The Herd Hoops Club, representing the University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s Basketball Alumni, has announced the inaugural class of inductees to its 2025-26 Honour Roll. The formal induction ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. prior to the Bisons men’s basketball home game.
An exception will be made for the 1976 Bisons Men’s Basketball Team, which will be inducted earlier on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., before the men’s home game, as part of the program’s 50th anniversary celebration of their national championship season.
INDUCTEES
Players
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Terry Ball (1965-1970): A four-time WCIAU First Team All-Star and conference scoring leader for three seasons, Ball was named Second Team All-Canadian in 1967-68 and First Team All-Canadian in 1968-69, when he also earned recognition as National Player of the Year. He graduated as the Bisons’ all-time leading scorer.
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Darryl Rumsey (1971-1976): A two-time First Team All-Canadian, four-time Conference All-Star, and 1975-76 University Athlete of the Year, Rumsey was a key member of the 1976 National Championship team and graduated as one of the Bisons’ top scorers and rebounders.
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Rick Watts (1971-1976): A First Team All-Canadian and three-time GPAC All-Star, Watts was also a National Tournament All-Star in 1976. He remains the Bisons’ single-game scoring record holder (43 points) and was a core part of the 1976 National Championship roster.
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Jim Wright (1953-1957, deceased): A dominant force during the 1950s, Wright led the Bisons to three consecutive WCIAU titles and became the first player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points. He twice led the conference in scoring and earned two Pat Gorman Trophies as team MVP.
Bison Pillars
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John Embry (1959-1964): A former team MVP who became a successful business leader in Manitoba and Ontario, Embry has remained a generous supporter of Bisons basketball.
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John Loewen (1967-1972): A leader on and off the court, Loewen’s lasting contributions to the Bisons include his commitment as a loyal alumnus and benefactor of the men’s program.
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Dave Mills (1959-1964): A two-time team MVP and conference All-Star, Mills went on to a distinguished professional career while giving back significantly to enhance student-athlete opportunities.
Team
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1976 University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s Basketball Team – CIAU National Champions
The Herd Hoops Honour Roll recognizes individuals and teams that have made outstanding contributions to the success and tradition of Bisons men’s basketball, both on and off the court.
For more information, contact Greg Daniels at greghdaniels@outlook.com, or visit https://bisonbasketballalumni.blogspot.com.