Category: 1990 Inductees

The 1990 inductees to the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame

  • 1978 Brown Motor Dusters – Team

    1978 Brown Motor Dusters – Team

    A team which was formed in 1966 when there was no women’s softball in Prince Albert culminated with a Western Canadian championship in 1978.

    Originally known as the Key Realettes, the team tasted success immediately winning the provincial Commercial Division championship that year.

    It was the start of a string through to 1982 where the team either won a provincial title or was runner‑up. The Realettes repeated as provincial Commercial champions in 1967 and was runner up the next year before moving up to the Senior B Division. That level of ball did not deter the Realettes, who won the Saskatchewan title in 1969. The club became the Browne Motor Dusters in 1970 and finished second in Senior B play that year. The 1971 season saw the Dusters finish as the runner‑up in the Commercial Division. That was followed by four straight championships from 1972 through 1975 ‑ Senior B in 1972 and Commercial 1973‑74‑75. After finishing as the runner‑up in Commercial play in 1976 and winning the Senior C championship in 1977, the Dusters again moved to the Senior B level in 1978.

    After capturing the 1978 Saskatchewan Senior B championship, the Dusters journeyed to Medicine Hat, Alberta for the Western Canadian championship. There against competition from British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the Browne Motors team triumphed. The Western Canadian championship was a particular highlight for seven team members who were with the team in its formative years and were still with the team in 1978.

    The Dusters continued to be highly competitive following their Western Canadian championship, finishing as runner‑up in Senior B provincial from 1979 through 1982.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • 1978 Men’s Five-Pin Bowling – Team

    1978 Men’s Five-Pin Bowling – Team

    A world championship is the best there is at any level of sport and the 1978 men’s five-pin bowling team from Prince Albert achieved that.

    The six‑man team of Wayne Akers, Brian Falconer, Bill Miller, Doug Primeau, Manny Primeau and coach Murray Kyle has individual and team accomplishments which make it read like a ”Who’s Who” of five‑ pin bowling. Besides winning the world championship at Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1978, the highly experienced team won the Saskatchewan title three times ‑ 1978,1979 and 1981.

    Five team members ‑ the Primeau brothers and Akers, Miller and Falconer – combined to set an all‑time Saskatchewan men’s single game record of 1,616 an average of 323 per bowler.

    Such accomplishments are common to these bowlers who average more than 30 years of bowling activity. Akers rolled 448 scores twice (450 is a perfect game). Falconer bowled three-game totals of more than 1,000 seven times and Miller, during a span of 29 years reached the provincial championship 27 times.

    Beyond competing, members of this team have contributed to the development of bowling by coaching Youth Bowling Council teams, including at the national championship level.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • 1970 Prince Albert Opti-Mrs. Softball – Team

    1970 Prince Albert Opti-Mrs. Softball – Team

    The Prince Albert 0pti-Mrs. dominated girls softball in the province from the mid 1960’s through to the early 1970’s. During that period the Opti-Mrs. won six Saskatchewan championships and finished second twice.

    Formed in 1965 as a Pee Wee Division team, the Opti‑Mrs. immediately began a string of four straight provincial championships. The 1965clubwas managed and coached by Ev Ellison with the assistance of Pete Hayduk. The next season Al Olson became coach while Ellison managed, a combination which remained intact through 1972. The Opti‑Mrs. repeated as Saskatchewan Pee Wee Division champions in 1966 and then took the Bantam titles in both 1967 and 1968 before advancing to the Midget Division in 1969. That year saw the team’s provincial championship string end at four straight, losing the Saskatchewan title to a Saskatoon team.

    The 1970 Opti‑Mrs. had a season which featured a great deal of travel. That travel was culminated by the provincial finals in Regina where the Opti‑Mrs. captured the Saskatchewan Midget Division championship. The club repeated as provincial champions in 1971 ‑ winning the Junior Division ‑ and then finished second at that level in 1972. During the period of 1965‑72, the Opti‑Mrs. won eight city and eight zone championships to go with their six Saskatchewan titles.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • Ev Ellison – Builder

    Ev Ellison – Builder

    Softball in the summer and curling in the winter describes Audrey Sandbeck.

    A softball player during her school years in her hometown of Smeaton, Sandbeck later played in Regina and Calgary. In the mid 1960’s she returned Prince Albert and founded the Key Realettes team with her two sisters and a brother‑in‑law. This club had an auspicious debut, winning the Saskatchewan Commercial Division championship. The Key Realettes repeated as champions in 1967 and in 1969 won the newly created Senior B division. In 1970, Sandbeck hung up her spikes and concentrated her energies on managing the club and helping with the coaching. It was also that year the team became the Browne Motor Dusters. In 1972, the Dusters embarked on a string of four consecutive provincial titles. Dusters won again in 1977 and 1978. In 1978 the team also captured the Western Canadian championship in Medicine Hat. At that event, Sandbeck was named the all‑star coach.

    During much of that time the Dusters did not have a league to play in, forcing Sandbeck to organize exhibition games and later to enter the team into the previously men‑only Sportsman Softball League. Among the exhibition games were contests with “The Queen and Her Court”, the reigning Senior A champion Saskatoon Imperials and a club from New Zealand. Dusters finally got to play in a Prince Albert league in 1981 and took two straight titles.

    After a brief retirement from the Dusters after the team hosted 1982 Western Canadian championship, Sandbeck organized a twilight division team.

