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Canadian Forces Athletes, Teams, Coaches, and Officials Honoured
Ottawa, ON -- Outstanding athletic achievements of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel were honoured on Saturday, October 21, at the 18th Annual CF Sports Awards Ceremony in Ottawa.As the theme of this year's ceremony was "Salute to Navy Sports," Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS) Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson joined 300 guests at the Ottawa Congress Centre to pay tribute to the athleticism, spirit, and dedication of CF athletes, coaches, and officials nominated for this year's CF Sports Awards.
"We play sports so that we can stay fit and healthy," said VAdm Roberston. "We play sports to develop self-discipline, teamwork, and leadership."
The ceremony featured the induction of the 2005 CF Sports Hall of Fame and Honour Roll recipients and awards to environmental staff winners of Male and Female Athlete, Male and Female Coach, Official, and Team of the Year from each of the five CF environments: Maritime Command, Land Force Command, Air Command, Chief Military Personnel, and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. The event concluded with the Overall 2005 CF Sports Awards presentations.
INDUCTIONS FOR LIFE-LONG ACHIEVEMENT:
CF Sports Hall of Fame:
Master-Corporal Rocky Hins of CFB Borden
CF Sports Honour Roll:
Warrant Officer (Retired) Paul Best of 22 Wing North Bay
CF Sports Honour Roll:
Master Warrant Officer (Retired) William Rostek of Ottawa
OVERALL 2005 CF SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS:
CF Female Athlete of the Year:
Second-Lieutenant Marilyne Lafortune of the Royal Military College
CF Male Athlete of the Year:
Captain Matthew Barlee of CFB Esquimalt
CF Female Coach of the Year:
Chief Petty Officer, 2nd Class Cheryl Kern of CFB Halifax
CF Male Coach of the Year: Captain Stefan Szkwarek of 19 Wing Comox
CF Official of the Year: Sergeant Carol Bilodeau of CFB Valcartier
CF Team of the Year: Sergeant Carol Bilodeau of CFB Valcartier
The awards ceremony was possible due to the generosity of numerous corporate sponsors: SISIP Financial Services, Labatt Breweries of Canada, The Royal Canadian Legion, Manulife Financial, Xerox Canada, Atlantis Systems International, CANEX, Great West Life, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Ottawa Congress Centre, Dracks Inc., E.I. Dupont Canada, and Via Rail. With a mandate to raise morale and encourage physical fitness, the Personnel Support Programs (PSP) division of the CFPSA provides sports, fitness, and health programs for CF members in Canada and abroad, and thus, contributes to the operational readiness and effectiveness of the CF. For more information, visit www.cfpsa.com.
Media contact: Brenna Morell, Media Relations Coordinator, CFPSA, at 613-996-6204 (office) or 613-889-5060 (mobile), or at morell.brenna@cfpsa.com
CANADIAN FORCES SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Master-Corporal "Rocky" JJR Hins
In sports, more specifically the world of broomball, MCpl "Rocky" Hins needs no introduction. A tremendously gifted athlete, he is one of the most respected and sought-after defenseman in CF broomball - recruited 18 times to various Military and Civilian teams. MCpl Hin's broomball career "on record" spans well over 20 years alongside a military career approaching 25 years. Rocky, as he is known by his friends and family, has competed for the CF at the intersectional, regional, and national levels as well as at the international level at the 2004 World Broomball Challenge Cup, as a member of the Canadian team. He has coached and officiated broomball at all levels, as well has dedicated significant effort to developing and introducing new talent to the sport at the grass roots level.
From 1984 to 2003, MCpl Hins participated in a total of 12 CF National and 19 CF Regional Broomball Championships for teams from the Atlantic, Quebec, and Ontario Regions. He earned two gold and four silver medals in national competition, six gold and three silver at regional level, and too many MVPs to count! He was selected to the all-star team twice, and chosen to play for various CF National teams seven times throughout his military career as an augmentee. In 2002, MCpl Hins received the CFPSA Dedication to CF Sports Award for his role as the coach of the Ontario Regional Women's broomball team.
