VANCOUVER – The UBC Department of Athletics is pleased to announce its 2018 class of inductees into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. Selected by a seven-member committee drawn from across the university community, the 2018 inductee class is comprised of two legendary coaches, both of whom are nationally recognized and revered experts in their sports, and two players who not only embodied sportsmanship and leadership during their time at UBC, but who also continue to give back to the University and their respective sports beyond graduating from UBC.
 
This year's inductees include Jean Forrest, Women's Field Hockey team member and supporter of the program; Hash Kanjee, Women's Field Hockey Head Coach from 1992-2014; and Dale Ohman, former UBC Athlete and Head Coach of the Men's Volleyball program from 1971-1973 and 1980-2003 in the Builder category. Ice hockey player Michael "Mickey" McDowell is being recognized for his achievements in the Athlete category.
 
The inductees will be honoured Wednesday, April 4 at the 2018 Big Block Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner.
 
Inductee Highlights – Builder Category
 
Jean Forrest – Women's Field Hockey
 
Jean Forrest, 1983 Physical Education graduate, while at UBC was one of Canada's outstanding field hockey players on some of UBC's best teams. Ever since, she has been a tireless advocate for sport. Back in the early 1980s, UBC was bestowed with National Team field hockey players under the able coaching of Gail Wilson – Jean Forrest (nee Mustard) was among those elite players. Her All-Star career was highlighted as co-captain of the 1982-83 UBC team, one of UBC's best in any sport going undefeated, and winning the national championship. The squad was ultimately inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to being selected to the 1982-83 All-Canadian team, Forrest and four of her teammates were also members of Canada's national team, Forrest on the national team for three years.

Since those heady days on campus, Forrest has worked extensively in sport and recreation management and marketing on both a working and volunteer basis. Utilizing the friendships, credibility and pride gained by playing on the Varsity team, Forrest "makes things happen" in the many areas of her passion; sport. She served for six years with Sport BC on its Board of Directors, worked with the YMCA and volunteered with the BC Sports Hall of Fame and UBC Sports Hall of Fame. She also worked for a decade with the Canadian Olympic Committee and volunteered with Field Hockey BC and Field Hockey Canada. She has also served as Vice Chair of the Vancouver Park Board and with the UBC Alumni Association Board.

Forrest's life-long connection with UBC and supporting the Thunderbirds was initially awakened in 1983 just after her graduation, when she accepted a job offer from UBC Athletics' Dr. Bob Hindmarch to serve as Sport Coordinator for the Vancouver Centennial Commission. Thirty-five years later, she remains involved as she serves on the Alumni Panel with UBC Field Hockey, Co-chairs the committee for the "Pop Cup", the annual UBC field hockey alumni event and for several years has been the field hockey representative on the Thunderbird Alumni Council. Jean has been only too glad to give back to the community and to UBC all the while, with her husband, raising a family who is also involved in sport.

Hash Kanjee – Women's Field Hockey
 
Hash Kanjee has a long history of field hockey excellence. Born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Hash came to Canada in 1972 to pursue a degree in Physical Education at the University of Alberta. Upon graduating in 1976, he moved to Vancouver where he played for the Canadian National team from 1976-1982. During that time, Kanjee competed for Canada at the international level, playing in the World Cup, Pan American Games, and Olympic Qualifier events.
 
Kanjee took his first coaching position with the BC Provincial U-21 men's squad in 1987. He also coached the men's senior squad from 1989-91. With his experience both as a player and as a coach at the national and international levels, Kanjee began his 21-year career as head coach of the women's field hockey team at UBC. He had big shoes to fill following coaching greats such as May Brown, Gail Wilson and Bim Schrodt, a challenge Kanjee took on with quiet energy and aplomb.
 
Over Kanjee's career, he amassed an astounding 235-37-29 record. His teams won 14 Canada West Championships (1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and 10 Canadian Interuniversity Sports (U SPORTS) Championships (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012). Hash was also awarded the Canada West Coach of the Year five times (1995, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011), and won the U SPORTS Coach of the Year three times (1998, 2003 and 2008).
 
In conjunction with these impressive records, Kanjee proved his mettle as a coach several times over. In 2010, he led his team to their eighth straight conference crown with an impressive 9-1-2 record, despite only having two starters from the previous team. In 2012, the Thunderbirds went undefeated (12-0-1), including a 3-0 victory over Toronto in the championship final to capture the program's 14th national title.
 
Many of Knajee's players have gone on to play for the Canadian national field hockey team including Laura Balakshin, Kim Buker, Ann Harada, Stephanie Hume, Lesley Magnus, Mo O'Connor, Emily Menzies, and Hannah Haughn. Kanjee has also been an ambassador for the sport of field hockey, embarking on nine international tours with the Thunderbirds to places such as New Zealand and Argentina. He also was the force and determination behind the book "Celebrating 100 Years: the history of Women's Field Hockey at UBC," written by Lesley Magnus and Hash Kanjee.
 
