Rick Lapointe gave hope to a new generation of local players in 1975 when he became the first Victoria born and trained hockey player to make it to the National Hockey League in 37 years. He was one of a talented group of players who helped bring respectability to the Victoria Cougars juniors in 1974. At age 15 Lapointe attempted to crack the Cougars' lineup but it would take another season before he caught on with the club. In 1974 Lapointe and teammate Mel Bridgman were recognized for their efforts by being selected to Canada's World Junior Tournament team. Named Top Defenseman, he was later selected in the first round of the NHL draft. Picked fifth overall by the Detroit Red Wings, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound rookie defenseman fit in quickly doing yeoman service on the blue line and contributing offensively. His stint with the Red Wings lasted just two years before he went to the 1977 Conference-winning Philadelphia Flyers. Lapointe went on to play for St. Louis, Quebec and Los Angeles and by the 1985-86 season he had played 710 NHL games. He decided to retire to spend more time with his family in Victoria and though he left us far too early, at age 44, his legacy lives on.

Don Wakelyn, a dedicated volunteer, had boundless energy and he immersed himself in the Victoria sports scene through the latter part of the 20th century, especially where there were youngsters concerned. He began developing his connections to amateur sport in the early 1950's and was soon involved with soccer, baseball, hockey and basketball. Wakelyn was an outstanding administrator for Little League baseball and a co-founder of the Gorge Soccer Association. Having been involved in soccer, he and co-coaches George Kulai and Earl Barnswell encouraged a number of senior players to coach boys' teams in the Hampton Park area and that led to the formation of the Gorge association that still thrives today. While he held executive positions in local and provincial soccer, Wakelyn also found time to get involved in hockey and was the founding secretary of the Esquimalt Figure Skating Club. In summer, baseball was his passion but he also contributed to the well being of lacrosse. Wakelyn was named Victoria's Sportsman of the Year in 1968, but that was near the start of his lengthy, active, behind the scenes, involvement. Thousands of young people benefited from his tireless volunteer work over the years and many athletes owe him a debt of gratitude.