ACAC Hall of Fame
In celebration of its 50th season of competition, the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) unveiled an ACAC Hall of Fame in 2014 to honor a rich history of esteemed builders and administrators, respected coaching leaders and talented student-athletes. Four members of the Keyano Huskies family have been called to the ACAC's Hall of Fame.
Athlete Category:
Alwyn Piche
Alwyn Piche was an exceptionally talented athlete who graduated from Keyano College Huskies program as the most decorated student athlete in the programs 29 year history. Piche is one of only 2 athletes in CCAA history to win the CCAA Men's Volleyball Player of the Year Award earning it first in 2009 and then again in 2013. Accordingly, he was also a member of the CCAA All Canadian team in both of those seasons in addition to being named a CCAA National Tournament All Star in 2009. Piche earned selection to the ACAC All Conference Team during each of his 4 years of ACAC participation, and was twice named ACAC Men's Volleyball Player of the Year (2009 and 2013). He is still the ACAC's all-time points leader in Men's Volleyball while also ranking 1st all-time in Aces, 2nd in Kills and 10th in Digs. In his final season in 2012-13, the Huskies enjoyed their best regular season ever and went on to earn the ACAC bronze medal. Piche graduated with a Mechanical Construction and Trades Certificate.
Builders Category:
Wayne Thomas
Wayne Thomas started with Keyano College as the Recreation Director in 1981. In May, 1985 he spearheaded the application that led Keyano College into the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and became Keyano's first Athletic Director. Wayne moved the Huskies through the sports of badminton, bowling, cross country running, curling, racquetball, war canoe, and volleyball. Wayne served as a Convenor for badminton (1985), canoe (1988), golf (2003), curling (intermittently during 1985-1995), and Co-Convenor for cross country running (2004).
Although no longer the Athletic Director in the 10 years prior to retiring in 2010, Wayne played an integral role in the growth of Huskies Athletics as they expanded into soccer, basketball, futsal and men's hockey. He paved the way for the construction of the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre, the current home of Keyano Huskies, and also the venue for Keyano's first national hosting duties in the 2009 Men;s Volleyball Nationals Championship, where he served as a committee member. His lasting legacy continues to impact students as he played a major role in our Student Athlete Enrollment Bursary that has recently surpassed $ 1,000,000.
Ian Allan
Ian Allan started his association with the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference as the head coach of the NAIT Ooks men's volleyball team from 1986-1989 before returning north to take on Athletic Director duties at Keyano College from 1989-1996. He was instrumental in starting up cross country running and men's and women's volleyball. In addition to being the head coach of the Huskies men's volleyball team for six years, he assisted with the development of the Huskies Volleyball Club for Youth, the Keyano Huskies Booster Club, and summer sports camps.
In 1996 Allan accepted a position at Vancouver Island College as the men's volleyball coach and regional volleyball coach. In 2000 he moved on to take the role of Technical Director for Alberta Volleyball. Since 2005 he has traveled the world working in part for the Asian Games, Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA World Cup, the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and London Summer Olympics.
Allan has since returned to Fort McMurray and is currently the Director of Sports and Venues within the organizing committee of the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games to be held August 7-16, 2015 in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
Curtis "CJ" Phillips
As the Program Director and Program Coordinator for Shaw TV Fort McMurray from 1991 to 2000, Curtis J. (CJ) Phillips revolutionized the coverage of the Huskies and local sports stories through the television medium. With a dedicated focus, he has been reporting on the Keyano Huskies and ACAC since 1982, spanning various print and electronic platforms.
Phillips continued his media service with Fort McMurray CONNECT and YMM Magazine from 2009 to the present day, offering coverage of local sporting initiatives in McMurray and regular interest stories on the Keyano Huskies.
Driven by his passion for sports development, Phillips founded the Challenge Cup in 1983—an annual competition among Fort McMurray's High Schools that aggregates sports results to determine a winner. This concept still thrives today in high school athletic competitions among schools in the RMWB.
As the President of the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Phillips played a crucial role in celebrating the region's top athletic accomplishments, including those of the Keyano Huskies. In 2017, he was officially inducted as a member of the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
Phillips served as the Honourary Chairman for the Wood Buffalo 2004 Arctic Winter Games, an ambassador for the Keyano Huskies in 2010 and 2017, and was recognized four times as the Fort McMurray High Schools Athletic Association's Volunteer of the Year. Phillips' legacy exemplifies what it means to be part of the Keyano Huskies family. He recognizes that his contributions to sports in our region extend beyond the walls of the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre or the playing surface the Huskies compete on.
Moreover, his unwavering focus and dedication to the Keyano Huskies have remained steadfast, first as a journalist and later as a part of our organization. He has played a significant role in keeping the Fort McMurray community connected to the Huskies and vice-versa. Additionally, he still lends his voice to the Huskies to this day as the play-by-play broadcaster.
