Sport greats inaugurated into Concordia Hall of Fame

 

Outstanding athletes, teams and builders from Sir George Williams University, Loyola College and Concordia University were honoured at the 10th annual induction into the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame. The induction will take place tonight at a dinner sponsored by Alumni Affairs and Athletics.

This year’s inductees are: Builder - Kenneth Lowe, C BSc ‘78; Athlete - Nick Benjamin, football, C Attendee ‘84; Athlete - Ray Kramer, track, L BA ‘15; Athlete; Laura Leslie, hockey, C BSc. ‘94; Athlete - Michael Lowe, hockey, L BA ‘72; Athlete - John McAuliffe, basketball, L BA ‘71; Alexander Mikalachki, basketball, S BComm ‘58; Team - Stingers Men’s Hockey 1975-’76.

Ray Kramer was versatile

Perhaps the most unusual inductee will be absent, because he died more than 50 years ago. University Archives discovered his remarkable contribution to sports, and Loyola College’s baseball history while compiling Concordia’s 30th anniversary calendar.

Raymond Walter Kramer (above) excelled in several sports and was actively engaged in all aspects of student life at Loyola between 1910 and 1915.

He was the star of the Loyola baseball team, winning every game he pitched in the 1915 season. He contributed much to the popularity of baseball at Loyola as it moved into its new west-end campus, which boasted extensive baseball facilities until the 1930s.

A multi-talented athlete, Kramer was a moving spirit in basketball and a defence mainstay on the powerful Loyola hockey team. He had remarkable skill in tennis and he was considered Loyola’s best billiard player. He was the president of both the Loyola College Amateur Athletic Association and the Literary and Debating Society.

Following graduation, Kramer pitched the 1915 Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) baseball team to victory in the Montreal City and District League. He went on to medical school at McGill, where he excelled in tennis.

After completing his medical degree in 1920 he returned to his hometown, Guelph, Ont. Dr. Kramer died in 1951.

Nick Benjamin, football great

Nick Benjamin was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Concordia Stingers football uniform. An offensive tackle, he was known for his aggressive play and speed. At 285 pounds, he could run 40 yards in 4.89 seconds. He was highly decorated, earning two conference all-star honors, two all-Canadian awards and being named Concordia Male Athlete of the Year in 1985.

His prowess attracted the attention of many professional teams, including the NFL’s New York Giants who came to Concordia to work him out. Nick was drafted first overall by the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1985 CFL draft.

His career spanned nine years with the Rough Riders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 1985, he was named the Schenley Rookie of the Year in the East. Nick was a CFL all-star in 1988. He played in three Grey Cup games and was a member of the 1991 Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers.

Nick went on to establish a post-football career as an entrepreneur and youth care worker.

Laura Leslie led women’s hockey

Laura Leslie was a pioneer in women’s hockey, aiding in the validation and remarkable growth of the sport. She was the first girl to play elite boys’ hockey at the bantam, midget and junior levels in the Lac St. Louis region. Strong on the puck and bold in her approach, she excelled at the full-contact game.

She brought her exciting style to Concordia in 1988 and helped the Stingers win five Quebec championships in six years. She was a perennial conference all-star and MVP. With Concordia, she was the outstanding rookie, team MVP and Female Athlete of the Year (1991).

She was consistently the top scorer in the Quebec league and left the Stingers as the all-time leading scorer in women’s hockey. She played on the provincial team for eight years and was a member of Team Canada, winning a gold medal at the world championships in 1994.

In her final year, she was the recipient of the Excellence in Athletic Therapy Award and the O’Brien Medal. After graduation, she established a career as a respected athletic therapist and osteopath.

Michael Lowe set records

In his four years as a left wing with the Loyola College hockey team, Mike Lowe rewrote the record books.

The speedy, aggressive forward set records for most goals in a game with seven (1968), most goals in a season with 49 (1967-68) and with a total of 137, most goals in a career (1966-70). He also set the mark for most points in a season with 85 in 1967-68. His masterful play earned him the Loyola Freshman Athlete of the Year Award in 1967, the Bernie McCallum Trophy for enriching hockey in 1970 and all-star honours from the OSLAA in 1968.

During his career, the Warriors won the OSLAA championship in 1968 and 1970. In the 1967-68 season, Mike helped Loyola post a regular season record of 15-1, which was the best in Canada that year, and win a silver medal at the national championship.

Mike was drafted 19th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft. He spent one year with their farm team before returning to Montreal to work on his MBA at Sir George Williams. He received a Master’s degree from Concordia in 1976 and went on to a lengthy career with Bell Canada.

Al Mikalachki, basketball star

In a university with an extraordinary basketball tradition, Al Mikalachki (above) was one of the best players to ever represent Sir George Williams.

A skilled shooter, he was the leading scorer on the team two of his four years and he set a record for most points in a game by a Georgian.

This point guard was well known for his proficiency from the free-throw line, averaging more than 90 per cent. For two years, he was captain of a basketball team that was cohesive, consistent and goal-oriented.

His teams won both MAAA and provincial championships. Al was a league all-star and in 1955-56 he was awarded the Col. E. Gill Trophy as Sir George Williams Athlete of the Year.

At the university, Al also excelled at tennis, volleyball and badminton. He was president of the Student Undergraduate Society and treasurer of the Garnet Key Society.

He holds an MBA and a PhD, which was the first doctoral degree in business administration to be granted by a Canadian university.

Al enjoyed a distinguished career as a professor of organizational behaviour at Western.