The elite athletes from the championship eras warrant acknowledgement during the golden anniversary year of the first CCAA National Hockey Championship.

As the national governing body limited its recognition of hockey in its golden anniversary celebrations around a supremacy banner, the decision was made to determine the CCAA's Finest of the First 50 based upon the highest individual honours and team accomplishments.

The finest from the level one championship era spanning from 1975 through 1990 encompasses four CCAA All Canadian honourees and four CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player honourees (including two Olympians). All won a CCAA National Champaionship and two captained CCAA National Champions.

In goal, Cleo Rowein receives the call. After attending the training camp of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the preseason, Rowein assumed the role of number one goaltender for the 1984-85 CCAA champion NAIT Ooks during the regular season and the post season. The three time CCAA All Canadian was also chosen CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1985.

On defense, Blaine Peerless and Serge Roy get the nod. Peerless, a two time CCAA All Canadian, captained the 1988-89 and 1989-90 CCAA champion NAIT Ooks. Roy, a 1988 Canadian Olympic Team member, laced up the skates for the 1982-83 and 1983-84 CCAA champion Lauréats du Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe and received CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player honours in 1983.

Up front, Matt Kabayama, a 1998 Japanese Olympic team member, joins a pair of Centennial Cup champions -- Ron Pierce and Ron Amyotte. Kabayama, a CCAA All Canadian, received CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player honours with the 1987-88 CCAA champion Mount Royal College Cougars. Amyotte, a CCAA All Canadian, played with the 1984-85 and 1985-86 CCAA champion NAIT Ooks and captained the latter. Pierce, the CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player with the 1980-81 CCAA champion SAIT Trojans, also toiled with the 1978-79 CCAA champion Red Deer College Kings.

The finest from the level two championship era spanning from 1996 through 2001 encompasses one CCAA Academic All Canadian honouree, five CCAA All Canadian honourees and three CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player honourees. All won a CCAA National Championship and two captained CCAA National Champions.

Goaltender Chad Ford, a CCAA All Canadian, was the CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player with the 1996-97 CCAA champion Cambrian Golden Shield.

Defensemen Dion Hagan and Dan Hopfner captained the 1998-99 CCAA champion Mount Royal College Cougars and the 1999-2000 CCAA champion SAIT Trojans respectively. Hagan, a CCAA All Canadian, received CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player honours in 1998 and Hopfner, a CCAA Academic All Canadian, received CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player honours in 2000.

Forwards Ryan Bennato, Mike Hofstrand and Sheldon Szamata competed for crosstown rivals at the turn of the century. Bennato, a CCAA All Canadian, was a member of the 1997-98 and 1998-99 CCAA champion Mount Royal College Cougars. Szamata, a CCAA All Canadian, was a teammate of Bennato's for two seasons and a member of the 1998-99 CCAA champions. Hofstrand, a two time CCAA All Canadian, donned the jersey of the 1999-2000 CCAA champion SAIT Trojans.

The 12 are among 29 hockey players currently eligible for the CCAA Hall of Fame.

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