Canada’s Eight Wins Team of Year Award

Canada’s Olympic gold-medal winning rowing eight has been awarded the Dick Ellis Memorial Trophy as Canadian team of the year, the Sports Federation of Canada announced.

The Canadian squad outdistanced the New Zealand world champions and a highly touted American team at Lake Casitas, Calif., to capture Canada’s first gold medal in an Olympic rowing event since 1964.

The team came together in April last year and soon made its mark, setting a course record in defeating the U.S. team at an international meet prior to the Los Angeles Games.

The team members are Mark and Mike Evans from Toronto, Pat Turner of Vancouver, Grant Main and Dean Crawford of Victoria, Paul Steele of Delta B.C., Blair Horn of Kelowna, B.C., and Kevin Neufeld, coxswain Brian McMahon and coach Neil Campbell, all of St. Catharines, Ont.