STARK NAMED TO UNBC HALL OF FAME

Dennis Stark has been inducted into the Timberwolves Wall of Honour.

Fresh off leading Kelly Road Secondary School to its finest-ever finish at the B.C. provincial basketball championships in 2007, Stark was primed to make the leap to the collegiate level.

It didn’t take long for the six-foot-five forward to beginning contributing to the T-wolves. In 2007-2008, his freshman campaign, Stark averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. His work on the glass was good for 12th in all of the BCCAA. However, what stood out about the rookie was his emerging leadership and willingness to do whatever it took for his teammates. At the conclusion of the season, he also earned Academic All-Canadian status for his work in the classroom.

In 2008-2009, he replicated his production from a season ago with 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and one assist per game, but played a crucial role as a galvanizing leader for the program. The T-wolves went 12-6 on the season, and earned the BCCAA bronze medal, while Stark was named the team’s lone all-star at the provincial tournament. Additionally, he was named UNBC Best Defensive Player at the conclusion of the year.

The Timberwolves entered the 2009-2010 campaign as the frontrunners to win the CCAA national championship. The Timberwolves went 17-1 in regular season play, before going 2-0 in the BCCAA tournament to clinch the provincial title. They capped it off with a 3-0 run at the CCAA National Championship tournament, earning the only Canadian banner in school history. Stark was there, starting every game along the way, playing the brand of basketball that brought out the best in his teammates and the team. He averaged 9.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and one assist, and established himself as one of the most popular T-wolves ever.

In 2010-2011, expectations were again sky-high for the Timberwolves, and Stark found a way to improve his game all over the court. The fourth-year forward’s athleticism was on full display, regularly making plays above the rim, while he was still the T-wolf leaned upon to make the effort plays that could swing the result of games. UNBC went 16-2, and advanced all the way to the BCCAA provincial final.

“He made such an impact on the court with his scoring, rebounding, and defense,” said

Stark averaged 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, and was named a BCCAA provincial Second Team All-Star at the conclusion of the season.

Beyond the accolades, Stark made a permanent impression on the Timberwolves record book, posting career numbers at the BCCAA level that help tell the story of his impact on the program.

At the conclusion of his career, his 779 points were good for third in program history, and were the most by and Prince George product in UNBC history. His 461 career rebounds were the most in UNBC history, and he also managed to finish top ten in career assists. After his freshman season ended with a 5-11 record, Stark’s final four regular seasons combined record was 58-12.

After his playing career, Stark served as an assistant coach for the program, and now serves as UNBC’s director of student recruitment. He lives in Prince George with his wife, Rhea. Fittingly, when a prospective student-athlete wants to learn what makes UNBC so great, it is Stark, one of the greatest all-time leaders and teammates in Timberwolves history, who is there to tell them what their experience will be like.