Meet the Cavaliers Hall of Fame Inductees for 2025

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember the start of my professional career and assisting so many athletes with the rehabilitation of their injuries. I also have fond memories of being the first athletic therapist at Champlain College and how appreciative the student athletes and coaches were to have an athletic therapist on staff to take care of the athletes.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers gave me a sense of pride in working with great young athletes.  Although Champlain was a small college, the athletes and coaches approached their sport with a sense of passion, teamwork, and excellence which they needed to succeed against larger colleges. Champlain Cavaliers always punched above their weight with tremendous success.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when I was hired to be the athletic therapist at Champlain College.  Just like your first kiss, your first career opportunity is one that that is very special, and I will always remember. Getting to know and help so many young athletes, working with passionate coaches like Olga Hrycak, Kim Kurtz, Marshal Joseph, John Jones, Ian Jordan and Tony Iachetta, just to name a few stands out as highlights as a Cavalier. I also have very special memories of the friendship and support I received from the professionals at Champlain College, André Leblanc, Bob Lanctot and Ray Corbeil. Everyone at Champlain made my years as a Cavalier truly special.

I left the Cavaliers in 1986 to become the Head Athletic Therapist at Concordia University.  I worked at Concordia University for 18 years and while at Concordia I was a part time professor for 17 years teaching “Emergency Care of Athletic Injuries” for 14 years and followed by a business course, “Entrepreneurship in Heath and Wellness” for 3 years. While at Concordia University, I co-founded a network of seven rehabilitation clinics called Concordia Physio Sport.

In 2005 we sold the Concordia Physio Sport clinics to CBI Health. I was appointment Vice-President Central Canada for CBI Health and oversaw the growth of 75 physiotherapy clinic. After leaving CBI Health, I became the managing partner of a large family physician medical clinic in 2019, which was sold to TELUS Health in 2022.  In 2018 I started a medical expertise business which I sold to ExamWorks Canada in 2023.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember getting the call from Don Shewan to ask for my help in starting a Football program at Champlain.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was a chance to give back to a great school.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was winning the Division 3 Championship in 2008.

Since leaving the Cavaliers 20 years ago, I have continued to run the family business in Saint-Lambert until me retirement in February 2025.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember how the incredible journey began as an innocent student-athlete, to team captain, to a coach, to a broadcaster and to a proud and lifetime ambassador of this amazing college. I will always remember and cherish walking through the campus hallways & feeling a sense of belonging.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was fostering a positive culture, creating a brotherhood and being part of a true family.  Being a cavalier is simply representing and embodying academic and athletic excellence.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was being selected as best student-athlete for our basketball team in 1994-95 and making the Sport Étudiant All-Academic Team. That made my parents so proud.  But the best and most tangible highlight has been the unbelievable 32 years of memorable relationships I have built withy my fellow Cavalier teammates, athletes, coaches, alumni, faculty, management, parents and friends.  Thank you all.

Since leaving the Cavaliers, well I have never truly left, but my coaching career started at Champlain St-Lambert and then, subsequently, I realized a dream by coaching in the NCAA at the University of Massachusetts. My passion for basketball has led to a humbling 20 year media career with RDS television covering the NBA, as well as, an NBA insider for TSN, BPM Sports and many other outlets in the Unites States.

My current career is a Senior Manager at Apple Canada, an NBA TV analyst at RDS, an NBPA certified agent and President & founding partner for my own NBA agency, Athletes in Power Sports Management.  I am also the Director of International Relations for the Haitian Basketball Federation.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember the players were so supportive of each other. They had my highest respect. To this day I recall many of their names. Many of whom I have encountered occasionally at university games or in their work lives. Many are coaching basketball teams in their communities. It’s great to see them carrying on the tradition.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when we won the Provincial Championship at John Abbott College and as the trophy was being presented to our team captains, our spectators were chanting : “Olga, Olga, Olga”. I can still hear the chant.

The hardest decision I had to make was when I had to leave my coaching position at Champlain. That year, I had applied for a Coaching Apprenticeship with the Men’s Senior National Team (coached by the famous Basketball coach, the late Jack Donohue). Absolutely the opportunity of a lifetime. The team practiced in Ottawa. Plus I had to take a “Leave of Absence” from my regular position at the English Montreal School Board. There was no way I could do both: as the Champlain practices and those of the National Men’s team, occurred at the same time, in different cities.

