Antigonish, NS – StFX Athletics is pleased to announce the Class of 2022 inductees into the STFX Sports Hall of Fame, including three athletes: Fred Perry (basketball), Richard Karikari (football) and Ghislaine Landry (rugby), along with long-time basketball coach Peter 'Doc' Ryan as a builder, and the national champion 2010 STFX X-Women rugby squad in the team category.
This year's induction ceremony, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:00 p.m., at StFX's Schwartz Auditorium. Inductees will also participate in various ceremony events at varsity games during StFX Homecoming weekend.
The 2022 STFX Sports Hall of Fame inductees include:
ATHLETE CATEGORY:
Fred Perry (Basketball, Class of 2001)
Fred Perry – a two-time first-team All-Canadian forward – helped lead the X-Men basketball team to back-to-back CIS national championship banners (2000, 2001). Described as a leader since his freshman season, on and off the court, the Halifax native always displayed a willingness to improve his game throughout his varsity career.
A two-time AUAA most valuable player (2000, 2001) and four-time conference first team all-star, Perry is one of only two STFX student-athletes to capture two national championships and three conference crowns (1997, 2000 and 2001), garnering CIS tournament all-star recognition in both national championship victories. After receiving the X-Men rookie of the year award in 1997, he went on to be named team MVP in each of the next four seasons, and was the 2000 STFX male athlete of the year.
The second leading scorer in X-Men basketball history finished his five-year career with 1741 regular season points and 2835 overall. He is ninth overall in STFX career three-point field goals (193) and his regular season point tally still holds up as third all-time in the AUS conference scoring record book. Perry went on to play professionally in France after his five-year varsity career.
Richard Karikari (Football, Class of 2005)
In an exemplary three-year career on the White and Blue gridiron, the native of Accra, Ghana, brought the crowd at STFX Stadium to its collective feet on countless occasions with his dazzling athleticism.
A three-time AUS all-star – both as a defensive back and special teams' player – Karikari was named conference most valuable player in 2002, while garnering a first-team All-Canadian nod and an AUS nomination for the Hec Crighton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top Canadian university football player. In that stellar season, Karikari was one of four male athlete nominees (representing the AUS) for the BLG Award, which is presented each year to the CIS Athlete of the Year.
While with the X-Men, Karikari set program records in both punt and kick-off return yards. He is currently second overall in STFX career punt return yards (1432) and third in kickoff return yards (917).
After his varsity playing days, Karikari was selected 12th in the opening round of the Canadian Football League (CFL) draft by the Montreal Alouettes in 2003. A CFL all-star in 2005 – a season in which he collected a team-leading nine interceptions – he also captured the Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders in 2008.
Ghislaine Landry (Rugby, Class of 2010)
The Toronto native made an immediate impact on STFX women's rugby, scoring a try in her first Atlantic University Sport (AUS) regular season match – a feat that she would repeat every time on the pitch in her four-year conference career. In that 2006 freshman campaign, Landry led the White and Blue to a national championship, one in which she was named CIS rookie of the year and a first-team All-Canadian.
In 2007, Landry earned the first of back-to-back CIS player of the year awards, and the second of four first-team All-Canadian nods. She also excelled on the national championship tournament stage, helping lead the X-Women to consecutive silver medals in 2008 and 2009. She earned all-star status in each CIS tournament appearance, other than in 2007, when she was injured.
The four-time AUS most valuable player has left an indelible mark on the conference record book, including bests in career points (352) and tries (70), along with points scored in a single game (35), tries in a single game (seven) and tries in a single season (22).
A four-time STFX athlete of the year, Landry was the first female Xaverian to win a national player of the year award. In 2009, she was the AUS nominee for the BLG Award nominee, an honour that recognizes the CIS Athlete of the Year.
In that same year, Landry left an impression on the global stage; she was a key member of Team Canada's Rugby Sevens that won silver at the World University Rugby Championship in Spain, while her breakout performance donning the Maple Leaf came at the 2013 Women's Sevens World Cup, where she finished second in tournament scoring while helping Canada captured a silver medal. She was nominated for World Rugby Women's Sevens player of the year in 2017.
