February 5, 2013
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – One athlete, three builders, two for meritorious service and one team will be inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame Saturday, April 20th, 2013 during a banquet in the Ches Leach Lounge adjacent to the Sports Hall of Fame in the Art Hauser Centre.
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the formation of an “Association of the Year” category for the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame. As selected by the Board, Associations that have had a tradition of longevity and success may be recognized. The inaugural inductee in this category is the Prince Albert Minor Softball Association.
As protocol, to make room for the new slate of inductees, those inducted during the 2001 ceremony will have their citations presented to them and they will join the section of the Hall for the retired citations.
2013 Inductees
Athlete – Sherry Anderson – Curling
Picking up her first curling rock at the age of 9, Sherry Anderson started a career in the sport that has seen her become one of Saskatchewan’s most decorated members of the sport. She has curled out of the Northside, Christopher Lake, Prince Albert, Delisle and Saskatoon Curling clubs in her career and won titles at each rink, including 6 Prince Albert Ladies Bonspiels.
Sherry Anderson has skipped rinks at 20 Provincial Scott championships, finishing either first or second 11 times. She has won the Saskatchewan championship in 1994,1995, 2002 and 2004 advancing to the National Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
At the Canadian Championship bonspiels, the Anderson rinks have all shown very well. In 1994 in Kitchener Waterloo the Anderson rink was third, in 1995 in Calgary they finished with a record of 6-5, in Brandon in 2002 they were runners up and in Red Deer in 2003 they were eliminated in a tie breaker. Anderson also has twice won the Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship award at the Scotties. Anderson also was a 5th player at the Scotties on two occasions.
Sherry Anderson has had her rink at each Olympic Trial since curling was made an official Olympic Sport. She was the runner up at the first ever trials in Regina in 2001 and also competed in Halifax in 2005 and Prince George in 2009.
Anderson has also been prevalent at many other noteworthy events. She has competed and won the TSN Skins Game, won the lucrative Husky Bonspiel in Saskatoon, competed on the World Curling tour since its inception, been the Players Championship winner and in three appearances at the Canada Cup has a 1st and 2nd place finish as well as an appearance in the quarter finals.
She also has given back to the sport of curling on many different levels. She started volunteering cooking rink burgers and pouring coffee when she was young up to being on many curling club executives and helping organize and run major events and junior activities as well as being a motivational speaker.
Sherry also is a successful golfer, winning the Prince Albert Business Girls championship and Ladies Lobstick in Waskesiu in 1993 and she was the prince Albert Sportswoman of the Year in 1994.
Builder – Barry Mihilewicz – Football
When Barry Mihilewicz took a football officials course from Ron Walsh in the early 1980s, a chord was struck for Barry that has turned into a life long passion to don the stripes on the grid iron. Barry has shared this passion to help form the Prince Albert Football Officials Association which is crucial to the growth of the sport in Prince Albert and area.
Barry has officiated games at the Kinsmen, 6 man, 9 man and 12 man levels ever since. Around 2005 the sport of football saw resurgence in the area, with St. Mary and PACI reviving their programs. Mihilewicz, along with Ken Belyea and Danny Nickel formed PAFOA anticipating the need for more officials. Barry was the president, treasurer and assignor of the association and helped attract officials, many whom had previously retired from refereeing the game.
Knowing the importance quality officiating is to the integrity of the sport, Barry has mentored and encouraged many to take their Levels 1, 2 and 3. This allows officials to work games right up to the CIS University level.
An indication of the success of Barry’s work to develop quality officials is that the Saskatoon High School Football league no longer sends officials from Saskatoon to work games in Prince Albert, allowing all-PAFOA crews to work the games.
With increased interest in surrounding communities and specifically in the north, Mihilewicz has travelled to many communities to work with not only officials, but also coaches and players to help them better understand the rules of the sport to add to their enjoyment of football.
In 2010 Mihilewicz was recognized by the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association with an Officials Service Award.
Builder – Dwight Bergstrom & Wayne Simpson – Skiing
Dwight Bergstrom & Wayne Simpson grew up together at the ski hill since the 1960’s when they joined the Prince Albert Ski Club coached by Ernie Birkham. They competed and coached together and helped develop a quality facility at Little Red River Park for the Prince Albert ski community.
Wayne Simpson competed for Saskatchewan at the 1967 Canada Winter Games in Quebec City and in 1971 in Saskatoon, where he was part of the silver medal Dual Slalom team. Dwight Bergstrom has been a life long coach, who along with Wayne coached two members of the Saskatchewan team and developed another for Team Albert for the 1975 Canada Winter Games.
In 1984 Dwight’s eldest daughter Reagan was 5 and Dwight, along with Elaine Conacher formed the Prince Albert Nancy Greene Ski League with 4 racers! The following year many more youngsters showed interest in the NGSL which prompted Dwight to contact Wayne Simpson. Wayne’s daughter Adrienne also became interested, which began a significant phase to improve ski racing in Prince Albert.
