Sport NL hands out provincial awards, 3 inducted into sports hall of fame

Sport Newfoundland and Labrador presented nine provincial awards and inducted three people into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame over the weekend.

Theawardsrecognized the best athletic achievements of 2015.

More than 300 athletes, coaches, volunteers and sportsenthusiasts attended the 2016Stars and Legends Awards Gala at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John's Saturday night. The CBC'sJonathan Crowe co-hosted the annual event.

Sport NL's award selection committee chose the recipients from a list of nominees that was compiled by 18 member organizations across the province.

"Our Stars and Legends Awards Gala continues to showcase and celebrate the incredible talent that Newfoundland and Labrador's sporting community has to offer," said Rod Nicholl, president of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Our 2016 recipients have all had many accomplishments in their chosen sports over the last year and have made valuable contributions to strengthening amateur sport in our province."

The province's best in sport

SoftballerSeanClearywas selectedSenior Male Athlete of the Year, while hockey'sSarah Davistook home the Senior Female Athlete of the Yearhonours.

Clearyhas been playing at thelocal, provincial, national and international levels. Hepitched for Team Canada,winning gold medals at both the WBSC World Championships and the Pan AmGames.

Davis was the first woman from this province to be selected to a national women's hockey team. She waspicked twice in 2015, and captured two silver medals in both the Four Nations Cup and the Women's World Hockey Championships.

In the junior category,Liam Hickeywas chosen as Male Athlete of the Year for sledge hockey andwheelchair basketball, and target shooterSamantha Marshwas picked as theFemale Athlete of the Year.

Hickey wasthe first player fromthe province named to national teams in both sledge hockey andwheelchair basketball. His sledge hockey skills led him to become one of 20 players to represent Canada for the 2015-2016 team, as they build the next team for the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea.

Marsh had provincial and nationalpodium finishes in 2015. Hershowings led to an international competition,taking partin the 10m and 50m Junior Cup and the 10m and 50m SummerUniversiade in Korea.

Our Stars and Legends Awards Gala continues to showcase and celebrate the incredible talent that Newfoundland and Labrador's sporting community has to offer.- Rod Nicholl, Sport Newfoundland and Labrador

The Galway Hitmen SoftballTeam took top honours as the 2016 Team ofthe Year. The teamcaptured the province's fourth straight Canadian Senior Men's Fastpitch Championships, edging out Nova Scotia 4-3 for the gold medal.

Clarenvillevolleyball coachKeith Randellwas awardedCoach of the Year, while soccer'sDoug Redmond was recognized as Executive of the Year.

Randellcoachedonlocal,provincial andnational levels through 2015. Hecoached the Clarenville Middle School boys Grade 9 team, as well asthe senior boys team at Clarenville High. In total, Randell's teams won 14 tournaments.

Swimming official Joan Butler was selected asOfficial of the Year, andBrian Hunt was awarded Volunteer of the Year.

Butlerwas one of seven officialsnominated to be granted the title of a F.I.N.A. (Federation Internationale de Natation) official. Now eligible to officiate at international swim meets, Butler was asked to officiate at the Canadian Pan American Trials andthe Pan American Games.

In 2015, Hunt was the driving force behind many of Mount Pearl Minor Baseball initiatives,and has steadily increased registration and programming, making it the second largest association in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Facey, Faulkner Ash, Meeker inducted into hall of fame

The Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony also paid tribute to three 2016 inductees, who were selected by the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors.

Nigel Faceyand Sandy Faulkner Ash were inducted in the athlete category, while Howie Meeker was honoured as a builder.

Facey has had a long career participating in multiple sports, and is one of a select few athletes to have represented thisprovinceat both the Canada Summer Games and theCanada Winter Games.

Faulkner Ash, who has competed at the highest level of women's soccer for close to 25 years,had stints with the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team, and has competed in the North American Women's Semi-Pro Soccer League, as well as the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) Championships.

For more than five decades, Meeker has been involved inmultiple aspects of hockey as a player, coach, general manager, announcer and broadcaster. He's instructed at all levels, from grade school to the National Hockey League, as well asvarious international hockey leagues.