Junior Wolves basketball program unveils inaugural hall of fame class

THUNDER BAY -- Women’s basketball has come a long way in the past dozen or so years.

Much of the credit can go to the Junior Wolves program and the dedication of volunteers such as long-time Lakehead University coach Lou Pero and former player Amanda Stefanile.

On Saturday night both were inducted into the inaugural class of the Wolves virtual hall of fame, alongside the 2013 Under 18 Junior Wolves squad that produced the likes of Katelyn Andrea, Cassandra Soulias and Gillian Lavoie, stalwarts of the Thunderwolves current OUA team.

The team went undefeated and captured the 2013 Spring Minneapolis Youth Amateur Sport Championship, two weeks after winning gold and the provincial Division II championship.

The induction came as a complete surprise for Stefanile who played for LU between 2004 and 2009, when she was known as Amanda Nesbitt.

“It’s a very special night for me. I was very shocked and very honoured when Jon (Kreiner) called me and told me he wanted to induct me into the hall of fame. I think I owe a lot to this community and a lot to Jon and Lou for recruiting me all those years ago,” she said.

Pero, who coached the Thunderwolves men’s team before stepping down in 2003, has been an assistant under Kreiner with the Thunderwolves since he first arrived in Thunder Bay 13 years ago.

He’s played an instrumental role in getting the Junior Wolves program off the ground and helping it grow to the point five teams are expected to play this year.

Pero was equally honoured.

“Just to watch kids evolve in the game and develop in the game and then become very good at what they do and have a passion for it kind of gets you right in your heart,” Pero said.

“Thunder Bay basketball is important to us, and certainly the development of kids in Thunder Bay gives them a chance to be confident in what they do in life, so it’s just a special award that I’ll treasure forever.”

Kreiner said he decided to create the virtual wall of fame – which will be celebrated officially online later this year – as a way to celebrate the Junior Wolves 10th anniversary.

“I really wanted to show the growth of basketball in Thunder Bay right now,” Kreiner said. “We wanted to honour a team that did what it did a few years ago and honour a couple of people who exude what we’re about.”