Athletic Lives of Distinction - M - Z
M - R
Palov, Joey '88 - Soccer
It would seem that Joey is genetically predisposed to love sports: his parents were both varsity athletes, Phys. Ed teachers and coaches. As a child, he "played every sport I could.” With his drive and grit, this student athlete was a perfect fit for Ridley, though he arrived at the school only after a series of fortunate events.
When asked to recount his greatest sports memory, he recalls: “In the dying days of August, 1986, Brian Iggulden (then Director of Admissions) answered a handwritten letter from my mother that was addressed ‘To Whom It May Concern.’ She did not want me to attend CEGEP in Quebec. Ridley had an unexpected opening. Two weeks later, I arrived on campus – the beneficiary of generous financial aid. Is that a sports memory? I don’t know. But it led to the most fulfilling two years of my athletic life. And I will always be grateful for the opportunity.”
At Ridley, Joey played First Soccer, First Hockey, was a member of the Track and Field team, and won the ISAA championship with the Senior Rugby Team. He went on to play varsity soccer at Acadia University, and Junior B hockey for two seasons with the Windsor Royals. Interestingly, he was also featured in a Sports Illustrated article about devoted Canadian fans of American college football.
As an athlete, Joey has learned the value of accountability, which he believes “transcends results: goals scored, personal awards, wins or championships." "It starts with showing up and giving your best effort," he advises. "It’s taught during difficult times, when mistakes are made and things don’t go your way.”
When asked to recount his greatest sports memory, he recalls: “In the dying days of August, 1986, Brian Iggulden (then Director of Admissions) answered a handwritten letter from my mother that was addressed ‘To Whom It May Concern.’ She did not want me to attend CEGEP in Quebec. Ridley had an unexpected opening. Two weeks later, I arrived on campus – the beneficiary of generous financial aid. Is that a sports memory? I don’t know. But it led to the most fulfilling two years of my athletic life. And I will always be grateful for the opportunity.”
At Ridley, Joey played First Soccer, First Hockey, was a member of the Track and Field team, and won the ISAA championship with the Senior Rugby Team. He went on to play varsity soccer at Acadia University, and Junior B hockey for two seasons with the Windsor Royals. Interestingly, he was also featured in a Sports Illustrated article about devoted Canadian fans of American college football.
As an athlete, Joey has learned the value of accountability, which he believes “transcends results: goals scored, personal awards, wins or championships." "It starts with showing up and giving your best effort," he advises. "It’s taught during difficult times, when mistakes are made and things don’t go your way.”
“Accountability is a lesson that pervades all aspects of Ridley life—social, academic and athletic.”
P.O. Box 3013, 2 Ridley Road St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C3 Canada 905 684 1889
With more than 700 students from 60 countries, the largest boarding programme in Ontario and the third largest in Canada, Ridley College is a truly international, co-educational, day and boarding school of the world that prepares students for the world. It has provided enriching learning and life-shaping experiences focused on the arts, academics, and athletics since 1889. Ridley’s Lower School offers JK-Grade 8, its Upper School consists of Grade 9-PG, and Ridley graduates attend some of the top universities and colleges around the world. Ridley is the only co-ed independent boarding school in Canada and one of only three in North America authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme.
