WATERLOO, Ont. - Wilfrid Laurier University has a special kind of club with membership restricted to some exceptional people. Now, the club has grown - again.

For years, the Laurier Golden Hawk Hall of Fame, under the tutelage of the Department of Athletics and Recreation, has been a showcase of notable individuals from all sectors of sport offered by the university.

Chosen to Laurier's prestigious class of 2021 are members of a Yates Cup championship team, an acclaimed men's hockey coach, and six athletes – two from each of football and curling, along with one from basketball and the other from baseball.

All inductees will be honoured during Laurier's traditional Homecoming festivities, which are set this year for September 22 to 26 at the Waterloo-area main campus.

2021 Honorees to the Laurier Golden Hawks Hall of Fame are:

• Kwaku Boateng (Milton, Ont.). OUA J.P. Metras (most outstanding Canadian down lineman) award winner and on league football championship team, a three-time academic All-Canadian, chosen to OUA All-Rookie team and five Laurier sports awards.
• Jonathan Brouse (Port Perry, Ont.). A five-time OUA baseball All-Star outfielder, member of three league championship squads, Ontario Academic Achievement Award winner,  and recipient of the Laurier Rookie of the Year.
• Whitney Ellenor (Pickering, Ont.). One of the most dominant female basketball players and a Canadian Interuniversity (CIS) and OUA all-star forward, who was a member of the Golden Hawks squad that competed at the National playoffs.
• Wayne Gowing (Kitchener, Ont.). Builder of university sport, coached three Laurier championship men's hockey teams in the Ontario University Athletics Association (OUAA), a three-time Coach of the Year and regular season record of 255 wins, 155 losses and 41 ties.
• Richard Krell (London, Ont.) -The curler was a two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian, three-time All-Canadian team winner, two-time All-Star and member of three championship teams (a CIS and two OUA)
• Nakas Onyeka (Brampton, Ont.) - First-team All-Canadian linebacker and member of OUA football championship team, two-time OUA All-Star and winner of Laurier Presidents Award as top male athlete.
• Aaron Squires (St. Thomas, Ont.) - A CIS and two-time OUA men's curling team champ, three-time All-Canadian, twice chosen OUA All-Star and recipient of the Laurier President's Award as top male athlete.
• 2004 Yates Cup Football Champions: Gary Jeffries was head coach of the 89-member team.

Created in 1986, the Laurier Golden Hawks Hall of Fame has recognized former outstanding contributions by athletes, coaches, teams, and individuals, during their years with the Golden Hawks. These are talented individuals who have been in the Canadian spotlight while competing for Laurier varsity sports teams competing in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) league.

Deborah MacLatchy, President and Vice Chancellor at Laurier, praised the important commitment by the Laurier university ambassadors in the world of amateur sport.

"Laurier has a strong tradition of developing exceptional athletes who are also exemplary members of their communities," said Deborah MacLatchy, President and Vice-Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University. "As student-athletes, Laurier's Hall of Fame inductees met the demands of academics, training and competition, and commitment to community. This group truly embodies what it means to inspire lives of leadership and purpose."

Peter Baxter, Director of Athletics and Recreation at Laurier, said the seven-member Hall of Fame Selection Committee reviewed a number of nominees. Luke Fusco, a former Laurier Dean of Social Work and Chairman of the Committee, submitted the names of the chosen group to Baxter.

"The Golden Hawk family of athletes, coaches, alumni and builders have had a proud tradition of fame," said Baxter. "To be selected to the Laurier Golden Hawks Hall of Fame comes from more than just hard work, a desire to learn and improve, but impressive performances, awards, recognition by peers, success in the classroom and a positive contribution to community life."

In the past 35 years, the Laurier Sports Hall of Fame has more than 200 inductees that include athletes, coaches, builders of sport, as well as 26 teams.

- Written by David Grossman 

For information:

Peter Baxter
Director of Athletics and Recreation
Wilfrid Laurier University
(519) 884-1970 ext. 2216
pbaxter@wlu.ca