Three former athletes join the Saint Mary's Sport Hall of Fame
The Saint Mary's Sport Hall of Fame will welcome a trio of athletes as its newest inductees. Former footballer Frank Yakimchuk, men's hockey goalie, Mark Locken and basketball's Brian Thompson will enter the Hall during the October 2018 ceremony.
A product of St. Patrick's high school, Frank Yakimchuk was an offensive lineman for the Huskies from 1971-1975. He was a member of the 1973 Vanier Cup Championship team and was named a conference all-star during the same season. A member of SMU's big lines, Yakimchuk often played both offense and defense throughout his time at SMU and was drafted to the CFL in 1974.
Mark Locken, a London, ON native, remains one of the most decorated Saint Mary's players in men's hockey history. In the 1982/83 season, Locken was the first Saint Mary's player to win the national player MVP award. He was a two-time league MVP, 4-time conference all-star, and a 3-time member of the CIAU All-Canadian team. Locken was without doubt one of the most dominant players in the league and country during his time at Saint Mary's.
Rounding out the list is basketball standout Brian Thompson. Thompson, a former captain of the Huskies, played five seasons from 1987-1992. This 4-time conference all-star remains the Saint Mary's top scorer in men's basketball history, amassing 1679 points during his career. His final season in 1992, Thompson was named to the CIAU All-Canadian team, was 3rdin the nation scoring, and led the Huskies to a conference title and a national silver medal finish.
These three extraordinary athletes will be inducted at the annual ceremony being held on campus during homecoming weekend. Further details of the event will be released at a later date.
In celebration of the rich tradition and heritage of sport and recreation at Saint Mary's University, the Sport Hall of Fame and Heritage Centre was founded in 1995.