Rhode Island native Michael Hazard, undoubtedly qualifies as one of the greatest ever basketball Axemen. A Conference and All-Canadian All-Star during his years at Acadia, he ranks high on the team’s list of all-time scoring leaders.
Following a basketball season in which he was named New England Junior College’s most out standing player, this excellent shooter, rebounder and passer joined the Dick Hunt -coached Axemen for the ’77-’78 season.
Combining with such talented performers as Vic Soares, Alvin Jessamy, Ted Upshaw and Gordie West, Michael led the Axemen to the AUAA Championship by posting victories over St. F. X. and U.P.E.I.
At the Nationals held at the Metro Centre in Halifax, Michael and team-mates -following wins over Laurentian and York Universities -fell in the championship game to SMU. First-team conference All-Stars Soares and Hazard shone for the highly talented and competitive Axemen.
During the ’78-’79 regular season schedule, the Hunt-coached team was out standing but failed to qualify for the Nationals. Individually, Michael Hazard averaged twenty-one points per game and over six rebounds per contest. Selected as the Conference’s first-team All-Star and second-team All- Canadian, this highly gifted athlete was named Acadia’s Male Athlete of the Year.
Participating in the first annual Stu Aberdeen Tournament, he and team-mates, the Upshaws, Ted and Robbie, Bo Hampton and Don Ehler combined to lead Acadia to the Championship by defeating Victoria and York.
In an exciting contest against S.M. U .for the Conference tide, the Hunt -directed hoopsters dropped an 86 -85 decision.
Conference All-Star, the leagues MVP and All-Canadian Michael Hazard -the highly popular No.24 who had averaged 27.3 points per game for the season -came in for lots of praise from the fans and his team-mates. Coach, Dick Hunt, called him “the finest player I’ve ever coached.”
To climax a terrific intercollegiate basketball career this very capable performer -co-winner of Acadia’s Male Athlete of the Year for ’79-’80- was to be the recipient of that season’s Mike Moser Memorial Award as the CIAU’s Most Valuable Player.
It is indeed a pleasure to induct to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame an All-Canadian basketball performer -Michael Hazard.
