Alan Spink
When Alan Spink came to UPEI at the start of the 1984 season, he was joining a winning team.
The previous year, the Men’s Soccer Panthers had captured their first Atlantic University Athletic Association title. They were looking to defend their crown—and Spink, from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, was just the player to help them do it.
In the 1984–85 season, his defense led the Panther’s to another AUAA crown. Spink was also voted UPEI’s Outstanding Defensive Player, an AUAA All-Star, and the AUAA’s Most Valuable Player. He capped his rookie season with the CIAU All-Canadian selection and helped the Panthers finish third in the CIAU.
UPEI won its third straight Atlantic Soccer crown in 1985–86, and again Spink played solid defense and won defensive honours in the AUAA and as a CIAU All-Canadian.
Although not able to capture a fourth consecutive AUAA championship, Spink again led the Panthers to another good year in his final season. He once again received several individual honours, including Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Valuable Player. He was again an AUAA All-Star and the League’s Most Valuable Player. And, finally, for the third straight year, Spink was named a CIAU All-Canadian.
Tonight for his soccer achievements at UPEI, in the AUAA, and the CIAU, Alan Spink will be inducted into the UPEI Sport Hall of Fame.