NDSS – Stan Stewardson Night

Many called him a pioneer, but if you ask any who played for him during his day’s at NDSS, they simply call him a “legend.”

Stan’s passion for sport was unselfish, giving, yet dedicating his knowledge to everyone that wanted to learn and be a success in a sport they loved and in this case it was basketball.

He received offers to play pro basketball, but rather chose to take on the role of Coach and High School Teacher, managing to extend his time putting together an impressive record at the helm of the Simon Fraser University Men’s Basketball team.

Stan once told me during an interview that he “got involved in teaching so he could be given the opportunity to coach and share his ideas to the youth, which he did extremely well.”

He coached the North Delta Huskies boys basketball team from 1971 to 1973 and his squad was a power-house squad making it to two consecutive finals, winning the championship in ’71 as well as grabbing a third-place finish.

This night was all about Stan and the NDSS basketball program did an impressive job in putting together a “night to remember Stan”.

The banner on the end wall at NDSS pays tribute to him and others that have made this program what it is today.

The weather might have been soggy outside but it was warm and “toasty” inside with everyone having a moment to remember the “Godfather” of basketball at NDSS.

One player was John Buis and was also the MC for the evening that played a in three-year span mentioned to me that “when it came to preparation, Stewardson was one that could invent new ideas that others would overlook.”

He was a fan of Bobby Knight and often he would use video tape as a coaching tool dating back to 1969, something that was simply unheard of at that time.

He instilled in his players that to be a pro they had to look like a pro, thus he had his players arrive at all games wearing dress slacks and team blazers.

Talk about an intimidating fashion statement even at that time, but his idea was simply that they were “ready to work” with a profound attitude that is instilled in his players even to this day.

He had the players believe in themselves that they could do whatever they set their minds on and “NO” simply wasn’t an option.

Talk about attitude he passed this on to players such as like Bill Edwards, Stu Graham, Tyler Kushnir, Mike McNeill and SFU’s Jay Triano.

Mike McNeill went on to be an impressive guard at both North Delta and SFU and also went on to coach the Men’s and Women’s Clan teams that continue up to and including Canada’s National program.

Jay Triano was his star extraordinaire recruit at SFU in ’77 and played 11 years with the National program.

He was an Assistant coach under Stewardson during his second stint at SFU, and eventually became coach of the Canadian national team, Toronto Raptors and was recently hired by the Phoenix Suns.

Buis, on the other was active for more than 40 years with the BC High School Boys Provincial committee, plus acting as President of Basketball BC for a solid nine-years.

In addition to being active in basketball and lacrosse he played Little League Baseball in  in the New West and eventually became an all-star in the Northwest semi-pro league, but later declined pro offers, one from the New York Mets as he wanted to focus on his teaching degree.

His legacy lives on and this was a “Night For Stan”.

he was inducted into the Basketball BC Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Thanks to NDSS for putting on such an amazing evening and thanks for allowing myself and Kevin Adlem and Delta TV to be a part of history.