Botterill heads Manitoba hall of fame class

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This article was published 30/10/2024 (433 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Jennifer Botterill is inducted to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame on Nov.7, she will be the first female hockey player honoured. She also will become a member of an exclusive group, as five of her family members are also in the provincial shrine.

Botterill got her start on the ice at the Wildwood Community Club in Fort Garry, where she played ringette before switching to hockey. What a move that turned out to be, as she went on to play for Canada at four Olympic Games winning silver in 1998 and gold in 2002, 2008 and 2010. She also helped Canada win five gold medals at the IIHF World Women’s Championship where she twice won the most valuable player award.

While attending prestigious Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Botterill won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in women’s college hockey in 2001 and 2003 — the only dual winner. When Harvard won the national championship in her freshman year, 1999, she scored the winning goal in overtime in the final against the University of New Hampshire.

As for the hall of fame family connection, let’s start with the induction of Jennifer’s mother, Doreen (McCannell) Botterill, in 1995. Doreen was a speed skater for Canada at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics. Donna (McCannell) Keating joined her sister Doreen in the Hall in 2018. She skated for Canada in the 1972 Winter Olympics. Donna’s husband, Bob Keating, played football for the 1969 and 1970 Canadian champion University of Manitoba Bisons, who were inducted in 1998.

On the builder side, Jennifer’s grandfather Donald McCannell was inducted in 2001 for his contributions to speed skating. Owing to his daughters’ involvement, Donald spent countless hours preparing ice and shovelling snow at the Crescentwood Community Club, which was home to the Winnipeg Speed Skating Club. He served in many roles with the club, including president, until his death in 1985. He was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Speed Skating Hall of Fame in 1983.

Jennifer’s father, Dr. Cal Botterill, was inducted as a sports medicine builder in 2016. At the time of his induction, the sports psychologist had worked with athletes at 10 Olympics and for five NHL teams. Born on a farm near Oakville, Man., he played minor hockey in Poplar Point, junior for the Portage Terriers and Winnipeg Braves, captained the U of M Bisons, and played for Canada’s national team.

The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame class of 2024 also includes hockey player Ted Irvine, who got his start at the Isaac Brock Community Club. In junior hockey, he had an unusual role in the 1963-64 season when he first served as the captain of the St. Boniface Canadiens and then the Winnipeg Braves after a late December trade. Irvine played in the NHL between 1967-68 and 1976-77 with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues.

Also being inducted is the first Special Olympics athletes to enter the provincial hall — Brita Hall has a treasure crest full of gold and silver medals won in cross-country skiing and track and field.

Russ Horbal will be honoured as a sport medicine builder and Dr. Sandra Kirby as a multi-sport builder. The U of M men’s volleyball team, which won three national titles between 1999 and 2003, will enter in the team category. The late Randy Turner will be added to the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour for his work for the Free Press.

The induction ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. For more information, visit sportmanitoba.ca