Soccer star Ike Mackay came out of Oak Bay High to play for sa国际传媒 in two World Cup qualifying campaigns. But sometimes, it鈥檚 the club level accomplishments with hometown playing buddies that stand out even more.
For Mackay, it was the Kennedy Cup championship he won with the Victoria O鈥橩eefes, beating along the way the state champions of Washington and Oregon and, lastly, the Mexican national team select side in the final.
Mackay will be inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2015 tonight at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort.
鈥淭his is quite an honour and I really appreciate it,鈥� said the retired teacher, adding it鈥檚 moments such as tonight鈥檚 ceremonies that put a career into perspective.
The Victoria Sports Hall of Fame鈥檚 Class of 2015 also includes three-time Olympic swimmer Rick Say, two-time Olympic marathoner Bruce Deacon, 10-time Winter Paralympics medallist skier Lauren Woolstencroft, shooting legend Sandy Peden and former Major League Baseball pitcher Steve Sinclair.
Selected for induction to the builders category for 2015 is Elaine Dagg-Jackson, an Island curling mentor and five times the Canadian coach at the Winter Olympics, and wrestling coach Ed Ashmore, whose mentorship on the mats produced Olympians and world championship medallists.
鈥淚 cared about what I was doing,鈥� said Ashmore, a retired teacher.
鈥淎 lot of the kids needed something to hang onto. Wrestling filled their needs. It filled my needs, too. There they were 鈥� my athletes 鈥� at the Olympics and world championships. My spirit was there with them. I was proud of all the kids. Every one of them always did their best, including the ones who didn鈥檛 make it to the top. I had such outstanding kids to coach.鈥�
The Hall of Fame selection committee, chaired by Lois Smith, considered more than 40 submissions for the Class of 2015, and almost all were of world-class calibre.
Tonight brings to 204 the number of athletes, builders and teams inducted over 21 years.
The Class of 2015 will have their plaques mounted alongside the past inductees inside the concourse of Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
