Hockey honour roll inductees a worthy group

I had several reasons for paying particular attention to this year's Acadia Hockey Honour Roll induction ceremonies Oct. 27.

This year's inductees were former Axemen players Barry Wisener, Mark Bentsen, Steve Hedington and Duane Dennis; and broadcaster Len Hawley, the long-time “Voice of the Axemen� on Annapolis Valley radio.

I hadn't met Mark Bentsen or Steve Hedington before, but I've known Barry Wisener for probably longer than either of us should admit. We grew up a block apart in Pictou; his older brother was in my high school graduating class. Barry and his twin sister, Barb, who attended the Oct. 27 ceremony to support her brother; are a couple of years younger than me.

I unfortunately never got to see Barry play hockey for Acadia, but I watched him play many times for Pictou in minor hockey, up to and including junior B.

I recall when he came home for Christmas his first year at Acadia and suited up for a couple of junior games in Pictou. I remember thinking at the time how much he had improved in just a couple of months of games and daily practice with the Axemen.

There have been more talented players to play for the Axemen over the years than Barry, but if you speak to anyone who played with him, they describe him as the ultimate teammate - both on and off the ice.

Barry has never forgotten Acadia; he is a regular at the annual hockey Axemen celebrity dinners, to which he often brings one or both of his sons. He has never forgotten Pictou either, and is still involved in a summer hockey school at the arena there.

To me, players like Barry - and Mark Bentsen and Steve Hedington and many others - are the essence of what makes - and has made - Acadia hockey such a success. They might not be superstars, but they are solid team players and solid citizens.

I've left Duane Dennis off the above list, not because he doesn't belong, but for a reason. I also have fond memories of Duane and his time at Acadia, particularly his final year when he put together one of the finest seasons by a university hockey player in Canada.

It was my first full year working for the paper, and I remember my first real feature article on the hockey Axemen was a story on Duane winning the Senator Joseph Sullivan Award as the university hockey Player of the Year in Canada. Somewhat in contrast to the other inductees this year, Duane Dennis was a superstar - at least for that one year, and arguably for his entire career - despite the fact he came to Acadia having never played major junior hockey. Duane finished the 1993/ 1994 regular season with 35 goals and 74 points, both of which are still Acadia records, and right up there in the AUS conference record book as well.

It was a magical season, and the past 12 years have shown just how much of an accomplishment it was in that those records have never really been threatened by anyone at Acadia, and no one in the AUHC has scored as many as 35 goals since.

Duane also has never forgotten Acadia. He's back every so often, even though he now makes his home in British Columbia where he grew up. Despite his individual stats, people also remember Duane for the intangible things that made him a good teammate.

I recall Duane saying to me he would have traded all his goals and points, not to mention the Sullivan trophy, for the Axemen winning a second straight national title in 1994. Acadia made it to nationals that year, but was upset in the semifinals.

I was especially pleased to see Len Hawley inducted into the Hockey Honour Roll because it shows Acadia hockey isn't afraid to recognize those who support and encourage their teams without necessarily stepping on the ice or scoring goals.

Len has been “The Voice of the Axemen� since 1988, and has been there for every regular season and playoff game - most of which he has broadcast.

In his early days, he not only broadcast all the Axemen road games but also was the public address announcer for the home games, something he no longer has time to do now that all the Acadia games are broadcast, both home and away.

He's an apt choice for induction; while student/ athletes come and go, Len has been there for 18 years, making the Axemen games “come to life� for fans up and down the Valley.

If you don't think he's good at what he does, listen sometime. I did a little sports broadcasting myself during my student days at Acadia, and I know how tough it is.

A successful university hockey program is more than players, coaches or even fans. It's those intangible people who go the extra mile to make sure the program is successful, from the former players who take the time to come back to Wolfville to support the current team's efforts to the people who manage the Acadia Athletics website to those like Len Hawley who bring the action to the people who aren't able to be there in person.