    She served on local and provincial Softball Saskatchewan executives from 1969 to 1979 and in 1976 received an outstanding service award from the provincial body. In 1984 her name was added to the Softball Saskatchewan honour roll.

    Sandbeck has been a competitive curler for years having participated at many regional and northern playdowns and in 1976 at the provincial playdowns. She has also taken many executive and organizational roles in this winter sport, including being one of the founders of the Prince Albert Business Girls Curling Club in the 1950s. She also assisted in the founding of the Twilite Ladies Golf Club.

    In 1981 Sandbeck become the first Prince Albert Sportswoman of the Year.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • Audrey Sandbeck – Athlete/Builder

    Audrey Sandbeck – Athlete/Builder

    Softball in the summer and curling in the winter describes Audrey Sandbeck.

    A softball player during her school years in her hometown of Smeaton, Sandbeck later played in Regina and Calgary. In the mid 1960’s she returned Prince Albert and founded the Key Realettes team with her two sisters and a brother‑in‑law. This club had an auspicious debut, winning the Saskatchewan Commercial Division championship. The Key Realettes repeated as champions in 1967 and in 1969 won the newly created Senior B division. In 1970, Sandbeck hung up her spikes and concentrated her energies on managing the club and helping with the coaching. It was also that year the team became the Browne Motor Dusters. In 1972, the Dusters embarked on a string of four consecutive provincial titles. Dusters won again in 1977 and 1978. In 1978 the team also captured the Western Canadian championship in Medicine Hat. At that event, Sandbeck was named the all‑star coach.

    During much of that time the Dusters did not have a league to play in, forcing Sandbeck to organize exhibition games and later to enter the team into the previously men‑only Sportsman Softball League. Among the exhibition games were contests with “The Queen and Her Court”, the reigning Senior A champion Saskatoon Imperials and a club from New Zealand. Dusters finally got to play in a Prince Albert league in 1981 and took two straight titles.

    After a brief retirement from the Dusters after the team hosted 1982 Western Canadian championship, Sandbeck organized a twilight division team.

    She served on local and provincial Softball Saskatchewan executives from 1969 to 1979 and in 1976 received an outstanding service award from the provincial body. In 1984 her name was added to the Softball Saskatchewan honour roll.

    Sandbeck has been a competitive curler for years having participated at many regional and northern playdowns and in 1976 at the provincial playdowns. She has also taken many executive and organizational roles in this winter sport, including being one of the founders of the Prince Albert Business Girls Curling Club in the 1950s. She also assisted in the founding of the Twilite Ladies Golf Club.

    In 1981 Sandbeck become the first Prince Albert Sportswoman of the Year.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • Dave Balon – Athlete

    Dave Balon – Athlete

    After playing junior hockey with the Prince Albert Mintos, Dave Balon began a lengthy professional career in 1958‑59 with the Saskatoon Quakers.

    Following stops in Three Rivers, Quebec and Kitchener‑Waterloo, Ontario, Balon made it to the pre‑expansion six‑team National Hockey League as a member of the New York Rangers. He spent the 1961‑63seasons with the Blueshirts before being traded to the Montreal Canadians. A highlight of his stay with the Habs was being a member of the 1964‑65 and 1965‑66 Stanley Cup champion teams.

    Prior to the 1966‑67 season Balon became the first pick in the National Hockey League expansion draft, chosen by the Minnesota North Stars. He represented the North Stars in the NHL all‑star game that season.

    Balon returned to the Rangers the next season and joined with Walt Tkachuk and Bill Fairbairn to form the Bulldog Line. During this stint with the Rangers, he received a number of club honours including the Frank Boucher Award for being the team’s most valuable player in the 1970‑71 season. That season saw Balon return to the NHL all‑star game. An individual highlight came on January 24, 1971 when Balon scored four goals in a game against his former club, the North Stars. The 1971‑73 seasons were spent with the Vancouver Canucks and in 1973‑74 Balon moved to the World Hockey Association with the Quebec Nordiques. It was with Quebec that he suffered a broken foot, an injury which combined with other complications until it was diagnosed Balon had multiple sclerosis. Though the disease ended his playing career Balon remained active in hockey, coaching the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1975‑79.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • Morrison Scott – Athlete

    Morrison Scott – Athlete

    Morrison Scott began a lengthy softball pitching career at the age of 16 with the Prince Albert Lehrers. In 1941, Scott joined the navy and played with a navy all-star squad while posted in Victoria. In 1943, he led that team to the British Columbia Championship.

    After returning to Canada from Europe in 1945, Scott pitched in the Halifax Commercial League. He made his mark in this league with two no-hitters while leading his club to the Nova Scotia Intermediate championship. After his discharge, Scott moved back to Saskatchewan where he played for the Osler Monarchs and the Olympics, dominating the Saskatoon Senior Men’s League.

    In 1949 Scott moved to Calgary. It was while playing in the Alberta Big Six Fastball League that he struck out 22 batters in one game. In 1953 he led the Calgary Doodlebugs to the Western Canadian championship, pitching a three‑hitter in the final game. That club also competed at the world championship in Fresno, California.

    Scott’s pitching prowess and timely hitting made him a dominant player with clubs in Red Deer and later Edmonton. He was described in the Red Deer Advocate as probably the best fastball pitcher in Western Canada.

    In 1971 Scott returned to Saskatchewan and at the age of 53 pitched for the Clouston Lads. That club captured the Saskatchewan 8-7 victory over the Regina Raiders, a contest that completed a four-decade career.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.