Inducted October 28, 1995
St. John’s native Jeff Babstock began his athletic career playing minor league hockey and baseball. He progressed through the ranks to have the unique distinction of being one of a few athletes to represent the province in four sports at the National level.
In 1968-69 Jeff played for Memorial University at the Centennial Cup Hockey Championship. He played for MUN’s volleyball team twice at the National level. He also played with City Furniture at five senior men’s national basketball championships. Jeff is the only Newfoundlander to play for Canada’s Olympic and National soccer teams. He earned that distinction in 1971 when he played for Canada in the qualifying rounds of the 1972 Olympics. A Canada Games player, Jeff also played for Canada at the Pan Am Games in 1971, in Colombia.
Jeff was named to the Athletic Intercollegiate All Star soccer team for the 1976-77 season. He was also part of the MUN soccer teams which twice won the Athletic Intercollegiate soccer championship and also won the Canadian National Intercollegiate soccer championship. In recognition of his athletic ability in soccer he was inducted into the St. John’s Soccer Hall of Fame in 1984, and into the Newfoundland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1987.
As a builder Jeff has held many coaching, executive and convenor positions. He was head coach of Memorial Sea Hawks men’s varsity soccer in 1989 and coached the provincial team to a fourth place finish at the Canada Summer Games that year in Saskatoon.
He has served on the directorate of the Guards Athletic Association for over 15 years and also served on three Canadian National Basketball Championships.
In 1973 Jeff was instrumental in setting up the present day St. John’s Soccer Referee Association and he also served as its first Referee in Chief.
Jeff has demonstrated his outstanding ability in all areas: playing, coaching, player development, training, conditioning and organization. Jeff has set a high standard to follow.
Postscript
In 1973, Jeff received Memorial University’s Athletic Honour Society Award. In 1997, Jeff received the award of merit from the Canadian Soccer Association for outstanding contribution to the development of the game at the provincial and national level. He was made an honourary life member of the Guards Athletic Association in 2000.
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