Dwight and Wayne continued as coaches and executives of the NGSL for many years until in 1989 both saw the need for improvements to Little Red as their association had over 150 members and they were constantly challenged with the lack of snow. Dwight and Wayne formed a group of volunteers to become the PA Ski Hill Development Inc. which raised in excess of $250,000. On December 1, 1990 the new Kinsmen Ski Centre opened at Little Red complete with snow making equipment.
For their efforts in 1991, they were named the Prince Albert Sportsmen of the Year.
Dwight Bergstrom continued his love of coaching for many years in ski racing with the support of his good friend Wayne Simpson.
Builder – Ron Horn – Cycling & Skiing
Ron Horn has had a significant influence on cycling and skiing in Prince Albert and District for many years.
His cycling involvement includes being a key organizer of an event for Cycle Canada surrounding the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. This event saw cyclists start from Victoria, BC in the West and St. John’s, Newfoundland in the East and cycle into Montreal to coincide with the opening of the Olympic Games. Ron was the key contact for the Western contingent coming through Saskatchewan. Once that leg was complete, Ron and his wife Shelly then joined the Eastern contingent in St. John’s and cycled to Montreal for their honeymoon.
Horn was the Chairman of the Saskatchewan Cycling Association from 1977-81 and continued as an active member following. He received the President’s Award in 2004 for his contributions to that organization.
In 1987 Ron helped form the PA Cycling Club, which became the Rock ‘N Road Cycle Club in 1994. He continues to hold that position today, 26 years later.
In Skiing Ron has been a long time member of the Provincial Cross Country Ski Association which he was the Finance Director from 2000-04. He also was involved with the PA Ski Club for many years as President and Director. Ron and Shelley were recognized in 2007 when they jointly received the Christina Woodrow Memorial Award for many years of dedicated volunteer service.
Ron also is instrumental in the care and maintenance of the Cross Country Ski trails at Cooke Municipal Golf Course.
Meritorious Service – L. Darren Whitehead – Special Olympics
Involvement with Special Olympics since 1993 has resulted in Darren Whitehead travelling the globe in many capacities.
It all started in 1993 when Whitehead began volunteer with Special Olympics floor hockey team in Prince Albert as a coach and referee. Since 1995 he has been the Referee in Chief and Sport Technical Advisor for Floor Hockey for Saskatchewan Special Olympics including officiating in 15 provincial tournaments. He was the Referee in Chief for the Canadian Special Olympics National games in 2004 (Charlottetown, PEI), 2008 (Quebec City) and 2012 (St. Albert, Alberta). Whitehead also has been a referee at 3 World Special Olympics games: 2001 (Anchorage, Alaska) and 2008 (Boise, Idaho, USA).
As a Saskatchewan Special Olympics Floor Hockey Coach, Whitehead led his team to a Silver medal at Nationals in Edmonton in 1989. In 2013 he was an assistant coach for the Canadian Floor Hockey team at the World Games in Pyeong Chang, Korea.
Whitehead is also the co-chair of the Prince Albert Special Olympics Committee (since 2005), was a committee member for the 2011 Saskatchewan Special O Winter games in Prince Albert, Assistant coach in track and field for Team Saskatchewan at the Special O Canadian games in Vancouver (1990), on the Mission Staff for Special Olympics National Games in London, Ontario (2010) and a founding member of the Raider/Special Olympics Training for Life Power Breakfast fund raiser established in 2005.
Whitehead also has served as a coach and referee in the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association and on the Board of Directors of the Prince Albert Raiders Hockey Club.
Whitehead has been named the Saskatchewan Special Olympics Male Coach of the Year (1993) and Prince Albert Sportsman of the Year (2010).
Meritorious Service – Malcolm Jenkins – Philanthropist
Malcolm Jenkins contributions to many recreational projects and sports teams and organizations in Prince Albert make him a “community pillar”. His underlying theme and motivation for this support of many projects was “let’s build it for the kids”. Jenkins has been successful in improving the quality of facilities and life in Prince Albert through his generous contributions.
He was the lead donor for the Alfred Jenkins Field House, which opened in 2011 and is named in honor of his late father. The AJF is a jewel on the recreational landscape of Prince Albert providing a quality indoor soccer facility, gymnasium, running track and many other areas for the community to use.
Jenkins was also instrumental in the fundraising and construction of the Kinsmen Skate Board Park. In 2012 he assisted the Friday Night Lights campaign in successfully lighting Prime Ministers Park football field.
He is a major contributor to many other sporting endeavors in the city including: Special Olympics, Western Canada Summer Games, Prince Albert Raiders, Prince Albert Mintos, Saskatchewan Summer Games, Rotary Trail and the Canadian Tire “Jump Start” project.
In December, 2011, Jenkins received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit from Lt.-Gov. Gordon Barnhart for his philanthropic support of the Prince Albert community.
