Hall of Fame on Fencing-Escrime NB

Alfred Knappe

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Alfred Knappe began his fencing career in Hof, West Germany in 1950. He emigrated to Canada in 1955, settling in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 1966, he began coaching at the University of New Brunswick fencing club. He represented New Brunswick at the National Championships in 1967 and at the Eastern Canadian Championships in 1968.

In 1969, Alfred Knappe founded the New Brunswick Fencing Association, serving as its first president. He accomplished this by uniting clubs from Fredericton, Saint John, and St. Andrews — establishing the organizational foundation that FENB builds on today.

Barbara Daniel

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Barbara Daniel began coaching in Halifax in 1975 while also competing as a foil fencer. She competed for Nova Scotia at the Canada Games in Brandon (1975) and Lethbridge (1979).

Over her career, Barbara founded six fencing clubs, most recently the Damocles Club of Fredericton. She coached at the Canada Games eight times — representing Nova Scotia in 1991 and 1995, and New Brunswick in 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2013.

Kara Grant

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Kara Grant is a two-time Olympic modern pentathlete from New Brunswick. She was one of the first female Canadian modern pentathletes to compete at the Summer Olympics, representing Canada at the 2004 Athens Games alongside Monica Pinette.

Modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport combining fencing (épée), freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, and a combined laser-run event (running and shooting). Kara’s Olympic appearances brought national recognition to the sport and to New Brunswick’s athletic community.

Marc-André LeBlanc

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rick Gosselin

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rick Gosselin won New Brunswick’s first provincial fencing championship at the inaugural New Brunswick Championships, held on March 21, 1970 at the Fredericton YMCA. The men’s foil event that day included competitors from Saint John YMCA (Bob Pottle and Bill MacDonald) and Fredericton (Alan Muzzerall, Kevin Montague, and Brian Grimley).

As an athlete, Rick represented the province twice at the Canada Winter Games. He later transitioned to coaching, guiding New Brunswick’s provincial fencing team at four Canada Winter Games.