By Dan Marshall

Four new members added at Nanaimo Sports Hall of Fame ceremony

Jun 17, 2017 | 3:01 PM

NANAIMO — The Sports Hall of Fame officially added its four newest members on Saturday.
 
Baseball player Aaron Guiel, basketball standout Richie Nichol, mountain biker Steve Smith and the 2009 VI Raiders went into the hall at the Nanaimo Museum.
 
It was an invitation only ceremony with about 50-60 people in attendance.
 
Aaron Guiel was the first inductee, represented by his brother Sean.
 
Guiel is a grad of the Nanaimo Minor Baseball program and went on to play in the majors from 2002 to 2006 with Kansas City and New York.
 
Richie Nichol was the second inductee and had the rare distinction of playing both for and against the Harlem Globetrotters.
 
The Nanaimo native was the first white player to ever suit up for the Globetrotters and is also in the BC Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1945-46 UBC basketball team.
 
Nichol passed away in 2008 and his daughter Gayle spoke on his behalf.

The 2009 VI Raiders were inducted as well, with a group of alumni players on hand for the ceremony.
 
That team was the pinnacle of the Raiders’ junior football dynasty with an undefeated season that included their third national championship in four years and was won on home soil.
 
Andrew Harris was the face of the team that season and went on to stardom in the CFL with the BC Lions and now the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
 
Steve Smith was inducted just a year after passing away at the age of 26.
 
He was a 2013 mountain bike world champion and has been called the greatest rider in Canadian history.
 
Smith’s mother Tianna and sister Kara went to the podium on his behalf and a short speech by Tianna ended with a standing ovation from the crowd.
 
Her words perfectly summed up the life and career of Steve Smith, “It was an awesome ride.”
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77