Malcolm Jenkins personifies the best that Prince Albert has to offer and is an example to others of what an enthusiastic group of people can accomplish. Malcolm’s contributions go behind his financial generosity, his true gift is his ability to rally the community to accomplish great things.
Team – 1948 Royal Hilltops Fastball
The Prince Albert Men’s League champions of 1948 were the Royal Hilltops, who won the Fraser Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Riverside Royals in a game played at the Weldon diamond. Other teams competing in the league that year were Davis and Fenton.
The team was made up of players from Red Deer Hill, but Alan Young was their coach, so they changed their name to the Royal Hilltops. In the final they edged out their rivals, the Royals, who were coached by Robin Bibby who presented the trophy to Jim Brown, the oldest player on the Royal Hilltops.
Calvin Beddome pitched the entire game for the Royal Hilltops. In the 9th inning with the score tied 1-1, Beddome came up and hit a double. Wilfred Poulin was the next batter and dramatic lofted a single over first base, scoring Beddome to give the Royal Hilltops the title!
Players for the Royal Hilltops included: Jim and Dwayne Brown, Wilfred and Ernie Pulin, Charlie Zaverganeitz, Eddie Hollick, Alex McMullen, Pete and Danny Kissel, Edgar Acorn, and Chester, Ed and Calvin Beddome.
Some of the umpires that helped out in the league were: Arnold Spence, Allie Logan and Geppy Corrigal.
Association of the Year – Prince Albert Softball
The first ever Association of the Year recognized by the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame board is Prince Albert Softball. Softball is one of the longest standing sports in Prince Albert dating back to the 1930s and has developed over the years with ups and downs, but continues to flourish, thanks to its roots.
Although there may have been some softball played in the 1920s, the first recorded involvement was in 1931 when Stan Pipes of Prince Albert was named to the first ever executive of the Saskatchewan Provincial Softball Association. George ‘Pop’ Jordan is credited with forming the first teams in the area. He was the principal of the Business College in the Hartfield Block and organized girls to play. Jordan, who was crippled, umpired games. Men’s, women’s and a church league were in existence. Cec Corrigal was the most feared pitcher of the day in men’s action.
Women’s fastball dominated the 1940s with games at Bohemian Park while practices were held at Dent Park. The Prince Albert Elkettes would win the first Provincial title by a PA team, led by Lil Tait. There also was a public school girls league beginning in 1944.
Four Prince Albert teams would win provincial titles in the 1950s including the Lumberjacks who won the 1951 juvenile men’s crown behind the pitching of the legendary Ollie Fiddler.
The 1960s may have been the prime softball time for Prince Albert as many leagues flourished, including two senior men’s leagues, a senior ladies and a very strong number at the minor level. The highlight may have come in 1963 when PA teams won both the Senior A and B men’s provincial crowns. The Key Realettes, led by Audrey Sandbeck would win the first women’s title in 1967.
The 1970s saw the Realettes change their name to the Browne Motors Dusters and they continued to dominate winning 3 commercial league titles from 1972-75. They also claimed the Provincial Senior B crown in 1978. Men’s ball was also strong with the Sportsman and Commercial Leagues flourishing. The A & W Playboys won the senior B title in 1970 and the Commercial league title in 1974 while the Prince Albert Clubs won the 1973 Intermediate crown.
In the 80s, the Sportsman League would become the only men’s softball league, while the ladies Carling O’Keefe league was 11 teams strong.1988 was the start of something as Prince Albert hosted the Western Canada Senior B men’s and women’s championships. Although the host teams did not place, a penchant for putting on major events had begun.
Although they had hosted a major event, the softball community, led by Softball Saskatchewan rep George Balon, began to lobby civic politicians to upgrade Prime Ministers Park. By the time the city hosted the 1996 Canadian Midget Boys championships, PMP shone thanks to a $50,000 face lift that included new bleachers, dugouts, fences, lights and a press box. PA’s Midget boys won national titles in 1995 (Ken-Gar Selects) and when they hosted in 1996 (Northern Bus Line Selects).The city also added quality softball diamonds in Crescent Acres to answer the demand for the sport.
With softball, especially for females, gaining popularity, PA Minor Softball had a strong decade in the 2000s. They hosted a number of major events including the 2001, 2007 and 2009 Midget Boys Canadians and the 2005 Pee Wee boys and girls Westerns. For their efforts in hosting the 2009 Midget Boys Canadians, PA Minor was named the Softball Association of the Year and Chairman Bruce Vance were named Volunteer of the Year by Softball Sask.
Prince Albert Minor Softball continues a strong tradition of success and hosting major events.
Inducted in 2001, citations to be retired:
- John Chad
- Ken Bird
- Danny Jutras
- John Holash
- Hubert Cooke
- Charlie Mathiason
- Betty Payton
- 1994 & 1995 Sherry Anderson Curling Rink
Tickets for the 2013 Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, April 20 are $40 each and available at Community Services in City Hall. Corporate tables of 8 are $500 each which includes sponsorship of the event.