(ST. JOHN'S, Nfld.) - Memorial University is proud to announce that former Memorial soccer player and varsity coach Jeff Babstock will serve as the honourary chair of the 2014 Subway AUS men's soccer championship.
This prestigious annual event will be hosted by Memorial University for the first time this coming Friday to Sunday at King George V Park in St. John's, Nfld.
Babstock, a native of St. John's, has been involved in the soccer community in Newfoundland for over 50 years. A talented multi-sport athlete, he represented Memorial University at the varsity level in two sports but his most notable successes came in soccer.
During his tenure at Memorial, Babstock was a member of two Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship teams, then titled the Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference, in 1970-71 and 1971-72.
With both of these teams, Babstock went on to the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union Championships, now Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and in 1970-71 was Memorial's only team sport, to date, to win a national championship. In their follow up run in 1971-72 Babstock and the team placed second.
A standout defender, Babstock was recognized for his individual play in the 1976-77 season and was named to the Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic all-star team. In 1973 he was elected to Memorial's Athletic Honour Society, the highest honour the University bestows on student-athletes for outstanding contributions both on and off the field.
Babstock is the only Newfoundlander to play for Canada's Olympic and national soccer teams. He earned that distinction in 1971 when he played for Canada in the qualifying rounds of the 1972 Olympics. Babstock also played for Canada at the Pan Am Games in 1971, in Colombia.
In 1989 he returned to Memorial as the head coach of the Memorial University men's soccer team and also coached the Newfoundland and Labrador men's soccer team to a fourth place finish that same year at the Canada Games in Saskatoon.
Babstock remains active with the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association as the technical committee chair.
Over a long career, Babstock has demonstrated outstanding ability as an athlete, coach, and builder. He is a member of the St. John's Soccer Hall of Fame (1984), the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame (1987) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Sport Hall of Fame (1995).
He has been named an honorary life member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association. His contributions were recognized in 1997 when Babstock received the award of merit from the Canadian Soccer Association for outstanding contribution to the development of the game at the provincial and national level.
Memorial is proud to recognize Jeff Babstock as the honorary chair of the 2014 AUS men's soccer championships.
As honorary chair, Babstock will serve in a number of capacities throughout the championship. On Thursday evening he will speak directly to all participants at the championship banquet, he will attend the games down at King George V Park, and will partake in the awards presentations on closing night.
Memorial's athletic director, Karen Murphy, was pleased that Memorial athletics was able to recognize the significant contribution Babstock has made to the university and the sport of soccer in Newfoundland.
She said, "Jeff has been an outstanding builder for soccer at Memorial and in our province. We are pleased to have him as the honourary chair for the championship and wish to express our sincere gratitude for his contributions to Memorial athletics."
In addition to the honorary chair, Memorial will also acknowledge the entire 1970-71 Memorial University men's soccer team, Memorial's only team to have won a Canadian university national championship. Members of the team will be on hand in St. John's for the banquet on Thursday night and will be honoured with the title of Team of Distinction.
Murphy saw the importance of recognizing the team who were such an integral part of Memorial's varsity history.
"Memorial University athletics proudly recognizes the 1970-71 men's soccer team for the championships it won and for the standard of excellence it set," said the athletic director. "Their pride, determination and perseverance have established a benchmark that current and future Sea-Hawks teams will strive to replicate."
The 2014 Subway AUS men's soccer championship tickets will be available at the gate at King George V Park at a daily rate of $5 for adults, $3 for students/seniors. Children under 12 will be admitted free of charge. Tournament passes will also be available for $12 for the weekend which comes with the official program, regularly $2.
The event will also be webcast live at www.AUStv.ca.
Source: Memorial Sports Information