and Ontario University Athletics Male Coach of the Year across all sports. His Stingers football legacy was further celebrated when the 1993 and 1998 teams were inducted into the Concordia University Sports Hall of Fame.

Through decades of competitive success and mentorship, Pat has left a lasting impact on the Concordia Stingers and Canadian university football — and the many student athletes he guided throughout his remarkable career.