2026 inductees announced for STFX Sports Hall of Fame

2026 STFX Sports Hall of Fame inductees unveiled

Antigonish, NS - STFX Athletics is proud to announce the class of 2026 Sports Hall of Fame inductees with four athletes and two teams making the list. Inductees in the athlete category include Kyle Gayle (X-Men Basketball, 1986), Yanick Evola (X-Men Hockey, 2000), Nikki Doucet (X-Women Basketball, 2001), and Erin (MacLean) Coates (X-Women Cross Country and Track & Field, 2006 and 2008). Entering into the team category will be the 1975-76 X-Men Volleyball squad and the 2012 X-Women Rugby team.    

STFX Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson notes, "Each of these inductees has left an extraordinary legacy at STFX through their talent, commitment, and passion for their sport. From championship teams to record-setting individual performances, they embody the values of excellence and community that define STFX Athletics. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements with alumni, family, friends, and fans this fall."

The 2026 induction ceremony, which is open to the public free of charge, is scheduled for Saturday, October 10^th at 10:00 am at STFX's Schwartz auditorium. 

The 2026 STFX Sports Hall of Fame inductees are as follows:

ATHLETES:

Kyle Gayle (X-Men Basketball, Class of 1986)

Entering the STFX Sports Hall of Fame posthumously, 6'2" dynamic guard Kyle Gayle hailed from Bayonne, New Jersey - spending five seasons electrifying fans on the court with the X-Men Basketball team. After beginning his career with the White and Blue in the 1982-83 campaign, he was recognized as an AUAA second team all-star in his third season, then followed up with two consecutive AUAA first team all-star nods. Gayle received honorable mention as a 1985-86 CIAU all-Canadian, going on to wrap up his STFX career with an incredible final season.

After the 1986-87 campaign, Gayle was honoured as a second team all-Canadian, was the recipient of the Frank Baldwin Memorial Trophy as the AUAA most valuable player, was the two-time consecutive X-Men MVP, as well as earning the STFX male athlete of the year award. He finished his outstanding career with 1010 career points in 92 games played, placing him 5th overall in the X-Men record book upon the time of graduation from the Bachelor of Arts program. Kyle now sits 20th in STFX career scoring, and his 436 career assists remain second best in X-Men history and 11th in all-time conference assists. He also tops the X-Men record book for most assists in a single game with 17 in 1986. His outstanding presence on the court is permanently etched in X-Men Basketball history.

Yanick Evola (X-Men Hockey, Class of 2000)

Joining the X-Men Hockey team for the 1997-98 season, this high-flying forward from Boucherville, Que. skated his way into the STFX record book with his impressive scoring touch. Yanick Evola made an immediate impact in his first season with 40 points before being named the team's rookie of the year. During his five seasons, Evola was an impressive three-time CIAU all-Canadian while also featuring on four AUAA conference all-star teams. He led the X-Men in scoring four times and was named the AUAA most valuable player in 1999-00, the same year he earned the league scoring title. His 56 points scored in the 1998-99 season were fifth best overall in STFX single season scoring. 

Yanick was a key member of the 2000-01 CIAU silver medal X-Men team, while also earning silver for Team Canada at the 2001 FISU World University Games in Poland. A two-time academic all-Canadian, Evola wrapped up his outstanding career with 199 points (80G, 119A), a mark that cements him second overall in X-Men career scoring and 15th in the conference.

Erin (MacLean) Coates (X-Women Cross Country & Track & Field, Class of 2006 and 2008)

Erin (MacLean) Coates landed at STFX via Greenwood, N.S., and dominantly ran her way to numerous school, conference, and national accolades. The Human Kinetics and Education graduate was a key member of three AUS Cross Country championship teams from 2002 to 2007, when the STFX running dynasty took off. Erin's individual cross country honors included being named a CIS second team all-Canadian in 2005, three consecutive AUS all-star nods, and taking home the X-Women runner of the year award on two occasions.

On the indoor track, Coates continued to shine on the conference and national stage. The three-time X-Women Track & Field athlete of the year was honoured twice as the AUS Track & Field athlete of the year in both 2006 and 2007, winning an impressive five AUS track medals (three gold, one silver and one bronze) in her career. She was the AUS champion in both the 1500m and 3000m in 2006, and retained her 1500m title in 2007 in her final season with the White and Blue. Even more impressive, Erin became the first X-Woman to ever to earn a national CIS track & field medal, and she took home not only one but three national medals over the course of three seasons, all in the 3000m event, including one silver and two bronze.

In 2006, Coates was also recognized for her contributions beyond the field of competition when she was named the CIS Female Community Student-Athlete of the Year, while also becoming the first-ever female recipient of the STFX Community X-cellence award. The two-time Academic All-Canadian wrapped up her outstanding university running career by representing Canada at the World Cross Country Championships in 2008 and continued her successes on the long distance circuit throughout the Maritimes following her time at STFX. Coates is also being inducted into the Kingston/Greenwood/Annapolis Valley Sport Hall of Fame this October.

