Ice is a major factor in the lives of both Chris Joseph and Kevin Reynolds, two of the cast of 2020 Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame inductees, as announced recently.
Alongside fellow athletic honouree Fred Usselman, builders Howard Hum and Steve Mawhinney, coach Dan Mattinson and the 2001 Burnaby Canadians women’s soccer team, the two skaters of different sports will enhance a well-packed Bill Copeland Sports Complex as new members of the community’s sports hall of fame.
The newest group of athletic stars will be officially welcomed into the hall at its annual banquet, Feb. 27 at the Metrotown Firefighters Hall.
Joseph began his dream for an NHL career in his hometown, playing much of his minor hockey at the Burnaby Winter Club. The smooth-skating defenceman played 510 games in the National Hockey League, with his 19-year pro career taking him to the corners of North America and northern Europe.
A first round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Joseph tallied 39 goals and 112 assists during his time with eight different NHL teams (including the Vancouver Canucks in 1996-97 and 1999-2000). He was also a member of the world junior champion Canadian team in 1988.
Reynolds, a Coquitlam native, found his greatest success as a figure skater through his training at Burnaby 8-Rinks under the guidance of BSHOFer Joanne McLeod and her Champs International Skating Centre of B.C. He would represent Canada at six world championships as well as the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Never shy to push the envelope, Reynolds became the first skater to land two quadruple jumps in a single program, and five quads in one competition.
“The skating skills of both of these spectacular athletes shone brightly on elite stages of competition, and Burnaby played a large part in their development,” remarked Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame chair Grant Granger. “The hall is proud to be inducting them and four other individuals. And then there’s the 2001 Burnaby Canadians. They pulled off what has to be one of the most dramatic championship victories ever.”
The Canadians surrendered just one goal in winning three games and tying one during the lead-up to the Canadian senior women’s soccer final in Ontario. After 90 minutes, Burnaby was knotted in a scoreless draw with their Nova Scotia rival, followed by another 30 minutes of overtime. The title came down to penalty kicks, where the squads were deadlocked 5-5 after 10 rounds. With the goalkeepers the last to shoot, Burnaby’s Michelle Gademans cashed in her shot, then blocked the Nova Scotia keeper’s shot to clinch the national crown.
An East Burnaby product, Usselman played on a pair of Minto Cup champions, including the 1956 Mount Pleasant Legion. He would go onto the greater stardom at the senior lacrosse level with the Vancouver Burrards, as part of three Mann Cup titles. Usselman finished with 476 goals and 773 points over 12 years, and would be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1979.
Behind the bench, Mattinson proved not only a wise technician but also an inspirational leader as a box lacrosse coach. Raised in Willingdon Heights neighbourhood, Mattinson was plucked from his soccer skippering duties at the Norburn Athletic Club by lacrosse builder and BSHOFer Jack Crosby to man the boxla bench.
Mattinson took up the torch and coached the Burnaby Cablevision to six Minto Cups, including a three-peat in 1977-79. Over 12 regular seasons behind the Burnaby bench, Mattinson’s teams posted an incredible 223-75-3 record.
Hum had a passion for basketball growing up, but it was a volleyball coach at Alpha Secondary that turned him onto volleyball. The volunteer took in one game as a referee, and instantly fell for the position. Hum has officiated high-level university and collegiate matches, and organized officials for international competitions. He served on the Volleyball BC board and with Volleyball Canada since 2014.
Mawhinney, like Hum, was all about the hoop sport growing up at Marlborough Elementary. By the time he attended Royal Oak junior high, Mawhinney was refereeing the sport. He’s officiated four B.C. high school boys championship finals and two girls provincial finals. The Canadian Association of Basketball Officials presented Mawhinney its Wink Willox Award for B.C. in recognition of his service, commitment and excellence in officiating.
For information or tickets ($85) to the Feb. 27 gala, email tickets09@shaw.ca, or call Rosemary at 604-436-1672.