While becoming one of the highest scoring players in the world, Landry contributed greatly to Team Canada medal-winning performances at the 2015 Pan American Games (gold) and 2016 Summer Olympic Games (silver).
BUILDER CATEGORY:
Peter 'Doc' Ryan (Basketball, Class of 1978 & 1979)
The two-time graduate of the university has been associated with STFX Athletics – both as a student-athlete and coach – for almost 50 years.
In his two varsity seasons on the court, Ryan was named X-Men most valuable player in 1978, while earning a spot on the AUAA's first-team all-star squad. In 1979, when he co-captained the White and Blue, he received a second-team all-star nod.
In the campaign before joining the X-Men (1976-77), Ryan – as a member of the UQTR Patriotes – led the nation (CIAU) in scoring and was named a second-team All-Canadian.
As a member of Canada's men's national team – from 1977-1980 – Ryan played with the 1980 Summer Olympics squad.
After moving into the coaching ranks, which included an eight-year stint as head coach with the Dalhousie Tiger men's team, Ryan returned to his alma mater in 1988 to take the helm of the X-Women basketball program, which he led for 17 seasons until 2006. The White and Blue won an AUAA crown in 1998, while he was named conference coach of the year in 2000.
Ryan, who has been an associate coach with X-Men basketball since 2008, has provided key technical and video analysis, along with mentorship of X-Men student-athletes, coaching alongside his friend Steve Konchalski for 13 years, and continuing on with current X-Men head coach Tyrell Vernon. Ryan also served as co-director of the annual Xavier Basketball Camp from 1989 to 2005. His loyalty to STFX basketball has been exceptional, not only in years served, but as evidenced by his recent Canada Basketball financial award highlighting Black Canadian players and coaches, which he directed towards STFX student-athlete scholarships for BIPOC athletes.
Known by most people as 'Doc,' the resident of Antigonish County also provided his coaching talents to Canada's men's national program for 12 seasons, including four as lead assistant to then head coach and retired X-Men bench boss Konchalski.
TEAM CATEGORY:
2010 STFX X-Women Rugby Team
The X-Women captured the rugby program's second CIS national championship with a thrilling 17-12 overtime victory over the Concordia Stingers in Peterborough, Ontario – the culmination of a second-to-none season.
After finishing the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season undefeated (6-0) – a campaign in which they scored 406 points and surrendered only six – the White and Blue, led by head coach Mike Cavanagh, won its 13th consecutive conference championship with a convincing 57-0 home victory over the Acadia Axewomen.
Tyson Beukeboom – the AUS most valuable player and CIS All-Canadian – was one of seven conference all-stars on the dominant squad. One of those teammates – Magali Harvey – was named the AUS rookie of the year and an CIS All-Canadian. Asya Bartley, the third X-Women All-Canadian from that memorable season, also collected her third berth on the national tournament all-star team, where she was joined by Harvey – the championship MVP – and Amanda Thornborough.
The 2010 X-Women national championship team includes: Katie Archibald, Asya Bartley, Amanda Bedard, Tyson Beukeboom, Bobbi Jo Cronk, Olivia DeMerchant, Vanessa Duffley, Julie Emmerson, Jamee George, Stephanie Gillis, Tina Hansen, Elizabeth Hardy, Magali Harvey, Jessica Jacobs, Casey Jones, Stephanie MacKinnon, Jillian MacLaren, Courtnay Malcolm, Daniela Mayo, Allison McGlashen, Lisa McGrath, Beth McNeill, Victoria Middelton, Alex Munroe, Kaily Neill, Cassie Osins, Megan Pritchard, Meaghan Porter, Emma Taylor, Amanda Thornborough, Sarah Thorsen, Jayme Ward, Lauren Wilks, Laura Nickelo (student therapist), Brendon Sampson (student therapist), Mary Giles (graduate assistant), Annette Duggan (manager), Tara Sutherland (assistant coach), Steve Clapperton (assistant coach) and Mike Cavanagh (head coach).
The STFX Sports Hall of Fame – founded in 1976 – honours individuals who have contributed significantly to STFX sports as athletes, builders or teams. Inductees have exemplified the spirit and ideals of Xaverian athletics in their professional and community lives. Induction ceremonies take place annually.
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