After leaving Champlain, I coached at Dawson for 15 years. Again, it just happened that the University of Quebec in Montreal was starting a new program in the CIAU. I was approached by Daniel Methot, the then co-ordinator of sports to apply. From 2007-2012, I coached the Men’s team at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

After 48 years as a basketball coach, I hung up my whistle.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember that it was a labor of love, recruiting student athletes and working with them , the College and the coaches to build our football program.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was an honour. Success in various sports was nothing new for the College and it was special for me to join in and add another Cavaliers sport, football.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when we began the program in 2005 and after just three seasons we won the Bol D’Or with a perfect 13-0 record. That was hard to beat. Everything came together in a very special way.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I feel pride and joy. I see a group of young adults learning resilience and discipline while navigating the life of student athletes. I remember friendships developing, conversations and laughter before practices and games.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was like being part of a family. I will forever bleed blue and be proud of this program.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was being the first women’s soccer team in the program history to make the playoffs. 

Since leaving the Cavaliers I have played with the Carabins from the Université de Montréal which got me to play at the University World Championships in Italy.

My current career is working in electrical engineering.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember the locker room and my teammates. An absolutely outrageous cast of characters! When I began at Champlain we were a brand new team in the league. We had some good players, some mediocre ones and quite a few who had never played football in their lives! The strength of our team was that we got along tremendously and we had a great family culture. Quickly we had our little traditions. Pizza parties after wins, cookies and laundry on Friday nights, Scotyz for long island ice teas on Sunday nights after games. We hung out together and were a very close group. I also remember the ridiculous nicknames; Dubz, Doc, Pop-Tart, New guy, Skinny, Meat, Boot Reynolds, Coach Hands-up, to name a few.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was being part of the Community. Everyone was connected. The different sports teams, the clubs, the students. It was a unique experience being in such a small but vibrant community. Small college, big family! It made you want to be present and participating every day.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was our undefeated season and our provincial championship win in 2008. It was a dominant season and one I will never forget for all of the successes but also the memories created on and off the field!

I’ve done many things since leaving Champlain, but becoming a parent is by far the most important! I went to McGill after Champlain in the faculty of education for five years from 2009-2013, I played football and served as a team Captain and the Varsity Council President. I began working at the Aléo Foundation in April 2014 after graduation.  I got married in 2019 and my sons were born in 2021 and 2022. I am now the coordinator of scholarship programs at the Aléo Foundation. I’m lucky to be directly connected to the sports community and I’m able to help contribute to student-athlete success.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember… meeting Dean Howie for the first time and not speaking a word of English and thinking to myself, ‘what am I doing here?’ But this decision was one of the best decisions of my life. We won the National Championship the first year, and it was a moment I will always remember. What I remember the most is not the games or the actual soccer that we played. I remember how special a group we were and how we came together as a family really quick.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was… I wouldn’t say it was a dream come true, but it opened many doors for me. It paved the way to the career that I had after my time as a Cavalier.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was winning the national championships in 2017.

After leaving the Cavaliers, I went to play professional soccer with the Montreal Impact right after graduating. Then I went to Université Laval and graduated with a degree in intervention sportive. I went on to play for Louisville City FC in the USL and I also played at the semi-pro level for 7 years before I stopped playing in 2022.

Since 2022, I am a road cyclist at the elite level, doing some races at the provincial level. I work at Randstad Canada as a recruiter and I coach at the collegial level for the Dynamiques Ste-Foy women’s soccer team.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember having fun and chatting with the coaches and the athletic director and feeling like our college was small and like a family but also a powerhouse.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was hanging out with my teammates, the basketball and the football guys. Going early in the morning to the library and working hard there so I could get in the gym at night and do what I enjoyed the most: play ball and surpass my limits.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was seeing our program evolve every season and getting through those hard games.

I went on to University of Ottawa to play basketball for the Gee-gees before transferring to University of Sherbrooke for medical school. I have been involved in coaching basketball for the last 7 years with Bishop’s University and Champlain College Lennoxville.

