A prolific scorer for the X-Men soccer team in the 1980s has taken his place in the St. F.X. Sports Hall of Fame.
Antigonish native Glenn MacDougall played five stellar seasons in the Blue and White, culminating with AUS most valuable player and first-team All-Canadian honours in 1988.
“Wow, I am blown away,” he said.
MacDougall added he was “honoured” with the recognition, including joining past inductees and his fellow Class of 2018 members.
“Many who I, as a lifelong St. F.X. sports fan, have long admired and respected,” he said.
The 1989 St. F.X. male athlete of the year set a program record with 12 goals in his final season, which remained for almost 30 years, until it was broken by Dan Hayfield.
“Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me and being here to share this evening,” MacDougall said.
He remembered his father, Greg, who played varsity hockey at X, along with coaching and play-by-play broadcasting.
“He was a force behind every athletic endeavour that my brothers and I would attempt,” MacDougall said.
He added his father wanted him “to experience the enjoyment of sport.”
“Which is, really, why we are all here in this room,” MacDougall noted.
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He praised his coaches and teachers, especially Lou Bilek – his X-Men head coach – who allowed him to scrimmage with the varsity team while still a senior in high school.
“Lou was always a very positive person and treated all his players with respect – encouraging player input on tactics and strategy,” MacDougall explained.
“Best of all, for two first-year student-athletes – like David Liengme [another Antigonish native] and me – Lou promoted an attacking style of play.
“Lou was the professor, coach, mentor, confidant and friend – the perfect player’s coach that I needed,” he added.
MacDougall also offered a “sincere thank-you” to Frank Isherwood, who coached him in junior and high school.
“Frank stressed the importance of good physical fitness and demonstrated soccer fundamentals,” he said.
“I think that he noticed that my attitude was carefree and I lacked a serious commitment to the technical side.
“The game required hard work and a promise to improve my skill,” MacDougall added.
He also credited his brothers, Brent and Troy, for providing “daily competition between siblings that was fierce, but fun, sporting, while supporting.”
“And, of course, a lot of laughs,” MacDougall said.
He also thanked his teammates.
“I was so fortunate to meet, befriend and share the wins and losses [with them] – all from different cities, towns, diverse backgrounds and cultures,” MacDougall said.
“All of us finding our way into that blue and white painted locker room, and onto the pitch with that X on our chest.
“Experiences that I will treasure for a lifetime,” he added.
