Vancouver Dueck Powerglides inducted into BC Sports Hall of Fame On December 2, 2008, the BC Sports Hall of Fame announced the selection of eight individuals and two teams for Induction as part of its 2009 class. Selection for induction recognizes excellence in sport, contribution to sport and the impact on sport in British Columbia, in the categories of athlete, team, builder, and pioneer. We are pleased to announce that the Vancouver Dueck Powerglides Wheelchair Basketball Team will be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in the Pioneer category. (Photo: Ann Mowat, the wife of Powerglides founding member Doug Mowat represents the team joining the other 2009 Inductees.) As part of the 41st induction class, the Powerglides will be joined by athletes Lori Bowden (triathlon), Carol Huynh (wrestling), Chris Loseth (horse racing), Paul Parnell (lacrosse), and Larry Walker (baseball); Builders Sohen Gill (lacrosse) and Les McDonald (triathlon); in Media, Archie McDonald; and in the Team category, the 2008 Canadian Olympic Men's Rowing Team. Formal induction will take place on May 13, 2009 at the Annual Banquet of Champions. The Dueck Powerglides of Vancouver came into existence in the 1950s when Doug Mowat, Stan Stronge, Jim Mackie and Walter Schmidt decided there was a need for a sport people with disabilities could play. This soon led to the beginnings of the sport of wheelchair basketball at the gymnasium of the Western Rehabilitation Centre. With the addition of three more players and coaches Norm Watt and Al Noble, the club was born. In 1959, the Dueck Powerglides joined the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA), Northwestern Conference. The Vancouver team played against teams south of the border including Seattle and Tacoma. BC had a team in the NWBA for the next 35 years, where they ranked amongst the top ten teams in the league many times. From those early beginnings, the league continues to provide great competition for basketball players. In fact, it is strongly believed that the remarkable international success of Canada's men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams in recent years has its roots in BC with the Vancouver Dueck Powerglides. Vancouver Dueck Powerglides team members included: Players: Lloyd Chamberlayne (Capt.), Pat Bell, Jack Colbeck, Jim Mackie, Don Endicott, Bill Robson, Stan Strong, Bill Gaynor, Mel Hamilton, Charlie Gunn, Walter Schmidt, Chris Peters, Jack Boreham, Morris Wally, John Lineker, Al Noble, Don Tudge, Lorne Klohn, Harry Baldwin, Jerry Blair, Al Smedley, Don Manuel Staff: Norm Watt (Coach), Al Noble (Coach), Tom Jenkins (Coach), Vic Cue (Coach), Doug Mowat (Manager), Bernie Wallick (Manager), Lorne Davidson (Trainer), John Allan (Referee), Carol Gossky (Referee).