After a two-year pause, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) will finally add distinguished members to its Hall of Fame.
The 2022 CCAA Hall of Fame banquet will take place on Tuesday, June 14 in Halifax, NS. One builder, four coaches and three athletes from the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) will officially be inducted.
From St. Thomas University, retired Head Coach Ed Welch and former ACAA Volleyball standout Crystal (MacFarlane) Cernivz will be inducted to the National Hall of Honour.
Ed Welch led the Tommies’ women’s volleyball team from 1999 to 2013 and is one of the most decorated coaches in STU’s history. In his fourteen years at the helm, he guided the Tommies to seven Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championships. From December 2001 to the ACAA championship final in 2007, he led the team to an incredible 138-game win streak. He was named ACAA Coach of the Year four straight years and was the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2005. In 2001, Ed was inducted into the Oromocto Sports Wall of Fame. In 2013, his teams from 2000-2006 were inducted into the STU Sports Wall of Fame. He is set to be inducted in the STU Sports Wall of Fame as Coach in 2022.
Crystal Cernivz (MacFarlane) played four years with the women’s volleyball team from 2000-2004. During that time, the Tommies were crowned Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball champions in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. The Nackawic native experienced just as much success on an individual level—she was named a first team all-conference player four times, was the ACAA’s top rookie in 2000-2001 and was named the ACAA player of the year three times. Cernivz was a three-time female athlete of the year, three-time women’s volleyball most valuable player and a three-time Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian. Crystal was inducted to the STU Sports Wall of Fame as a team member in 2013 and as an Athlete in 2015.
“We’re really looking forward to finally being able to recognize the accomplishments of our Hall of Fame inductees from the Maritimes,” said Vince Amato, CCAA President. “It’s long overdue, but it will be well worth the wait when we’re able to celebrate together in Halifax this June.”
Other inducted member of the Class of 2022 will consist of the following individuals:
- Judith Smith, Builder (Dalhousie Agricultural Campus)
- Bev Greenlaw, Coach (University of King’s College)
- Jacques Boudreau, Coach (Mount Saint Vincent University)
- Rick Plato, Coach (Mount Saint Vincent University)
- Jason Carlson, Athlete (Mount Saint Vincent University)
- Kim Fralick, Athlete (Mount Saint Vincent University)
The 2022 inductees will be featured on the CCAA website throughout the month of May.
With the addition of eight ACAA members in June, the CCAA Hall of Fame will expand to 64 total members (22 builders, 20 coaches, 22 athletes).
The CCAA Hall of Fame banquet will be held at the Atlantica Hotel in conjunction with the CCAA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).