Peter Ewing’s former students create CASS award in his honour

Sukhmeet Randhawa (left) is the inaugural Coach Peter Ewing Award winner, pictured along with its namesake (right) at Woodstock College Avenue. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

A little respect is coming back from Peter Ewing paying it forward through a 30-year coaching career.

The well-known physical education teacher and coach graduated from Hamilton’s McMaster University after a four-year basketball career.

“I wasn’t the best player,” Ewing claimed, developing under Bill Fowler’s guidance to finish as team captain, MVP and OUAA second team all-star. Ewing began teaching at Woodstock College Avenue Secondary School (CASS) in 1965, just two years after it opened under principal George Simmons, formerly head of tech at Woodstock CI.

Ewing would begin his coaching career at CASS, an uninterrupted three-decade string in which he never missed a season.

“Good, bad, girls, boys, and every year, it was a joy.”

Ewing says he developed further via fellow College Avenue staff member Richard ‘Dick’ MacKenzie, a 6’4” former Tillsonburg Livvie and starting centre on the men’s national team who Ewing says guarded Oscar Robertson during the PanAm Games.

Ewing taught at CASS from 1965 to 81, moving over to WCI with the Red Devils program until his retirement in 1997.

On a personal note, if memory serves correctly, Red Devils coaches Dave Alexander, who came across from Ingersoll DCI, and Lance Elliott, who came up from the elementary level at Woodstock Oliver Stephens, were game planning for a potentially difficult opponent, calling in Ewing, who was respectfully referred to as ‘The Professor’, for his input.

“If those two guys said that, it’s really complimentary,” he responded, throwing in a quick story about Alexander’s introduction to Oxford basketball. Coming in from Oshawa, he received standing-room-only space behind the curtain in the CASS main gym stage, joining a packed house watch the Knights take on the Tillsonburg Glendale Griffins in their prime, a team featuring seven-foot centre Barry Atkinson.

“And we beat them by one,” Ewing recalled with a smile.

Following the game, Glendale coach Brian O’Rourke, with whom Ewing now plays golf, congratulated him, saying his team had played well, ‘But they’d see us at their gym.’ They did Ewing continued, gaining a measure of revenge.

“But we beat them once.”

Ewing had been teaching and coaching at the almost brand-new Woodstock College Avenue for just a few years when he noticed a young John Kozey in the hallway waiting for a change of class.

“I looked at John and said, ‘Junior basketball practice tonight, why don’t you come out?’”

Kozey deferred he was from Gobles and had never played basketball before.

“I said ‘That’s why we are here, to teach you to play.’”

Kozey did come out that evening, his basketball ‘diamond’ as promised, pretty ‘rough.’ But it was polished through five years of practice and play, to the point he finished Grade 13 as the Knights team captain, graduating to take Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. Kozey didn’t play there, but scouted for coach and former Livvie Don McRae, who went on to guide Canada’s Olympic basketball team.

Kozey got his degree, added a PhD and accepted a professorship at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

“Deep down in my heart I believe basketball gave John the motivation, the confidence, the belief in himself, that there were no limits,” Ewing said.

That was Ewing’s approach, building humans along with athletes, respectfully paying back the people who had helped him.

“I was just giving to kids what Bill Fowler gave to me.”

Years later, respect for years of paying it forward is being given back through an award and bursary in Ewing’s name. It recognizes his contribution at CASS, particularly the willingness to reach out to students and help them grow and develop into well-rounded human beings. Criteria speak to a graduating student carrying on demonstrated academic performance at the post-secondary level, having shown a positive attitude in their studies and relationships with fellow students and the school. In addition, in-school and community leadership and participation in varsity athletics with a preference for the basketball program.

Kozey took point on an initiative also including brothers Don and Steve Fulkerson and Pat Brill-Edwards.

“It’s set up right now to run for ten years,” said Kozey, who hopes to expand its scope further with additional support from other former students. Those seeking to see the Thames Valley website description can visit the following website: https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/awards/Coach-Peter-Ewing-Award.pdf. Those looking to support the initiative can visit this web page: https://tvdsb.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3497.

Ewing is a special person Kozey continued, who went out of his way to support people both in and beyond the classroom. His influence had a big impact on Kozey’s life, and that of others he believes.

“I thought it only just he gets recognized for that.”

Sukhmeet Randhawa was ‘really honoured’ to receive the inaugural Coach Peter Ewing Award during graduation ceremonies Thursday, June 11. Transferring from London Central to CASS in Grade 10, Randhawa was approached in the hall by members of the basketball team.

“They said ‘You’re tall, you should join basketball.’”

Initially reluctant, she went out to practice.

“I ended up making it and being not terrible,” she smiled, of what proved to be a confidence booster. “It made me do things I didn’t think I can do.”

Also, an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) medalist wrestler and three-time top six finisher, Randhawa finds sports to be both fun and a stress reliever. Her own experience with basketball, succeeding at something new, also built confidence and motivation.

“I feel it can inspire kids to try new things.”

The media session completed, Randhawa headed back, presumably to her studies, Ewing onward to honour a lunch invitation. Confessing he didn’t know who had been responsible for founding the award, he nevertheless was very much looking forward to catching up over a meal.

“That’s what coaching is all about,” he concluded with a smile. “No one says who won or lost, it’s ’It’s nice to see you again.’”