SYDNEY, N.S. — Two Cape Breton athletes will be honoured by St. Francis Xavier University on Thursday.
Andrew (Andy) Culligan and Dr. Beth McCharles will be inducted into the university’s sports hall of fame during a ceremony at the Schwartz Auditorium in Antigonish.
Culligan, who was born in Toronto, was a standout goal scorer with the X-Men hockey team and played five seasons from 1970-74 and again during the 1979-80 campaign.
The now 71-year-old forward led the team in scoring for three of the five seasons. Upon graduation, he was tied for third overall on the all-time X-Men leading scorer list.
Culligan, who has called Howie Centre home since 1980, averaged 2.3 points per game during his time with the X-Men.
BIO
ANDREW (ANDY) CULLIGAN
- Birthplace: Toronto, Ont.
- Resides: Howie Centre, N.S.
- Age: 71
- Sport: Hockey
- He played: Five seasons with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men hockey team in the 1970s.
During the 1973-74 season, Culligan became the Atlantic University Sport all-time leading scorer, a record that lasted only one year with Ronnie LeBlanc of Moncton eventually breaking it.
Culligan considers setting the AUS record to be his most memorable moment while playing university hockey.
“When I set the record, I was in my fourth year and I can still remember getting a standing ovation from the fans at the Antigonish Arena – I felt a little embarrassed,” said Culligan.
“I remember we were playing the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the game and I recall one of the players telling me I deserved it, which was nice coming from a player on the other team.”
After finishing his physical education degree, Culligan and his wife, Maureen, taught school in Newfoundland for four years, before moving to Cape Breton.
Culligan, a father of five children including Cape Breton Eagles assistant coach Chris Culligan, later returned to St. Francis Xavier University for his education degree and played his fifth and final season with the X-Men during the 1979-80 campaign.
He finished his university career with 86 goals and 108 assists for 194 points in 107 games. He’s currently ranked No. 17 on the AUS all-time points list.
After completing the degree, he returned to Cape Breton and taught at Eskasoni Junior High School. Prior to his retirement shortly after his 65th birthday, Culligan was the principal at Robin Foote Elementary School in Westmount.
“It’s a huge honour to be going into the St. FX sports hall of fame,” said Culligan. “It’s nice to join some former teammates and former coaches – I remember a lot of teams and people who are responsible for me getting the accolades.”
As for McCharles, she was a standout goalkeeper for the X-Women soccer program, suiting up for the team for four seasons from 1997 to 2001.
The now 40-year-old Coxheath native was awarded the 1998 AUS most valuable player and was also named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport first-team all-Canadian.
In 2000, she was named to the AUS first all-star team, while being recognized as a second-team all-Canadian.
BIO
BETH MCCHARLES
- Hometown: Coxheath, N.S.
- Resides: Toronto, Ont.
- Age: 40
- Sport: Soccer and Hockey
- She played: Four seasons with the St. Francis Xavier X-Women soccer team. She also played four years with the school's women’s hockey team.
Along with playing soccer, McCharles, married with three children, also played for the X-Women hockey program, winning three AUS championships.
“There’s something about being a student-athlete and being part of that experience that is pretty exceptional,” said McCharles, who studied kinesiology during her time in Antigonish.
“I think about my friendships more than the wins and losses – there are some friends that I met there that I still talk to all the time and that’s the important thing.”
Following her time at St. FX, McCharles attended the University of Ottawa for her masters in sports psychology and played her final year of soccer for the school.
She later attended the University of Toronto where she completed her PhD in exercise science in the behavioral area and coached the women’s soccer program at the school.
When McCharles learned she would be inducted into the StFX sports hall of fame, she couldn’t help but think of her late father, Robert McCharles.
“My first emotion was sad because I lost my father two years ago and he would have been pretty excited to be there,” said McCharles. “I’m very passionate about the university and my time there.”
Today, McCharles resides in Toronto and practices sports psychology.
Along with Culligan and McCharles, Dave Liem (soccer), as well as builders Dr. Cecil MacLean and Dr. David Cudmore, will also be inducted into the St. FX hall of fame.
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