I have been working as a physician in the emergency room and in sport medicine and teaching at the University of Sherbrooke. Most importantly, I have the chance to be the mother of two beautiful daughters.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember all the incredible moments shared with my teammates and coaching staff. From struggling to stay awake during 6 a.m. video sessions to having a sing-off with another basketball team on the bus ride to an NCAA tournament. I also remember the wins, the major challenges we faced together, and the losses that brought us even closer as a team. The “Pack the House” games, where players from almost every team—football, soccer, and more—were cheering us on from the stands, are memories I will always cherish.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was truly an honour. It gave me a deep sense of family and belonging. There’s a quote that says, ‘Once a Cavalier, always a Cavalier,’ and that couldn’t be more true. During my time here, I was able to grow not just as an athlete, but as a person. I learned to push my limits, stay disciplined, and balance both sports and academics. What made the journey even more meaningful was being surrounded by incredible people who genuinely wanted to see me succeed. It is an experience that helped shape who I am today — one I’ll always be proud of.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was helping secure the first RSEQ Division 1 provincial bronze medal in 2015 with the women’s basketball team, a historic achievement for the program. On a personal level, being honored as Female Athlete of the Year and graduating with the highest academic average award was incredibly fulfilling. It was an honor to have my efforts recognized, both on the court and in the classroom, as a testament to the hard work and dedication I put into every aspect of my journey.

After leaving the Cavaliers, I went to study at the Université de Sherbrooke. While it was an exciting new chapter, unfortunately, the school didn’t have a basketball program, which meant my time on the court came to an end.  I am still active. I have discovered new passion for other sport such as cycling, skiing, etc. I’m currently in residency, specializing in cardiology, and I plan to complete my training and begin my career as a cardiologist.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember…. My time at Champlain was brief, but in those two years, I had the privilege of being on the first-ever cross-country team that Eric Beaudoin put together. We started as a tiny team with less than a handful of people — four in my first year and five or so in my second year. Despite being small and brand-new, we were still given many opportunities, such as traveling all over the province and country for various races. I remember going to my first Nationals for the Cavaliers in Grande-Prairie, Alberta, and how excited the school was to have representation. I have nothing but happy memories of my time as a Cavalier.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was a great privilege. I was very fortunate to be a part of the Cavaliers because although we weren’t grand in number, we made history by being the first cross-country team at Champlain. What started as a handful of runners has become a huge team at Champlain, sometimes up to 40 athletes who have consistently raced and even competed at Nationals and brought back medals.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when… I got to board a tiny plane of 10 passengers or so for a rocky ride to Grande-Prairie, Alberta, to compete in my first ever CEGEP nationals. It was an extremely challenging course on a ski hill, which I despised in the moment, but I loved the overall experience of travelling, racing, going to a banquet, meeting famous Canadian runner Malindi Elmore, and representing my school. It signified the start of many more important races and believing in the potential that my coaches had voiced to me.

After Champlain, I did a year and a half at the University of Sherbrooke, where I studied for a bachelor’s in physical education and health. I also competed on their cross-country and track & field team as a distance runner, going to multiple nationals and winning Rookie of the Year in my first year.

For the next two and a half years, I continued my bachelor’s degree at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on a full scholarship for their cross-country and track & field team. As a division one school, we competed weekly or bi-weekly in various states, such as Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Indiana, and Louisiana. After finishing my degree, I continued to run middle to long-distance track competitively until I started working full time as a Physical Education teacher. While teaching, I completed my master’s degree in educational psychology at McGill over two years while taking night classes.

For the past ten years, I have been teaching at Saint-Lambert International (SLI) High School, mostly in Physical Education. I am also the Athletics and Physical Education coordinator at SLI. I coach various sports at my school, such as the cross-country team, the badminton team, a volleyball team, and the track and field team. Additionally, I coach the endurance group with Club Athletisme Rive-Sud alongside Eric Beaudoin and Martin Angel, as well as the Champlain cross-country team in the fall seasons.

When I look back on my time at Champlain, I remember the people. I remember the long bus rides with my teammates traveling to tournaments and away games. I remember the incredible diversity in the student body that I got to interact with on a daily basis. I remember the dedicated faculty members that laid the foundation for my future academic endeavors. I remember my coaches who pushed me to limits that I didn’t know were attainable, helping me live out my dream of becoming a Division 1 basketball player.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers meant more than simply attending a school or playing for a basketball team. It meant building a collective sense of loyalty and commitment to a group of guys that would hold each other accountable, would support each other through thick or thin and that eventually, would become family for life.

My highlights as a Cavalier were winning the 2004 provincial championship and winning the 2005 CCAA National Player of the Year award.

After Champlain, I attended and played basketball at Michigan State University and The University of Vermont. I played professional basketball in Israel for Hapoel Afula. I began my coaching career in 2011 at The George Washington University where I spent eight years, with the last three as the head coach of the men’s program. After GW, I had coaching stints at Fairleigh Dickinson University, George Mason University and The University of Richmond.

I am currently coaching at Butler University and living in Indianapolis, Indiana with my wife, Dr Kristen Joseph and our son Kameron.

