The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its Class of 2024. The official induction is scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.
On that night, two players (Jennifer Finch and Keith Strieter), four builders (Wes Crymble, Joe Di Curzio, Tom Kendall and Reynold Reyes), and two groups of teams (Neelin High School and St. Laurent School) will be honoured. Details on all inductees can be found below.
Tickets are $85.00 each, and a table of eight (8) can be reserved for $600.00. You can reserve and pay for tickets by completing the ticket request form.
Payment accepted includes eTransfer to mbhof@basketballmanitoba.ca, credit card, or mailed cheque. The MBHOF prefers the eTransfer option as 100% of funds will reach the Hall vs. a credit card, which will see 3-5% go to processing fees. A cheque payable to the "MBHOF" is also an option to be mailed to Basketball Manitoba, 145 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 2Z6. Payment options will be provided once you complete the above reservation form.
No tickets will be sold at the door on September 28. All seating for the dinner is assigned, meaning you can sit with the people of your choice. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with a cash bar, dinner is at 7:00 pm, and induction ceremonies will begin at about 8:00 pm. The event will also be video recorded to allow those unable to attend the in-person dinner to view the induction portion of the evening.
Our Hall of Fame dinners have become a special gathering place for our extended basketball community. We hope many will choose to attend this fall to celebrate the game we all love and to honour our newest inductees.
PLAYERS :
● Jennifer Finch – a graduate of Kelvin High School who played with the University of Manitoba Bisons 1980-85; GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference) Player-of-the-Year and All-Canadian in 1984-85; GPAC All-Star in 1983-84 and 1984-85; member of Team Manitoba 1986 Senior Women’s National Champions
● Keith Strieter – a native of Michigan who starred with the Brandon University Bobcats for three years (1978-80 and 1982-83); led GPAC in scoring in 1978-79 averaging 20.8 points per game and second in rebounding that same year; All-Canadian in 1978-79; three-time GPAC All-Star; led the Bobcats to the CIAU/CIS national championship final in 1979-80
BUILDERS :
● Wes Crymble – on-court official for 31 years at all levels (high school, senior men’s and CIAU/CIS); earned assignments in many national championships; KCAC/KPAC assignor for 36 years; held many positions on the executive of MABO (Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials); observer and evaluator for Canada West Conference; received the CABO Wink Willox Award in 2001; trained and supervised many young officials
● Joe Di Curzio – longtime high school and college coach; head coach at Red River College, Tec Voc High School and Canadian Mennonite University; led teams to 4 high school provincial championships and five MCAC (Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference) championships; commissioner/chair for the Winnipeg Invitational Tournament (WIT) for 26 years; board member with Basketball Manitoba for over 20 years and President for 13 years; Team Manitoba Provincial Coach for two years; Canada Basketball board member for 9 years; Mike Spack Award winner in 2014
● Tom Kendall – best known for his 16-year tenure as the Women’s Coach of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen (1979-1995); 11-time GPAC champions; 3-time CIAU/CIS National Champions; 8-time GPAC Coach-of-the-Year; four-time National Coach-of-the-Year; President of Manitoba Amateur Basketball Association/Basketball Manitoba 1981-93; member of Basketball Canada’s board of Directors 1981-1985 where he served as Vice President responsible for National team programs; NCCP Technical and Theory Coaching Instructor 1985-2005
.png)
● Reynold Reyes - a true pioneer of the Filipino basketball community who led three volunteer-driven leagues and inspired many others now in leadership roles; first President of the Philippine Basketball Association Winnipeg Intercolor League 1973-77, from 1984-85 Chair of the Barangay Filipino Organization of Manitoba (BFOM) Basketball League, and then President of the Philippine National Youth Cagers League (PNYC) from 1986-88.
TEAMS :
Neelin High School Spartans Varsity Girls – 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2008, MHSAA Provincial ‘AAA’ Champions
St. Laurent School Hawks Varsity Boys – 1992, 1993 & 1995 MHSAA Provincial ‘A’ Championship
More information is available from Ross Wedlake at (204) 668-9494 or rosswedlake@gmail.com.
For more information on the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum, please go to http://www.mbhof.com