Article contentAfter graduating in Truro, the multi-sport athlete attended the University of New Brunswick and played five years of varsity basketball for the Reds.Article content“She was an outstanding player there,” said Piers. “She was an AUS All-Star one of the years, and she was really a top shooter for the team.”Article contentNotably, in the 1993-1994 season, the UNB women’s team claimed the title of AUS Champs, sitting 17-3 in the league and 20-6 overall.Article content Scott Annand and Nevin Jackson unveil the plaques honouring the 2025 CEC Wall of Fame inductees at the Nov. 29 ceremony. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /Truro NewsArticle contentJOHN MACKENZIEArticle contentOne of the other inductees, MacKenzie, is well-known in the local rugby community. The long-time coach said he’s humbled to be inducted into the Wall of Fame.Article content“Not sure if I deserve that level of recognition,” he continued. “You know, there’s some pretty good coaches on that wall, and some good athletes so, yeah. Humbled.”Article contentMacKenzie played football at CEC, and while attending Acadia University, started to play on the rugby team. He would later join the school’s wrestling team, too, to hone his playing skills in rugby.Article contentArticle contentA brief stint in Medicine Hat, A.B. saw MacKenzie as a coach for a local high school wrestling team. He also continued to play rugby at this time.Article content“When he returned to Truro here, he immediately came and met with me – I was the athletic director at the time at CEC – and said … ‘I’d like to get involved in coaching here’,” remembers Piers.Article contentSince his return, MacKenzie became involved with rugby at the school and in the Truro community.Article contentMacKenzie played with the Truro Saints RFC up until he was 40, he shares.Article content“There’s not that many rugby clubs in Canada that own their own fields and have their own club house,” he adds. “So, the club has done an amazing job.”Article contentMacKenzie holds decades of coaching experience including with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC), St. F.X. rugby, the Truro Saints, and Keltics rugby.Article contentHe has coached both the boys’ and girls’ teams at CEC and helped lead the girls’ team to a provincial championship.Article content Inductee Jim Taplin addresses the ceremony audience while at the podium. Taplin had an amazing football career at CEC and later, after being heavily recruited, with the Acadia Axemen. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /Truro NewsArticle contentHONOURING ALLArticle contentCEC consistently proves time and time again that they are a school that has talented student-athletes – this speaks to the long-standing sports tradition of the high school.Article contentPiers guesses that the school has won well over 200 provincial championships since it opened in 1970.Article contentHe emphasizes the importance of recognizing how not only athletes, but coaches and other volunteers, contribute to the development of CEC’s athletic program and more.Article content“We just feel it’s really important to acknowledge that a number of the alumni have gone on to do very special things in sport.”Article content Former CEC basketball star Jeff Piers did not give a long speech while being inducted onto the CEC Sports Wall of Fame but his short time at the podium did include a few lines which elicited laughter from all those in the audience. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /Truro NewsArticle contentArticle content
CEC honours six new inductees on Sports Wall of Fame