Negus McKenna was one of the greatest players to ever play for the Cavaliers.  He was simply a box office player, larger than life personality and incredible teammate. He loved wearing the blue and white, he loved sharing the court with his brothers and he put fear in his opponents. He will go down as the best alley oop dunker in Canadian history.

McKenna was extremely proud to be a Champlain Cavalier and of what the program stood for. He gave everything to help the program achieve its success on and off the court — a true ambassador of the program. Athletically he dominated from the first day he stepped on the court with his dunks and incredible scoring ability. Fans would pack the gym to see what spectacular play Negus would do next and he would not disappoint with his high-flying, confident attitude.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember a period of friendships and growth. I had the privilege of continuing my flag football career alongside many of my high school friends, which made the experience even more special. I also remember significant personal and athletic development, thanks to the incredible coaches who took the time to teach me the game, refine my ability to read defenses, and push me to a higher level of competition.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was historic. Being part of the first-ever flag football team at Champlain was an incredible honour. I take great pride in knowing that young women today can continue to benefit from a high-performing flag football program, allowing them to pursue the sport they love at a highly academic English CEGEP.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was winning the RSEQ Championship in our inaugural season. Not only was I grateful for the opportunity to play the sport I love at Champlain, but going undefeated proved that we belonged. It showed the incredible potential of the program and set the foundation for future success.

Since leaving the Cavaliers, I have helped shape the future of flag football beyond CEGEP. I played a key role in creating the University Flag Football League, providing an opportunity for female athletes to continue their flag careers at the university level. I also founded the Concordia Flag Football Club, where I competed for four seasons, winning a provincial championship. Beyond university, I have participated in numerous senior championships and had the honor of representing Canada as the starting quarterback at the 2024 Flag Football World Championships this past summer.

I recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in athletic therapy and am currently pursuing my master’s in Exercise Science at Concordia University. My passion for Athletic Therapy was sparked at Champlain, where I loved spending time in the clinic, sometimes even jumping into the interns’ workshops to act as an injured athlete for them to practice on. That experience inspired me to pursue this profession. My goal is to become a teacher once I complete my master’s. For now, I am focused on my research project and working as a teaching assistant, helping to guide the next generation of Athletic Therapists.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember being a part of a family. No matter what sport someone played, if you crossed paths with another Cavalier, you had a friend. We all wore our Blue and Black Cavaliers kit with pride, and if I ever needed anything, I could count on a fellow Cavalier.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was my first real chance to express myself as a student-athlete, and was my first exposure to “high level” sports. Even though I played sports all throughout my days in high school, nothing really compares to being considered a varsity athlete for the first time. Being on the rugby team provided me a chance to truly express myself through sport. It also taught me the importance of skills such as teamwork, leadership, time-management etc. Being a part of the Cavaliers really helped me for my future athletic and personal endeavours.

My highlight as a Cavalier cannot be pinned down to one specific event. Rather, what I remember the most about my time with the Cavaliers are my teammates. Despite the program folding in my last year, my teammates continued to play rugby at their respective Universities and as such, we would be opponents. Even being opponents, we are bonded forever as Cavaliers, and continue to check in on one another after games, or on social media etc. I am happy to see their successes as much as my own.

Since leaving the Cavaliers, I have pursued higher level education at Concordia University, earning a bachelor of Arts degree, with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation. Throughout my time at Concordia, I continued to play rugby with the Stinger’s, and even captained the team during my last two seasons. I graduated University in April of 2024. During my time at University, I earned spots in Rugby Canada selection camps and even earned my first international 15’s cap playing against South-Africa. Since then, I have earned many more selections on the 15’s squad, and as of November of 2024, have been on the National 7’s rugby team as well. In the last year, I have travelled all over the globe, playing the sport I love.

My current career is full-time professional rugby player. Playing for both the 15’s and 7’s team, means I travel and play rugby all year-round.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember how much pride we all felt to be a part of a team challenging other long-standing dynasties in this sport. During my first year at Champlain, we knocked at the door of winning the finals against our biggest rival John Abbott College. That is where we earned the respect of both our opposition and our peers at home.  The following two seasons proved to mark the beginning of our own time at the top of the winners podium.  This was all because we were truly a team.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was a sense of pride and enthusiasm. All the sports teams at Champlain shared a culture of excellence and competitiveness. Watching the Basketball team was inspiring, participating with the soccer team (even if it was only for a short pre-season trial) was challenging. Whether it was watching men’s teams or watching the women’s teams, there was always a sense of respect and sense of commitment to the jersey and to passion. I suppose sport does that to anyone, but I will always appreciate Champlain’s dedication and support to all athletes.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when…I believe it was the 1989-90 season when we brought home the championship victory against John Abbott. Playing alongside some of my best friends and teammates was a truly special experience.

