2005 BCHHF Inductees

 The BC Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes five new inductees. Two former Vancouver Canucks, elected from the Player’s category, Greg Adams and Mel Bridgman are among those being honoured. They join longtime professional coach and player Tom McVie, AHL President David Andrews and the 1982 Air Canada Cup midget championship team from Burnaby as  the 2005 Inductees.

Greg Adams, born in Nelson, B.C , played 1056 NHL games recording 743 pts and 355 career goals over 17 campaigns. He was a member of the Vancouver Canucks for 8 seasons and in his first game as a Canuck, scored 4 goals against the St Louis Blues. He had a career high 36 goals in 87-88. Greg was an integral part of the Canucks march to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 against the New York Rangers, including the winning goal in the first game of the series. Adams’ other NHL stops included New Jersey, Dallas, Phoenix and Florida.

 Mel Bridgman, played his minor hockey in the Victoria area and went on to play one season with Nanaimo of the BCHL and parts of 4 seasons with the WHL Victoria Cougars, including a 66 goal season. Mel was selected first overall in 1975 by the NHL Philadelphia Flyers.

Bridgman played 14 seasons in the NHL including a brief stint with Vancouver in 1988-89. He had 701 NHL points and 1,625 minutes in penalties. Mel was the first General Manager of the expansion Ottawa Senators in 1992.

Tom McVie, a native of Trail, B.C. played 15 seasons in the WHL, including championship seasons in 1959 with Seattle and 1964-65 with Portland. He played more than 1100 professional games scoring 470 goals. Tom also enjoyed a productive 27 years as a coach, starting with Fort Wayne of the Eastern Hockey League and including coaching positions in the WHA, AHL and NHL. He coached the WHA Winnipeg Jets to the Avco Cup in 1979. He also coached the Washington Capitals,  NHL Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. A remarkable coaching career with more than 600 victories. He is now a scout with the Boston Bruins.

David Andrews, has a notable hockey background including player, coach, manager and league president.

His playing career included a season with the University of BC, where he was selected MVP. Following his playing career, Andrews served as technical director for the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association and several years as a consultant in high performance sport programs in B.C. As a coach, he served 3 years as an assistant and two years as head coach of the WHL Victoria Cougars. He was the first head coach of the Canadian Under 18 program. Andrews’ management experience included a Calder Cup title in 1993 and he was a member of the management team with two Stanley Cup Champions. He is now President / CEO of the American Hockey League. Presently serving in his tenth season as AHL President, he has been instrumental in the league growing from 16 to 29 teams.

Also, among the list of 2005 BC Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees , the only midget team from British Columbia to win a national title.

The 1981-82 Burnaby Winter Club Travelers, coached by Al Patterson won the prestigious Air Canada Cup. Their season record was 79 wins, 3 losses and 3 ties. Burnaby defeated Patrick Roy and his Ste Foy, Quebec teammates in the championship game played in Victoria.

The captain of the Burnaby championship team was Cliff Ronning. Other players and staff were assistant coaches John Grisdale, Frank Brown and Alex McDonald, goalies Drago Adam and Dave Roach . The roster, also included Chris Humber, Mike Brown, Steve Adrain, Dave Fabbro, Steve Brnjac, Dale Brisco, Tony Kurucz, Pat Austin, Grant Popowich, Dave Street, Daryl Pretzer, Steve Cairns, Rob Patterson, John Hemmerling, Shawn Nagurny and Al Wozney.

Voting was conducted by the selection committee, comprised of representatives from the media, amateur and professional hockey. Induction ceremonies will be held in Penticton on Friday July 22, 2005 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort Convention Centre & Casino.

Further information:

Scott Carter                                             Bernie Pascall

Executive Director-BCHHF                   Chairman-Selection Committee    

250-490-0711                                             604-785-3595

Scott.sca@img.net                                    bpascall@telus.net