Jim Hubbard (aka “Mother” Hubbard) is well known around sports circles in Victoria from playing, coaching, umpiring, administrating and being the famous “Mad Viking” for the perennial National Champion University of Victoria (UVic) Vikes basketball teams.

Jim’s involvement in rugby goes back to the 1970s, first as a player with the James Bay Athletic Association (JBAA) and later as JBAA manager for 19 years. Along with Coach Tillman Briggs (GVSHOF inductee 1996), Jim was a huge contributor to the culture of the JBAA. He joined the National Rugby Centre as Manager of the Pacific Pride Rugby National Under 23 Team from 1996-2005 and, during that time, he coordinated and managed five Canadian U23 national team overseas tours and two eastern Canadian tours. He was also involved with the Senior Men’s National Rugby Team during the lead up to the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups.

Jim was also a softball umpire and administrator. He umpired at all levels in Greater Victoria and was known for his colourful personality and style. After the Victoria Bates moved to the Northwest League In 1971, Jim was elected as President of Major Men’s Softball at Central Park in Victoria. The league survived due in no small part to his efforts. Jim’s contributions to the softball community include:
• District Commissioner, Softball B.C (1975 – 84)
• Founder of the Lower Island Softball Umpires Association (1985)
• President of the Lower Island Softball Umpires Association (1985 – 89)
• Deputy Umpire in Chief, Softball B.C (1985 – 90)

Jim was honoured with the Softball Canada Distinguished Service Award in 1993 and Washington State Umpires Association Award for Leadership and Teaching in 2004.

Despite his immense contributions to rugby and softball, Jim may best be known as the “Mad Viking” for the UVic Vikes basketball teams. He was famous across the country and graced many Canadian Championships. Legendary Vikes Coach Ken Shields (GVSHOF inductee 2003), said “I cannot remember him (Jim) missing a game in 13 years. He became a valuable member of the team and his insight into the character of each player was uncanny. His commitment to the team and the effort and energy that he brought to the job was a model for our players. Our goal was to be the best and he was undoubtedly the best in the country for what he did. ‘Mother’ Hubbard was a key contributor to the winning tradition established by the Basketball Vikes”.

Jim gave of himself to the cause of amateur sport in a selfless manner and left a positive impression with everyone he met - when you met Jim, he would always greet you with “huddy huddy!”

Jim was honoured for his extraordinary contribution, commitment and dedication as a volunteer to sport in Victoria by being awarded the Greater Victoria Sports Council Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award in 1990 and Canadian Indicator Club Distinguished Service Award in 1996.

Andy was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 3, 1929. After playing Junior Hockey in his hometown, he made his professional debut in 1949 with the Cincinnati Mohawks of the American Hockey League. The next season, he came to Victoria to play for the Cougars and was part of the “kid line” with Reg Abbott and Bob Frampton. Andy was a key contributor to the team’s success, scoring spectacular goals and helping the Cougars bring home a League Championship. He continued to live in Victoria and in the off-season got married and worked for a cement contractor to keep in shape.

Andy played four more seasons with the Cougars and in 1955-56, signed with the New York Rangers. He played eight seasons with the Rangers and was then claimed by the Boston Bruins on the waiver wire. Following his time with Boston. Andy returned to the west coast in 1964-65 and played for the Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League. Victoria was the next stop on his hockey journey, where he played on the team’s top line with Milan Marcetta and Bob Barlow. Together they formed one of the most potent scoring lines in the league and accumulated a total of 101 goals and 138 assists for a total of 239 points. Their efforts led the team to its only championship by defeating the first-place Portland Buckaroos in a classic seven-game series that could have gone either way. After the 1966-67 season, the Leafs were sold, and Andy returned to Portland where he played for eight more seasons. He ended his professional career with the Seattle Totems of the Central Hockey League and two years for a semi-pro team in Portland.

In addition to his scoring ability, Andy was known for his gentlemanly play and durability. He won the NHL’s Lady Byng Player Award and was the runner-up on another occasion. In the WHL, he won the Fred J. Hume Cup for the most gentlemanly player a total of six times. In his 26 seasons of professional hockey, Andy played in 1931 games, one of the highest totals ever, scoring 695 goals and 820 assists, for a total of 1515 points; 525 of those games were played with Victoria for the Cougars and Maple Leafs. His streak of consecutive games was remarkable. Although the NHL does not include records from other leagues or playoff games in its statistics, Andy played an estimated 1,563 consecutive games. On November 30, 1966, he was honoured during a game in Victoria which he attended with his family.

Andy won two Championships with Victoria: one with the Cougars in 1951-52 and the second with the Maple Leafs in 1965-66. Andy was truly a unique player. His career and longevity in the game may never be seen again due to the gruelling schedule and more physical game that is played today.