Volleyball PEI Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Volleyball PEI Hall of Fame was established to formally recognize those who have made a significant contribution or who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the sport of Volleyball in the province of Prince Edward Island.

Harvey Mazerolle:
Harvey Mazerolle has been involved with the sport of Volleyball in PEI for the past 45 years.  He is originally from Shediac, N.B. and came to West Prince in the early 1970’s to teach physical education and French at Tignish High School . In 1977 he moved into the newly built M.E. Callaghan Junior High School where he taught Phys. Ed and later French Immersion as well as coaching  many different school sports teams, including boys’ volleyball . Over these past 45 years, Harvey has grown our sport immensely, in many different roles.

 Harvey has coached the M.E. Callaghan Cougars boys to 10 PEISAA provincial championships over his 43 years as coach there. This is the most titles for a junior high boys team since the School Athletic Association was officially formed. He has also led his teams to 4 gold medals at the elite Dalhousie Classic Volleyball Tournament.  His teaching of skills, strategy and quality of character to his players has been instrumental in the success of the Westisle men’s volleyball teams over the years.

 Seeking to expand on an 8-week school volleyball season, he co-founded the West Prince Islanders Volleyball Club in 1987, coaching many teams to many Eastern Canadian and National midget and juvenile club championships over the years (including 2 gold medals in Tier 2). He continues to coach club this spring, which is the WP Islanders 35th year of operation. Harvey also served as the men’s assistant coach at the 1989 and 2005 Canada Games. Included in this, he took the 2005 men’s team on a training trip to Cuba in preparation for the Games.

Administration: Harvey has been involved on the board of Volleyball PEI for about 30 years, starting back in 1989. He served in many capacities, including president (4 years), member-at-large, and vice-president (the role he is currently serving). His leadership and vision has helped to grow the sport to the level it is now at. He was on the organizing committees for Eastern Canadian Midget, and National Juvenile Championships hosted here in PEI in the 1990’s. He has also served as junior high/intermediate school volleyball commissioner for the PEISAA for over 20 years. He has also organized and run the Cougar Classic Volleyball Tournament for girls and boys for 44 years. It is the longest running junior high tournament in Canada! He is also the co-founder and a senior instructor at the Seaside Volleyball Camp, which has been held in West Prince for the past 25 years.

It is easy to see why Harvey is being inducted into our Volleyball PEI Hall of Fame. He has been a key reason for the tremendous growth of the sport in this province.  Congratulations Harvey on being inducted into the VPEI Hall of Fame 2021 class in the Builder category.
 
Tony Wells:
Tony is a Prince Edwards Island Native who grew up in Charlottetown and learned to play volleyball at Queen Charlotte and Colonel Gray.  Tony played for PEI at the Canada Games in 1979 and then went to UNB (1979-1980) where he was named UNB Rookie of the Year.  Following 2 years at UNB Tony went to University of Calgary where he was the 2 time Canada West All-star and was awarded the 1984 Award of Merit by the U of C.

Tony was a member of many championship indoor and beach teams over his playing and coaching career.   As a player he was a 2-time Atlantic Open Champion with Sunbury from Fredericton (1980-1982); Gold with “West Beach Generals” from Calgary  in Men’s Open Nationals (1987); Bronze with “West Beach Generals” (1986); and from 1991-1999 he won 6 Gold Medals with “Canuck Stuff” (1991,1992,1993,1995,1996,1998) in the Men’s Open Nationals. Due to this dynasty, the Canuck Stuff team was induced into the AVA Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Internationally, Tony won Silver at World Master’s in Edmonton (2005); 1 Gold and 3 silver at World Police and Fire Games; 2 Bronze at Norceca Club Championships.   In Beach Volleyball, Tony won Gold at the 1988 Beach Nationals and the 1992 Beach Nationals.  He was the first player to win the Indoor and Beach Nationals in the same year (1992)

During and following his playing career, Tony started coaching both indoor and beach volleyball.   He was the Assistant coach VNB Women’s team (1980-1982); Head Coach of University of Calgary Jr Men’s Club Team which won Silver at Nationals (1983); and Asst Coach of University of Calgary Dinos in1988-1989  (undefeated CIS Championship season & conducted into U of C Hall of Fame in 2016).   On the beach Tony coached the 18U Women’s team of Jacki Cunningham & Jenny Du. Gold at Nationals (2000) and the 18U Men’s team of Ray Sewell & Sandy Henderson to Gold in 18U & Silver in 20U at Nationals (2000).   All four players went on to represent Canada Internationally.

Some of Tony’s other volleyball accolades:
-1980 - Co-founder National Beach Volleyball Championships 
-1994 - Co-founder Volleydome (Calgary) 1st indoor facility in West
-1996 - Author of “The Ultimate Beach Vball Training Manual”
-1997 - Founder of Canada West Club with 156 athletes
-2002 - Cofounder Rally Pointe

Many past teammates, coaches, players he's coached and schools he attended shared with us some of the many personal qualities that made Tony the person he is.    Tony had an amazing ability to focus and self motivate. Set an example by always working hard in practice and doing all the “extras”.  He was undersized but had a relentless pursuit of excellence and a “never give up” attitude.  His composure was 2nd to none.  He was calm but aggressive and confident.  His motto was always Hard work = success.
 
