C's will ring in the new year with first-class championship rings
By Greg Douglas,
[email protected]
December 31, 2011
SCENE & HEARD: Vancouver Canadians' president Andy Dunn has designed and ordered 110 Northwest League championship baseball rings through Jostens of Minneapolis. That's the firm traditionally called on by MLB, the NFL, NBA, NASCAR and NCAA. Canadians' co-owners Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney said they wanted to go first-class and Dunn was happy to oblige.
Until the official unveiling in late January, Dunn won't say much about "the look" other than the fact there will be logos of both the Canadians and parent Toronto Blue Jays included among a healthy dose of diamonds.
The plan is to present the players with their rings during spring training when the entire Blue Jays organization gathers in Dunedin, Fla. in March. The C's management and staff will have to wait for a special ceremony at Nat Bailey Stadium at the start of the 2012 season.
Of the 110 on order, just one will arrive from Minneapolis without an engraved name, but not for long. It will be personalized for the highest bidder at the second annual Canadians Baseball Foundation Luncheon on Feb. 3. "Not a replica," says Dunn. "The real thing."
HERE 'N' THERE: A couple of Winnipeg natives with Vancouver connections are among the Class of 2012 inductees headed for the American Hockey League Hall of Fame. Joe Crozier and Jack Gordon will be honoured at the AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City on Jan. 30. Crozier won three Calder Cup titles as coach of the Rochester Americans before arriving in Vancouver to general manage and coach the Canucks to back-to-back Western League championships in 1969 and 1970. Gordon was an AHL mainstay as both a player and coach, achieving his greatest success with the Cleveland Barons. He was general manager of the NHL Canucks from 1985-1987 under the Griffiths family regime.
HERE 'N' THERE: It will be a first for the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame when David Chavarria is among the 2011 inductees at the Burnaby Firefighters Club Metrotown ceremonies on Feb. 16. David's dad, Ossie, was inducted into the builders' category in 2005. It will be the initial father-son combo in the history of the Hall. Joining Chavarria in the athletes category are multi-sport performer Hank Grenada, SFU women's basketball standout Michelle Hendry and track and field star Jason Delesalle. Sport medicine's Dr. Jack Taunton and figure skating executive Ted Barton will be recognized as builders.
END ZONE: Vancouver Giants have declared Friday, Feb. 3 as Don Hay Night at the Pacific Coliseum for their game against Kamloops. In his seventh year as head coach of the Giants, management is confident part of the celebration will be Hay bringing home a gold medal from the World Junior Tournament as head coach of Team Canada.
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