Nikki Doucet (X-Women Basketball, Class of 2001)

A native of Liverpool, N.S., this dynamic two-way guard not only left an indelible mark on X-Women Basketball, but also the program, conference and national record books. While donning the White and Blue from 1997-2001, Doucet became the team's all-time leader in assists (406), assists-per-game (5.1), steals (298) and steals-per-game (3.7). With 861 points, she currently ranks eighth on the X-Women's career scoring list. In the 1999-2000 season, Doucet garnered an AUAA second-team all-star nod while, in 2000-2001, she collected a first-team all-star selection and the conference's award for defensive player of the year, as well as being named an all-star in both the 1999 and 2001 AUAA championship tournaments. 

Doucet wrapped up her varsity basketball career at the University of Toronto, earning an OUA East player of the year award and a first-team all-star selection in 2003-2004. She also notched a first-team All-Canadian award. Doucet ranks fifth and 10th all-time nationally in CIS assists (500) and assists per game (4.9), respectively. She has the most steals (356), and third-best steals-per-game average in CIS history (3.5). Nikki received a top 20 national team invitation in 2005 for a tryout camp. Along with her exceptional skill, passion, competitive drive and flair for the game, the Bachelor of Business Administration graduate is remembered not only as a second-to-none teammate but also an advocate for women in leadership and sport.  

TEAMS:

1975-76 X-Men Volleyball 

The 1975-76 X-Men Volleyball team made their historical mark as the first X-Men Volleyball team to win an AUAA conference title - the first of two consecutive league titles - under the guidance of head coach Lou Bilek. Bilek recruited nine players from the 1975 Nova Scotia Canada Games team that season, resulting in a full roster of Nova Scotians, including five athletes from neighboring Pictou County. The X-Men took the AUAA conference by storm, defeating all rival opponents (some for the first time ever), enroute to claiming first place in the AUAA conference standings.  

At the AUAA championship tournament at Mount Allison, the X-Men went 6-0 in round robin action then squared off against the perennial powerhouse team from UNB in the conference final. With set wins of 15-13 and 16-14, the X-Men claimed victory over the Red Rebels, securing the first AUAA volleyball championship in school history – 50 years ago to their Hall of Fame induction year.

The X-Men went on to earn a respectable sixth place showing at the national championship in Winnipeg, taking on teams featuring players with national and Olympic program experience while they played as a team mainly of rookies - the youngest squad competing on the national stage.

Members of the 1975-76 X-Men Volleyball team include John Bannerman, Pat Carty, Jean Louis Comeau, Leny Day, Donny Dewar, Preston Lockhart, Kevin MacDonald, Neil MacKinnon, Rene Saulnier, Paul Sherren, Al Stalker and head coach Lou Bilek. 

2012 X-Women Rugby 

One of the most dominant STFX squads to ever hit the pitch, the 2012 X-Women Rugby team posted an impressive 13-0 undefeated season enroute to winning the Monilex trophy for the third time in STFX history as national CIS champions. Ranked number one in the country throughout the entire season, the X-Women posted a 10-0 exhibition record and topped the AUS standings with an 8-0 record. They scored a whopping 657 points for, while allowing a mere three points against, leading the conference in tries scored (109) and conversions (56). Their 657 points and 109 tries set AUS single season records that still hold through to this day.  

In the AUS championship, the high-powered X-Women ran away with lopsided wins over UPEI (92-3) and Acadia (72-0) in the semifinal and final to win the conference banner, their 15^th straight title. At the CIS national championship hosted on home soil at STFX Oland Stadium, STFX continued their winning ways, dropping Queen's (53-10) and Concordia (40-0) in pool play. In front of a sell-out exciting crowd of over 5000 fans, the White and Blue won a thrilling 37-0 game over Guelph in the CIS Championship game to claim the national title.

The team featured three CIS All-Canadians in Tyson Beukeboom, Magali Harvey, and Amanda Thornborough, while head coach Mike Cavanaugh was named CIS and AUS Coach of the Year. CIS tournament all-star honors went to Asya Bartley, Beth McNeill, Emma Taylor, Sara Kaljuvee, along with Harvey, Thornborough, and Beukeboom, who was also the CIS tournament and AUS MVP.

Members of the team include:  Lauren Agnew, Asya Bartley, Zahra Batool, Tyson Beukeboom, Ashley Brooker, Tanisha Campbell, Charlotte Curley, Olivia DeMerchant, Vanessa Duffley, Cathryn Edgar, Sara Gandy, Lisa Gauthier, Emma Gibbons, Stephanie Gillis, Brianna Graham, Michelle Guiot, Michaela Halsey, Tina Hansen, Magali Harvey, Mia Huysmans, Jessica Jacobs, Casey Jones, Sara Kaljuvee, Natalie Lesco, Kalyn MacAskill, Alyssa MacDonald, Catharine MacKeigan, Stephanie  MacKinnon, Angelina MacLellan, Lisa McCarthy, Sabrina McDaid, Lisa McGrath, Beth McNeill, Kelly Mitchell, Alexandra Munroe, Ellen Murphy, Cassandra Osins, Danielle Robb, Carolyn Stewart, Emma Taylor, Elizabeth Thompson, Amanda Thornborough, Kaitlin VanSteeg, Jayme Ward, and Lauren Wilks. 

They are joined by head coach Mike Cavanagh, assistant coach and athletic therapist Tara Sutherland, assistant coaches Steve Clapperton and Zoe Fielding, manager Katie Archibald, videographer Annette Duggan, academic advisor Charlene Weaving, and student therapists Keegan Wood and Alix George. 

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