UPEI athletics greats Colin MacAdam and Ed Hilton inducted into PEI Sports Hall of Fame
Colin MacAdam and the late Ed Hilton, both of whom played pivotal roles in varsity sport at UPEI, were inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony at UPEI on July 11, 2026.
A UPEI alumnus and former coach, MacAdam is well known in Atlantic Canada as an outstanding athlete and builder of track and field, having coached at the school, provincial, and Canada Games levels on PEI for almost 40 years.
A standout middle-distance runner, he represented PEI at the Canada Games on two occasions in the 1970s, set long-standing provincial track records, and competed as a varsity athlete in both basketball and track and field, first at UPEI and later at Dalhousie University. During his competitive career, he was a regular participant at national track and field championships and captured the AUAA 800-metre title in 1978.
In the early 2000s, he played a key role in revitalizing track and field on PEI, combining strong leadership as an administrator with exceptional coaching. One of his greatest accomplishments was coaching Jared Connaughton to win two Canada Games gold medals in 2005 before Connaughton went on to compete at two Olympic Games. Over the course of his coaching career, MacAdam was part of nine Canada Games.
MacAdam was named head coach of UPEI Cross Country and Track and Field in 2016. With the track and field program, he helped sprinter Bailey Smith earn a national silver medal in the 60 metre race while also leading her to three consecutive AUS championships. He was named a Panther of Distinction in November 2025 for his dedication to UPEI varsity athletics and was awarded the President’s Award in December 2025 by Sport PEI for his outstanding contributions to sport on PEI.
Widely admired for his contributions as a coach, administrator, and veteran basketball official, MacAdam spent a lifetime developing athletes, advancing sport, and serving his community.
Hilton, who passed away in 2003, played a pivotal role in shaping SDU–UPEI varsity athletics. From his arrival at Saint Dunstan’s University in the fall of 1960 as football coach until his retirement as UPEI’s athletic director in 1991, Hilton was instrumental in establishing the University as the centre of elite Island sport.
Known for his ability to recruit talented student-athletes and foster a culture built on teamwork, camaraderie, and hard work, he joined SDU in August 1960 to coach football and basketball. Between 1963 and 1969, he also served as athletic director while continuing his coaching duties. When UPEI was created in 1969, Hilton was named the new university’s athletic director.
One of the highlights of his coaching career came in 1973 when he guided the Panthers’ football team to the Atlantic championship game, where they faced Saint Mary’s University. He was honoured as the AUAA (now AUS) and CIAU (now U SPORTS) Football Coach of the Year in 1973–74.
During his tenure as athletic director, UPEI’s varsity teams enjoyed significant success. In the 1980s, Panthers’ teams captured 14 Atlantic championships, including an impressive stretch in the mid-1980s when men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey, and men’s soccer each won three conference titles.
Hilton also championed the development of the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, which remains the home court for the Panthers’ basketball teams and serves as a training facility for student-athletes across all varsity programs.
Throughout his career and long after his retirement, Hilton remained highly respected by former players, many of whom maintained contact with him and continued to seek him out for visits and advice.
Also inducted posthumously was Vernon Frizzell for his lifelong contributions as an outstanding grassroots hockey builder, coach, physical education teacher, and sports administrator on the Island.
