Awesome inductees
Gay Dubeau gives the thumbs-up to fellow Medicine Hat Sports Wall of Fame inductee Jenna Cunningham (not pictured) during a ceremony Thursday at the Family Leisure Centre.
After revealing the plaques that will represent them on the Medicine Hat Sports Wall of Fame, Jenna Cunningham and Gay Dubeau were meant to let someone else actually hang them.
Let’s say for the sake of this story a man was supposed to do it. Because the women did it themselves, thank you very much.
On a night the Wall’s female count went from two to four, the duo spoke of what it meant beyond the numerous achievements they were celebrated for.
“I think we’re both in the realm where yes, we work with males and male sports, but we truly do want to see the growth of the women’s game and women’s sports in general,” said Cunningham, at 29 also the youngest member of the 24-person Wall. “When Medicine Hat’s taking strides to promote women in sport with a nomination like this, it goes back to that notion that we’re making strides, breaking barriers and moving in the right direction.”
Dubeau — hailed by emcee, city councillor and ex-Medicine Hat Tiger Brian Varga as the person who “taught all of Medicine Hat to skate” — wasn’t sure at first that she even belonged in the same sentence as some previous inductees. The hundreds in attendance at the Family Leisure Centre gymnasium who gave her multiple standing ovations seemed to think otherwise.
Afterwards, the 62-year-old founder of both the Cypress School of Skating and Platinum Star Power Skating seemed to be warming up to the idea.
“When I walked by and looked at that wall, it was like ‘oh my goodness, those are famous people. I do not feel famous in any way shape or form, I just hope that I am worthy to be alongside of these people,’” said Dubeau. “It was very kind to hear all of those wonderful things that people said, so I am very honoured.”
Dubeau’s effervescent personality was lauded time and time again by both fellow coach Joanne Giesinger and daughter Nikki Patzer.
“Anytime I walk into an arena with Gay it’s like a family reunion,” said Giesinger, who nominated Dubeau. “She knows (everyone) by name. If she has not coached someone directly, they are being coached by someone who was coached by Gay.”
Patzer recalled how her mom would be more cheery at 5 a.m. going to earlymorning practice than most people are the entire day.
“She is the hardest working, most enthusiastic woman we know,” said Patzer. “Mom still sings on her way to the rink, using a pen as a microphone.”
Both women’s families were out in full force for the momentous occasion, Cunningham’s dad Lyle and her aunt Dawn Barr speaking at the podium about how they always believed in her.
“You are an inspiration to all girls and to all of us,” said Barr, pointing out Cunningham’s helmet is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. “We are so proud of you.”
While the Wall is often looked upon as the culmination of a life in sport, both inductees Thursday know they’ve got a lot left to do. Cunningham, who now lives in Calgary, teaches and works as a broadcaster for the Calgary Inferno pro women’s team she played with.
Dubeau noted “retirement is not in my vocabulary” in ending her speech, a sentiment nobody was surprised by.
Though humbled by the honour, both seemed to recognize it wasn’t necessarily the picture that now hangs on the Wall that meant the most about their induction.
“It was incredible,” said Dubeau. “Any time a person’s recognized, it gives you that much more boost to carry on and keep it up.”
“I think any time people are speaking kindly of you, when you win it’s one thing to have the trophy, it’s another thing to hear what people think of you as a person,” said Cunningham. “As an athlete, that’s what you strive for, to be a complete person more than just an athlete.”