It is time for our October Then and Now, remembering one of our honoured members and honouring one of New Brunswick's inspiring young athletes. A natural choice was Dexter Richard, who won the Roly McLenehan Canada Games Award last November.
Then: Roland McLenahan
Roland McLenehan played hockey in the late 40s and 50s. He earned a reputation as a power play juggernaut with a lightning-fast shot. He played briefly for the detroit redwings in 44-45,, and before the end of his career would earn respect of everyone the sport as a coach and athlete.
He was a sports giant of our province. After six seasons in the AHL and four in the IHL, he transitioned into coaching and well into the 50s coached AHL teams. He was New Brunswick’s first Provincial Sport Director and established Sport NB. He lead the creation of the New Brunswick Games in '67, and helped form the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. The famed Danny Grant owes much to McLenahan for guiding him to his first pro contract.
Now: Dexter Richard
Dexter Richard made history as the first New Brunswick athlete to win medals in trampoline events at the Canada Winter Games. In 2023, he earned a bronze in the men’s individual trampoline, following his gold in the synchro event with teammate Eric Davis. Dexter’s performances have put him at the forefront of trampoline in New Brunswick, and would like to encourage other athletes to strive toward their greatest potential to be a powerful competitor.
Q&A with Dexter Richard
1. What did it mean to you to get the Roly McLenehan Canada Games Award?The Roly McLenehan award was significant to me as it demonstrated the effort I had put into the sport for the past decade. Although my performance may not have been my best, it was enough to get NB started. I hope that others at the games used it as motivation to take advantage of the opportunity to dominate and not just participate.
2. Can you tell me a bit about the day you won a bronze for men's individual trampoline and gold for men’s synchronized trampoline? What was challenging about it, and how did you get in the right frame of mind?
The whole event was mixed for me. The synchronized trampoline event was surprisingly calm for me, likely because we treated it more like a fun event, which helped us perform well. However, the individual event was rough—I struggled to execute the routines I had planned and had to make several adjustments mid-routine. I think I was overthinking it and should have approached it more like the synchro event. Still, I’m very grateful for how it turned out in the end and excited to keep improving.
3. In your opinion, what was the most important thing to focus on in preparing for the Canada Games?
I would say my mentality and consistency. These are areas I’ve struggled with throughout my career, and they are still things I’m working on. The preparation for the Canada Games was a step in the right direction, and I hope to keep building on that.
4. What drew you to trampoline initially?
I originally started trampoline as a way to learn tricks for snowboarding, as I was competing in slopestyle snowboarding at the time. Over time, I grew to love the sport and eventually made the switch.
5. What are your future plans after working on your kinesiology degree? Right now, I’m working at the Stan Cassidy Centre. I’ve already graduated with my BSc in Kinesiology in 2023. I’m currently taking a year off to figure out what’s next, but I’m considering applying to graduate school for physiotherapy.
The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame wishes the best of luck to you, Dexter. Thank you for representing our province so well, and thank you for taking the time to sit down for a quick Q&A.
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