Alan T. Charuk- 1975
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992
First Atlantic Conference Player to Receive the Hec Creighton Award
Alan Charuk, a ’75 Acadia graduate was undoubtedly one of the finest athletes ever to perform locally. A native of Moncton, New Brunswick, Al performed with the powerful Axemen football squads during the fall months of ’72, ’73 and ’74.
During his rookie season on the Bob Vespaziani-coached Axemen, Al was a vital cog on a strong club that finished second to St. Mary’s Huskies in the Bluenose Conference. Individually, Al was named to the Conference’s All-Star team, having established three league records.
In 1973, he again was outstanding as the Axemen finished the regular schedule with five wins and a single loss. Individually, he was perhaps the best safety in the Conference as he and teammate Marv Allemang topped their selections to the Bluenose Football Conference by being named to the All-Canadian “Dream Team”. Wisely that season, he had been given action as a wide receiver, punt and kick-off return man and as a tailback. As a safety, he had established two more conference records.
In his final season with the Axemen, the talented footballer had a banner season as the Acadia squad concluded the regular season’s schedule with six wins and no losses. Individual highlights during the season included a couple of field goals, a touchdown and a convert in the Axemen’s 23-7 verdict over St. F.X. He accumulated a total of 25 points in his team’s 43- 13 blasting of Dalhousie. In swamping U.P.E.I., 52- 7, he scored three more touchdowns while sharing the limelight with Bob Cameron, Jamie Bone and Kevin Carson. In a 24-22 victory over SMU, Al went over the 100-point mark for the season. In fact, his 35-yard field goal represented the margin of victory.
Unfortunately, a 29-9 playoff loss to St. Mary’s ended the Axemen’s season.
Individually, Alan’s 102-point A.I.F.C. scoring championship, his Conference All-Star selection as a wide receiver and defensive halfback and sharp place kicker, enabled him to again join teammate Allemang an the Canadian All-Star Defensive Team. To highlight this spectacular season, he was named the winner of the prestigious Hec Creighton Trophy representing Canadian Universities’ most outstanding football player.
A sixty-minute performer who was the Atlantic Conference’s first winner of the Hec Creighton Trophy and a gentleman whom the sports writers described as the Axemen’s “Mr. Everything”, Al Charuk is indeed a welcomed addition to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame.
