List of Inductees 2016
1978 Junior Men's
National Team
Team
In 1978, a team of junior-aged athletes from across Canada was assembled to compete in the 1978 NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Junior Championships in Mexico.
The team traveled to Durango, Mexico in December 1978, under the direction of Head Coach Gérard Gauvin and Assistant Paul Brasoveanu. Competing against Mexico A, Guatemala and Mexico B, the Canadians lost only one round-robin match vs MEX A, and defeated the same team in the gold medal match, in 4 sets by scores of 6-15, 17-15, 15-8, 16-14 in front of more than 3,000 noisy, pro-Mexican spectators. In the 4th set, Canada was losing by 10-14 before storming back to take the final 6 points and the win for the Gold Medal for Canada. This victory marked the first time that a Canadian team won a gold medal in a sanctioned international championship.
Members of the team
Gilbert Ménard (Captain) – setter (Hochelaga – Montreal, Quebec)
Tony Tenwesteneind – middle blocker (Guelph Oaks, Ontario)
Jim Helmer (assist. Captain) – right side/middle blocker (Onion Patch – Ottawa)
Jocelyn Leclerc – left side (Citadelles/YMCA – Quebec)
Dave Shokar – right side/setter (Namdor Hammers – B.C.)
Alex Ketrzynski – middle blocker (Etobicoke, Ontario)
Paul Gratton – left side (Onion Patch/National Senior Team – Ottawa, Ontario)
Jeff Williams – left side/middle blocker (Hochelaga – Montreal, Quebec)
Nicolas Duval (assist. Captian) – setter (Citadelles/YMCA – Quebec)
Stéphane Joseph – left side (Soulanges – Quebec)
Jean-Claude Meilleur – right side (Hochelaga – Montreal, Quebec)
Al Coulter – middle blocker (London – Ontario)
Stelio DeRocco – middle blocker (Etobicoke – Ontario)
Coach: Gérard Gauvin (Montreal, Quebec)
Assistant Coach: Paul Brasoveanu (Quebec, Quebec)