After leaving the Cavaliers, I participated with the St Lambert Locks Rugby Club where we went on to win many championships with many of the teammates that I played with for at Champlain.

In 1994, myself and my twin brother Louis, were longlisted to the Canadian National Rugby team where I had been selected to play against France. Unfortunately, I was injured a few days before and did not get my opportunity to get capped. My brother Louis did get selected to play the following week against Wales!

In 1999, I married my wife Heather Yeoman, and in 2001 we had our first baby, Francisco. A year later, at the age of 32, I retired from playing rugby. Having started a new family with our son, it was time to focus on other priorities.  In 2004, our daughter Mikayla was born and in 2008 our youngest daughter Sidney joined the family.

I am now a consultant implementing ERP software solutions. Specializing mainly in manufacturing, warehousing and supply chain industries, I implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as a Senior Functional Consultant.  I work for a leading Microsoft Partner implementing the solution across Canada and the United States.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember the laughs in the locker room, the camaraderie on and off the court, the crowd, how they lifted us when we needed it the most, and the endless nights working to be crowned champions. There’s nothing I would change, every moment, even the tough ones, shaped me into the person I am today.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was more than just basketball, it was being apart of a family and a winning culture. Most importantly, representing something bigger than myself, and giving everything I had on a daily basis. Putting on that cavaliers jersey meant pride, responsibility, and sportsmanship. It gave me a place to belong, and challenged me in many different ways and aspects of life.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was winning the RSEQ championship in 2014-2015.

Since leaving the Cavaliers, I was fortunate to play Division 1 basketball at Cleveland State University from 2016-2020. In 2021, I began coaching the cavaliers Men’s basketball team.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember spending countless hours with my teammates, whether it was on or off the field, we truly bonded as brothers with every week that progressed. Whether it was in the weight room or the gym, at class, film, late evening practices or those coveted weekend games, especially the away games, these moments will always be engrained in my memory.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was everything. Being a Cavalier set the foundation for who I am today. The man I am, the son, the brother, the teammate, the friend, the husband, the father… All of it truly began to take shape while I was a Cavalier; it’s a part of me that will always be integral to my character.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when I was honoured with the Most Valuable Defensive Player Award in 2006.

Since leaving the Cavaliers, I feel that I’ve had to routinely reinvent myself to adapt to new realities and conquer adversity. Life after the Cavaliers first brought me to McGill University, where I capped-off a successful five-year university career with two degrees (Bachelor and Master) and a handful of athletic and academic awards. Life after university saw me join the federal public service, where I’ve since been able to hone my skills and develop myself into a successful diplomat, but my proudest achievements to-date are that of husband and father of two!

My current career is as a Diplomat for the Government of Canada serving abroad as Canada’s current Consul to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and will be moving this summer to South Africa, where I will be serving as Canada’s next Consul to the Republic of South Africa.

When I look back on my time with the Cavaliers, I remember participating in a number of intramural sports and events, enjoying my time hanging out with friends in a safe space and a program with staff that allowed me to balance my school and sports schedule.

For me, being a part of the Cavaliers was a great way to prepare myself for university life – I felt supported and could learn from my mistakes and expanded my social circle along with fun intramurals and competitive sports programs.

My highlight with the Cavaliers was when I was named to the CCAA all Canadian soccer team, won CCAA Canadian soccer player of the year and then won CCAA Athlete of the year for the 1999-2000 season. It was an unexpected and a wonderful way to end my sports career at Champlain.

After Champlain, I won a Div. 1 NCAA 4-year Soccer Scholarship in Hartford, Conn. and was on the Senior Soccer National Team from 1998-2003 and 2010. I played semi-professional soccer from 2000-2014 and in 2019-2020. I coached high-level soccer from Provincial and Junior National teams and Semi-Professional teams in Quebec. I was the Assistant Technical Director for Rive-Sud from 2009-2015 and the Technical Director of Club de Varennes and St-Amable from 2016-2018. I worked in Sport-Études programs from 2008-2022 and am still playing competitive soccer, having been to the Canadian Masters National Championships (over 30) five times and won gold three times.

I am currently coaching my 10-year-old son in competitive soccer with Club de Soccer de Saint-Hubert for the last three years.