As impressive as his military sports career, in civilian competition MCpl Hins has played a significant role on several gold-medal-winning teams: in 1985/86 at the Nova Scotia Provincial Senior Broomball Championships, in 1988 at the Nova Scotia Provincial Intermediate Broomball Championships, and through 2003 to 2006, MCpl Hins won gold, silver and bronze with the "Arthur Rang-A-Tang" team at four Ontario Provincial and Senior Provincial Championships. In 2004, MCpl Hins competed as an augementee on the international stage where his team finished 4th at the World Broomball Challenge Cup and was awarded Male Player of the Year with the Central East Region of the Ontario Broomball Association in 2004/2005.
According to MCpl Hins, his two career highlights include: the Canadian Senior Broomball Championships in 2002 when he was selected to the 1st All-Star Team and was awarded Team MVP and three times Game MVP in the "B" Division; and winning gold and Game Five MVP at the Canadian Senior Broomball Championships in 2003.
MCpl Hins has committed himself to striving for athletic excellence in broomball and his outstanding achievements have contributed greatly to the positive image of the sport of broomball and the CF.
CANADIAN FORCES SPORTS HONOUR ROLL INDUCTEES
Warrant Officer (Retired) Paul Best
22 Wing North Bay Fitness, Sports and Recreation Director, PSP
From intersection leagues to CISM, WO (Ret'd) Best has many meritorious achievements in his military career and is an excellent ambassador for the CF sports program. He began his military career in 1978 in the Navy. Since his first exposure to the CF Sports Program in 1980, he has competed in 19 CF nationals and 36 regional competitions, winning a total of 32 gold and 15 silver medals - four national and 23 regional golds as well as eight national and six regional silvers were in badminton. In 1994, he won an international badminton singles exhibition match against England.
In addition to his participation as a player in several sports, WO (Ret'd) Best is a certified coach of badminton, soccer, and volleyball, right up to the CISM level with volleyball. He also officiated CF volleyball and badminton at all levels, and in 1997, he was appointed to his current position of CF Chief Official for badminton.
Motivated by his extensive knowledge and keen passion for sports, WO (Ret'd) Best continues to play an active role in the development of the CF sports programs. He is consistently ready to help out wherever he can, fostering good sportsmanship and integrity for all athletes, coaches, teams and officials alike.
Master Warrant Officer (Retired) William F. Rostek, CD
MWO (Ret'd) Rostek's military service spanned over 31 years and made even more successful by his dedication and world-class achievements in sports. Well recognized as a fierce competitor, he amassed accomplishments in fastball, volleyball, hockey, and most notably in track and field. Because he did very little sport-specific training and yet excelled in competition, MWO (Ret'd) Rostek is known as a gifted, natural athlete and regarded as the "pride" of Low Level Air Defense.
Throughout his four-year track career, which spanned 1954-57, MWO (Ret'd) Rostek competed in many events where he broke records and claimed numerous gold medals in the 100-yard and 220-yard dash, the broad jump, and 440-yard relay. At the Tri Service Championship, in 1955, as anchor of his 440-yard relay team, he shattered the Tri Service record by running in an outstanding 46.8 seconds.
In 1957 after an incredible year at the track, MWO (Ret'd) Rostek was selected to compete at the 1958 British Empire Game Trials in Saskatoon, yet, he never made it to the trials due to an unfortunate family crisis. Although he applied the same dedication and enthusiasm he had for the military to his sport, MWO (Ret'd) Rostek saw sports as a compliment to his career and never chose sport ahead of his family or the Army.
CANADIAN FORCES FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Second-Lieutenant Marilyne Lafortune
Royal Military College
Chief Military Personnel
2Lt Lafortune's dedication, leadership and skill led the way for the RMC Fencing Team in 2005. In February, the women's foil team went undefeated winning a gold medal at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) finals at Brock University. The following month, 2Lt Lafortune took gold in the individual women's foil and, combined with her teammates, took silver at the Ontario Senior Provincial Championship in Toronto. She led her team as they won the overall tournament cup, for the first time in 22 years, at the RMC Invitational in November. On the international front, in April, she represented the Canadian Military at the 40th World CISM Fencing Championship in Grosetto, Italy. 2Lt Lafortune was honoured as top RMC female athlete of 2004-05 and was awarded the Prince of Wales Cup in recognition of four years of athletic excellence.
