Inductees
Frank Yakimchuk
Inducted in 2018
Category: Athlete
When Bob Hayes started the Saint Mary’s University Camp of Champions in the mid 1960’s, he hoped that someday a young camper might play for the Huskies. That dream was realized when Frank Yakimchuk not only played for Saint Mary’s but became a Conference All-Star and won a CIAU football title in 1973.
Yakimchuk, who was raised by his single mom Dorothy, didn’t start playing football until he was 14. His three summers at the Camp of Champions led to a starting role at St. Pat’s High School in Halifax. He won a High School championship while attending St. Pat’s. In 1971, his first year at Saint Mary’s at the age of 18, he tipped the scales at 215 lbs and, after a summer of playing lacrosse, he was in superb condition and played centre. For two seasons he served as the long snapper for one of the best kickers in Saint Mary’s football history, Ken Clarke.
As he matured physically, with a lot of help from a power lifting program, a discipline that he would later excel at and win championships, he moved to tackle on offense and defense. His quick feet and the coaching of Spook McLeod made a big difference.
With Angelo Santucci running the ball the Huskies did a lot of sweeps which meant a lot of pulling and down field blocking, not the easiest thing to do when you now weigh in at 270 lbs. Yakimchuk was big and played big according to his all-star quarterback Bill Robinson. Robinson was a superb passer and couldn’t have it without protection from his ‘O’ line. Says the QB...’There was no weakness on the left side and Frank was one of the reason’s why’. Added Robinson, “There were times when Frank scared the hell out of me he was so intense”. It was that intensity that allowed Yakimchuk to play so well against some of the best defenses Saint Mary’s would meet in the championship season of 1973.
Yakimchuk was drafted by the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats after winning the CIAU title. He would return to Saint Mary’s on a number of occasions to upgrade his degree and would have a long and successful career as a member of the Halifax Police Department.”
Portrait Artist: Barbara Dorey
Portrait Art Photographer: Colin Sutton