WATERLOO, Ont. (June 5, 2019) – The Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawk Hall of Fame will induct eight new members to the 2019 induction class as inductees were announced on Wednesday morning. 

The dinner and induction ceremony will take place on Friday, September 27 at The Tannery Event Centre in downtown Kitchener as part of Laurier's annual Homecoming Weekend.

Five athletes, one builder and two teams will join numerous other Golden Hawks who have left their mark on Golden Hawk history. Athlete inductees include women's hockey players Candice Styles and Fiona Lester, women's lacrosse player Hanna Burnett, men's football player Chris Ackie and men's baseball player Ryan Panas. Former men's football head coach Gary Jeffries will be inducted in the builders category, while the 2008 men's and women's soccer teams will be inducted in the team category.

“This year's induction class once again highlights the success and depth of our interuniversity sport programs,” commented Peter Baxter, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We look forward to welcoming all inductees back to campus on Homecoming Weekend and celebrating their accomplishments, both athletic and academic, with teammates, family and friends.”

ATHLETE BIOS

Styles suited up for five season with the Golden Hawks from 2009-10 to 2013-14, during which she won three OUA Championships. The two-time OUA All-Star was named to both the OUA and CIS Women's Hockey All-Rookie Team and the Rookie of the Year during the 2009-10 season. In her final season with the Hawks, Styles finished second among all CIS defenders in scoring with a career-high 21 points.

FULL CANDICE STYLES BIO

Lester is a four-time CIS Academic All-Candia and two-time OUA First Team All-Star, and is one of only three Golden Hawk athletes to be named to an Academic All-America College Division at-large first team. During her final season with the Hawks, Lester finished third in conference scoring for defencemen with 19 points, and captained the team to a 21-2-3 record. 

FULL FIONA LESTER BIO

Burnett is a two-time OUA Champion, winning titles in both 2008 and 2010. She was named an OUA All-Star four times during her career, while also being named the 2010 OUA Women's Lacrosse Most Outstanding Player and 2012 OUA Women's Lacrosse Defensive MVP. The women's lacrosse goalkeeper was instrumental in the 2008 team going undefeated in the regular season and winning an OUA Championship in her first year.

FULL HANNA BURNETT BIO

Ackie served as defensive back for the Golden Hawks from 2011 – 2014, being named an OUA All-Star twice and a CIS First Team All-Canadian in his final year. He was named the 2011 Team Rookie of the Year after collecting 20.5 tackles, including 17 unassisted tackles and seven assisted tackles. In his final season with the Hawks, Ackie recorded a career-high 48.5 tackles, best for seventh in the conference, and three pass breakups. 

FULL CHRIS ACKIE BIO

Rounding out the athlete category of the 2019 induction class, Panas followed up his 2008 OUA Men's Baseball Rookie of the Year campaign by being named an OUA First-Team All-Star three times. The third baseman represented the Golden Hawks at the 2013 OUA Baseball All-Star Showcase, and finished his five-year career with 100 hits in conference play. 

FULL RYAN PANAS BIO

BUILDER BIO

Jeffries' involvement with the Athletics and Recreation Department began in 1988 when he served as the head coach for the women's basketball team, followed by an eight-year stint with the men's basketball team. Jeffries' career with the Golden Hawks is highlighted by his 10 years as head coach of the men's football team, capturing two OUA Championship titles and one CIS Championship during the 2005 season. Jeffries is also a four-time OUA Men's Football Coach of the Year and was named the 2003 CIS Men's Football Coach of the Year, with a total career record of 58-22 in the regular season. 

FULL GARY JEFFRIES BIO

TEAM BIOS

The 2008 men's and women's soccer teams both captured OUA Championship titles during impressive season campaigns. 

The men's team went 7-3-4 during the regular season, outscoring opponents 20-13 during that span. They defeated Western and Carleton to meet the defending champion York Lions in the OUA Final, capturing the championship with a 1-0 victory for the team's fourth provincial title. 

The women's team won their sixth provincial title on the same day, defeating the Ottawa Gee-Gees in penalty kicks for their first Ontario championship since 1995. After an impressive 8-1-5 regular season, during which the team allowed only eight goals against, the women cruised through Waterloo, McMaster and Carleton before meeting the Gee-Gees in the OUA final. 

Both the men's and women's teams competed at the CIS National Championship, with the men's team making it to the consolation semi final, and the women going on to win the consolation final for fifth place at the national championship. 

Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner on September 27 are now available for purchase at tickets.laurierathletics.com. For more information on the event, please contact Dawn Simons by phone (519-884-0710 x3888) or by email (dsimons@wlu.ca).