Congratulations Tony & Welcome to the Volleyball PEI Hall of Fame
 
Cavendish Beach volleyball Tournament – Organizing Committee:
The seed of the CBVT tournament in Cavendish was started in 1979 when athletes Tony Wells and Neil Cutcliffe started a beach volleyball tournament in Stanhope. As Tony & Neil were young university students, co-chairs Phil O’Neill and Danny Grant saw the potential of the tournament and after attracting the others on the committee (Barb Carmichael, Gordie Lawlor, Roy Wotten, Hazel Gallant, Donnie (Hush) Gallant, Anita Toole, Bob McInnis, Charlotte McInnis, Wayne Stanley, Travis Murphy, Lynn Boudreau & Joe Ryan), they set out to make it what it turned out to be:  A well run tournament that gave Island volleyball players an opportunity to play.

The Tournament moved quickly from Stanhope to Cavendish because of the quality of the beach and the more consistent playing area at Cavendish. However, there were a few logistical problems & challenges as Cavendish required the committee to carry all the poles, nets and various other equipment required over the sand dunes down to the beach where the tournament was played. It was however, well worth it as participants played on the famous Cavendish beach.

The Committee started the event with the idea that they wanted all the participants to really enjoy the weekend. So naturally, they planned the social aspect of it first :).

The Committee knew that the volleyball enthusiasts would enjoy the play regardless of where they were but to make the weekend memorable they had to have a good community atmosphere. Their initial camping area was in South Rustico at Steve Bezansen’s Summer Haven campground and the Committee transported participants from the social in Cavendish back to the Camping area by bus.  Eventually the camping area moved to Cavendish at Sunset Campground and the social took place at Thirsty’s across the street. This was the CBVT’s home from then on :).

During most of the CBVT Committee’s 27-year run, there were at least 20 volleyball courts strung along the beach with 250 to 300 players each year. What marked a difference in the CBVT from others was the fact that they entertained recreational volleyball players as well as the competitive elite. Divisions included:  Men’s AA; Women’s A; Men’s A; Women’s A; Competitive Quads; Wreck

Everyone enjoyed the volleyball and the social equally, but at their own level of play.

A great deal of effort went into accumulating sponsored prizes. The philosophy behind this was; and in keeping with the outdoor nature of the event; “what would I like to win?” So, the likes of tents, coolers, beach umbrellas, and logoed folding beach chairs became coveted prizes. As part of the entry fee, all participants received the current year’s tee shirt, each with a unique logo.

Trophies for winning teams were standard procedure, but a truly unique trophy became part of the tournament’s lore. As the railway system in PEI went by the wayside, the Committee acquired discarded railway spikes, and when that supply exhausted itself, they even got some from Moncton. The spikes were sandblasted to remove rust, painted gold, and mounted on a wooden plaque, with the name of the division that was won. Not sure it was recognized as such, but it was a tribute to the Canadian railway system (golden spike being the last one to complete the trans Canadian railway system), and a volleyball spike to win the point.  Politically correct before its time - reduce, recycle, reuse.

At the Social/Awards Presentation each year; there were always hundreds of pictures of the participants displayed.  Our late Committee member, Phil O’Neill, would spend his day capturing these snapshots and then head into Charlottetown to get the photos processed in time for the Social that night. All the photos were free for the taking and these were a wonderful memory to have each year. Thank-you Phil!

As the sun set, and the last match of the day was played the players headed back to the campgrounds for a shower and got ready for the social. The Cavendish Beach committee started tearing down the equipment and making that long 700m walk over the sand dunes back and forth, back and forth to the parking lot until the Beach was cleaned!!  

When it was time to close down the tournament after the 2006 edition, the Committee all agreed that they had run a quality tournament for 27 years and there were no regrets. The Committee feels very fortunate to have their group year in and year out for the time that they ran Cavendish Beach Volley.   Although now retired, the Committee Members are all still best of friends and do get together for any number of reasons to remember our friendships and have a laugh or two.

Some Beach Volleyball “spin-offs” due to success of Cavendish Beach Volleyball Tournament & the work of the Organizing Committee:

-1988:  First Beach Volleyball Nationals held in Cavendish during the event.  Islanders Neil Cutcliffe and Tony Wells were the first winners in the Men’s Open Division.
-1996:   Kensington Street Beach tourney (ran 18 years)
-2001:   Beach volleyball included in Canada Games 1st time
-2003:    1st Volleyball PEI beach provincials were held
-2004:  Supersand & Summerside Lobster Carnival Beach volleyball tourney held for first time.
-2013:  Town of Cornwall hosts Adult and youth Beach Leagues on Terry Fox Complex Beach Courts.       
-2015:    PEI hosts it’s first Tour Stop on the Atlantic Beach Volleyball Tour
-2016:    Summer Sizzle Camp & Beat the Heat Camp held for first time
-2018:    Red Rock Prov beach program created
-2020:    Slammin’ Saturdays series launched (1st year)  
 
As everyone has now seen and heard, the Cavendish Beach Volleyball Tournament - Organizing Committee was instrumental in making Beach Volleyball what it is today, in both in PEI and Canada.   We owe them a gratitude of thanks and are so happy to Induct them into our Volleyball PEI Hall of Fame! Congratulations!
 
The live zoom recording of our Hall of Fame Ceremony is available here for the next two weeks….

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/-Zr9QFLrb04UczYq41m6gouAq6FSS_EAPbAM0nejKBKrsExdDKmuYWOmfHNjtOBV.nWDGOxjyOUeqyAzq?startTime=1618765300000

Thanks!