Hash retired after the 2011-12 season, his 19^th year as Head Coach. However, he was persuaded to return to the bench for two more seasons while UBC Athletics searched for his replacement. Upon his retirement, the then Associate Director of Intercollegiate & High Performance Sport at UBC, Theresa Hanson said of Hash: "Hash has been the heart and soul of our successful women's field hockey program for the past 19 years, it won't be the same without him at the helm. He has been such a positive influence for the sport of field hockey over the years and has truly made a positive difference in the lives of so many student athletes. We will miss him greatly."

 
Dale Ohman – Men's Volleyball
 
Dale Ohman is very much involved in the past, present and future of the UBC Men's Volleyball program. He was first on the scene as a player on UBC's volleyball team in the mid-1960s. Dale played on the historic 1966-67 men's volleyball team, a team inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. This team won the Canada West title and went on to become the first volleyball team to win the CIAU (now U SPORTS) national championship, the first team in Canada to win this title.
 
This UBC team also represented BC at the first Canada Winter Games, and would travel to Tokyo to represent Canada at the 1967 World Student Games. There, Ohman and his teammates were introduced to a new style of volleyball played by the Japanese team. The UBC team embraced this style and brought it back to North America, paving the way to the game we are familiar with today. 
 
Ohman first became head coach of the men's volleyball team in 1971-72 and 72-73 then resuming in 1980-81 held the position a total of 25 years. In fact, as of 2018 he is one of only six head coaches in UBC history to coach varsity for 25 or more years. In 1982-83, Ohman led his team to the CIAU (now U SPORTS) national championship, the last UBC men's volleyball team to win a national title. During his tenure as head coach, Ohman, in addition to attaining his Master's Degree in Physical Education at UBC, holds a series of impressive achievements and titles including:
 

• Coaching UBC to Canada West championships in 1983-84 and 1985-86
• Named Canada West Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1993-94, and 1999-2000
• Named U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1982-83 and 1999-2000
• One of only a handful of people who have ever played for a UBC national championship team and then coached the Thunderbirds to one (others include Mike Mosher and Ron Thorsen)
• Saw nine of his athletes selected to the Canadian National team, including Conrad Leinemann, Chris Frehlick, Brad Willock and Greg Williscroft

 
Since retiring from the UBC program in 2003, Ohman has continued to be involved in his passion, the sport of volleyball. He mentored a number of top level coaches and has been instrumental in developing boys' and men's volleyball in BC. He has served as coach and Men's Provincial Team Chair for the BC Volleyball Association (now Volleyball BC) and on the BC High School Boys Volleyball executive. His dedication to the sport earned him induction into the Volleyball BC Hall of Fame in 2016.
 
Ohman has also continued to be a strong advocate and supporter of UBC's volleyball program. He helped establish a scholarship for men's volleyball and continues to be one of UBC's greatest fans, as he commutes from Chilliwack to be at every volleyball home game, cheering on the 'Birds.

 
Inductee Highlights – Athlete Category
 
Michael "Mickey" McDowell – Men's Ice Hockey
 
Michael "Mickey" McDowell has a long association with the sport of ice hockey. Prior to enrolling at UBC, Mickey played for the Regina Pats and the Vernon Canadians. He arrived at UBC in 1961-62, where he became an integral member of the Thunderbird ice hockey team.
 
McDowell was a member of the 1962-63 Thunderbirds, a team inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame and coached by the legendary Father David Bauer. This team had a strong season record of 8-1-1, with 42 goals scored and 20 against. The team won UBC's first Canada West championship title in men's ice hockey and went on to compete in the Canadian Interuniversity National championship tournament. UBC made it to the gold medal game, but ultimately finished second to McMaster in a close 3-2 contest. He won the 1962-63 Canada West scoring title, having recorded the most goals scored in the league during that year.
 
McDowell in 1964 was selected to play on the Canadian National team coached by Father Bauer, a team designed to represent Canada at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He played with the team right up to the Olympics but was not placed on the ultimate roster. Canada placed fourth out of the eight national teams.
 
McDowell continued to play for UBC until graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education. While playing for UBC, McDowell became known for his athletic ability as well as his leadership style both on and off the ice. An article in the Ubyssey wrote high praise of McDowell, stating: "McDowell is the Birds scoring leader. He is by far the best playmaker even though he may not be the best skater on the ice. But what he lacks in skating ability he makes up in pure determination and the desire to win." In 1969, McDowell was awarded UBC's prestigious Bobby Gaul Memorial Trophy for his outstanding play and character.
 
McDowell continued his hockey career after graduating from UBC. He has had a long involvement with the Vancouver Canucks, serving as the president and later director of the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association. He also served as President of the BC Hockey Benevolent Association.
 
UBC men's hockey continues to benefit from McDowell's interest, as he is an avid supporter of the program. He has been an instrumental player in establishing a relationship between the University and the Vancouver Canucks, resulting in thousands of dollars in scholarships passing between the two organizations.