TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments within collegiate sports in Ontario.
Honoured members include student-athletes, coaches and builders of the association. This year, 32 new members will be recognized in the 10th OCAA Hall of Fame ceremony, to be held at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, May 1.
The OCAA Hall of Fame was established in 2003. Including this year's induction, membership will expand to 452 individuals. The 2021 induction class was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with expanded classes planned in 2023 and 2025.
The class of 2023 includes the following athletes, coaches and builders:
Ken Babcock
Category: Builder
Institution: Durham College
Ken Babcock spent 36 years at Durham College. Since the college's founding in 1967, Ken is one of only two Athletic Directors that the school has ever known. Earning the job after Dave Stewart retired in 1995, Babcock continued to establish a reputation of achievement in post secondary varsity, recreational and facility programming. Ken's vision, commitment to excellence, ability to develop great programs and facilities along with work ethic are the foundation of Ken's tremendous success. Ken held convenor roles in a number of OCAA sports and chaired several committees over the years. Ken served on the OCAA Executive Committee for an extended period as well as OCAA President on two occasions.
Shannon Bedard
Category: Athlete
Sport: Cross Country
Institution: St. Clair College
Shannon Bedard competed for the St. Clair College cross country team for three seasons from 1990 to 1992 and is the most successful female Saints runner in program history. In 1990, Shannon won an individual bronze medal at the OCAA championships helping lead the St. Clair women's team to a provincial gold medal. Shannon was named St. Clair's Coaches Award winner. Shannon improved to an individual silver medal at the 1991 OCAA championships, earning a second silver medal with the St. Clair team's second place finish. A fourth place individual finish in 1992 helped Shannon complete a full set of team medals with St. Clair earning bronze. Shannon was twiced honoured by St. Clair College with the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Kelly Dunham
Category: Athlete
Sport: Women's Basketball/Women's Softball
Institution: Mohawk College
A two-time captain of the Mohawk Mountaineers women's basketball team, Kelly Dunham's outstanding skills and leadership on the court earned Kelly three OCAA League All-Star awards. Kelly was a key contributor to Mohawk's undefeated 1990-91 season in OCAA league play and led the Mountaineers to an OCAA gold medal and a CCAA fourth-place finish where Kelly was selected to the CCAA Championship All-Star Team. Kelly was awarded the Mountaineer Freshman Athlete of the Year award in 1991. In Kelly's second year as a Mountaineer, Kelly was also a member of the women's softball team, receiving the All-Round Female Award, Coaches Award and was twice named team Most Valuable Player.
Owen Kurvits
Category: Athlete
Sport: Badminton
Institution: Redeemer University
In four years at Redeemer University, Owen Kurvits put up some of some of the best accomplishments in school history. Owen was named CCAA Badminton Player of the Year and was a three-time CCAA All-Canadian and three-time CCAA Academic All-Canadian. Owen was also a two-time OCAA Player of the Year and four-time OCAA All-Star. At Redeemer, Owen was named Male Athlete of the Year on four occasions. Owen debuted in the OCAA during the 2013-14 season, developing a rivalry with Humber's Ryan Chow in men's singles. Owen fell to Chow resulting in a second place at West Regionals, but turned the tables at provincials, thwarting Chow twice to win Redeemer's first-ever OCAA gold medal in badminton.
John MacInnis
Category: Coach
Sport: Women's Basketball
Institution: Algonquin College
John MacInnis was a member of the coaching staff for the Algonquin Thunder women's basketball program for a total of 10 years. John's Algonquin tenure began as an assistant coach for the 2005-06 season before becoming the head coach for six seasons from 2008-09 to 2013-14. John stepped down to an assistant role again for one final season in 2014-15 to devote more time to a young family. With John as the head coach, the Algonquin Thunder set a new record for the most consecutive OCAA women's basketball championships with four from 2010-11 to 2013-14. John's Algonquin teams had an overall win-loss record of 84-12, including three undefeated regular season seasons and just two losses over a span of five regular seasons.
Ryan Willoughby
Category: Athlete
Sport: Golf
Institution: Humber College
Having failed to make the Humber Hawks as freshman in 2004, Ryan Willoughby spent a year diligently working on ball striking. By the fall season of 2005, Ryan was unquestionably one of the best ball strikers to ever compete in the OCAA. Willoughby was a consistent performer for the Hawks winning the 2006 OCAA championship along with individual CCAA medal performances in 2006 and 2009. In 2007, Ryan helped Humber golf capture its second RCGA title, firing a two-under par tournament as the Hawks combined to shoot a program-record 18-under par over the four day event. Ryan was a quiet leader who led by example, particularly in 2009 when leading the Hawks to their seventh national championship.
Yan Zhou
Category: Athlete
Sport: Badminton
Institution: Seneca College
Yan Zhou's OCAA badminton odyssey began with Centennial College in 2013-14. Competing in women's singles, Yan went 6-0 at East Regionals for top spot. Yan went on to take the silver medal at OCAA provincials before earning bronze at CCAA nationals. Yan took a short trip across town and joined the Seneca Sting for the 2014-15 season. Teamming up with Suzy Yan, the duo dominated the women's doubles circuit, winning the East Regionals, OCAA championship and CCAA gold medal without a single loss at these competitions. Yan took on a new partner in Rachel Nham the following season. Once again, Yan topped the podium at East Regionals, and successfully defended the OCAA women's doubles gold medal.
More bios of each of the new inductees will be released in the coming weeks leading into the OCAA Hall of Fame Gala.
For more information on the origins and history of the OCAA Hall of Fame and to view honoured members biographies and photos, please visit the OCAA Hall of Fame website at www.ocaa.com/HallofFame.
- OCAA -
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