CANADIAN FORCES MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Captain Matthew Barlee
CFB Esquimalt
Maritime Command
Capt Barlee discovered track cycling in the summer of 2004 and hasn't looked back since. His two workouts a day, six days a week, paid off throughout the 2005 racing season where he made it to the podium in every race he entered. In July, at the Canadian National Championships in Calgary, he earned one silver and two bronze medals. Only five days later, Capt Barlee was off to Portland, Oregon for the Alpenrose International Track Festival where he picked up a gold and a silver medal. Later on that same month, he cleaned up at the World Masters Games in Edmonton earning a gold, silver and bronze medal, in the 1 km Time Trial, the 20 km Scratch Race and the Match Sprints, respectively. In August, Capt Barlee competed at the British Columbia Provincial Championship in Victoria expanding his medal collection by five; three gold and two silver. His performance caught the attention of the National Team Coach, who invited Capt Barlee to train with the Canadian National team. After just 10 days, Capt Barlee was selected to represent Canada as part of the National Track Cycling Team at the World Cup in Los Angeles.
CANADIAN FORCES FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR
Chief Petty Officer, 2nd Class Cheryl Kern
CFB Halifax
Maritime Command
CPO 2 Kern volunteers much of her leisure time each season to the sport of Slo-Pitch. She was, in large part, responsible for the success of the Female Ball League in Halifax, as well as her team's success at local, regional and national competitions. She provides her slo-pitch athletes with the ideal coaching conditions to improve their skill and keep them motivated. In August 2005, as a player and coach, CPO 2 Kern led her team to victory, winning gold at the CF Slo-Pitch Regional Championship in Gagetown. The following month at the CF Nationals in Borden, her team once again played extremely well, earning a respectable third place. During the event, CPO 2 Kern was awarded the Dedication to CF Sports Award; initiated by her team-mates for her strong commitment and contribution to the sport.
CANADIAN FORCES MALE COACH OF THE YEAR
Captain Stefan Szkwarek
19 Wing Comox
Air Command
Capt Szkwarek, an energetic and devoted soccer coach, led the 17 Wing Phoenix soccer team on and off the pitch. After the departure of 2 PPCLI from 17 Wing to CFB Shilo, 95 per cent of the players and all the coaching staff left with the move. Capt Szkwarek took the very few players that were left and developed a local player pool large enough to have a competitive team. He prepared his squad for the CF Regional Championship that took place in Winnipeg in August. The team went undefeated throughout the beginning of the tournament but narrowly missed out of the final. Capt Szkwarek continues to improve 17 Wing's soccer program by registering his team in a local indoor league. Capt Szkwarek is a role model for local players. On a number of occasions, he has organized soccer development camps to improve the Prairie regions' overall level of play.
CANADIAN FORCES OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Sergeant Carol Bilodeau
CFB Valcartier
Land Force Command
Sgt Bilodeau's extensive involvement in ice hockey, fastball and slow-pitch, in both the military and civilian leagues, demonstrates his commitment towards the sporting community. In 2005, Sgt Bilodeau kept busy by dedicating his time as a referee, scorekeeper, and timekeeper for the Valcartier Garrison intersection hockey league, and as an official and scorekeeper for the Valcartier Garrison intersection slo-pitch league. As well in 2005, Sgt Bilodeau was selected to officiate in the Women's Midget AA Canadian Fastball Championship in Montreal in August and at the Men's Eastern Canadian Fastball Championship in Donnacona in September. His performance at the Women's Championship earned him a good recommendation for the Level 4 umpire level. In July, he was selected to officiate slo-pitch at the World Police & Firefighter Games held in Quebec. Sgt Bilodeau also holds the civilian title of "Representant de arbitres" for softball in the Quebec region.
CANADIAN FORCES TEAM OF THE YEAR
19 Wing Comox Women's Slo-Pitch Team
Air Command
The 19 Wing Totems women's slo-pitch team began practicing in the spring of 2005 for their second season together. They joined the local slo-pitch league to gain more experience in preparation for the CF Regional Championship. In July, with a "skeleton crew," 19 Wing proved to be a competitive team, successfully defending their CF Pacific Regional Championship title. In September at the 2005 CF National Slo-pitch Championship in Borden, 19 Wing ended the competition with a perfect record of six wins, zero losses. The win was not only impressive for a second-year team from a small base, but it was also the first CF National Championship in any sport Comox had won since 1988.
