Category: 1992 Inductees

The 1992 inductees to the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame

  • Thomas Settee – Athlete

    Thomas Settee – Athlete

    Defying the odds was a way of life for Tom Settee.

    Born in Prince Albert in 1914 Settee grew up with a lung disorder which ultimately required medical attention. At the age of 23, Settee turned to boxing to try to improve his respiratory capabilities.

    That proved to be a wise decision as “Little Chief” went on to a very successful boxing career in both the amateur and professional ranks.

    Settee began boxing under the tutelage of Tommie Elvery in 1937 and for two years fought a series of bouts working toward a shot at the welterweight (under 147 pounds) championship. When the Second World War broke out, Settee went overseas to serve his country. He did not quit boxing, however, with between 60 and 70 fights during that time, including three consecutive appearances in the Canadian Army championship. Settee reached the final in the welterweight division on each occasion, losing in 1942 and 1943 before claiming the gold medal in 1944. That feat is made more impressive by the fact it took victories in 16 bouts to be declared champion.

    Settee was injured later in the war and after his discharge became a professional boxer. Despite having a piece of shrapnel lodged in his hip, Settee went on to win 13 of 15 professional fights.

    Fighting under the name of Tommy Deschambeault (his mother’s maiden name), Settee captured the Western Canadian welterweight and middleweight (under 160 pounds) championships before retiring in 1948.

    Settee continued his involvement in the sport on his return to Prince Albert, offering his expertise to local boxing enthusiasts.

    In 1991, Settee was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

  • Prince Albert Flashlights – Team

    Prince Albert Flashlights – Team

    Despite only existing as a team for 10 years, the Prince Albert Flashlights junior soccer club left an indelible mark.

    Formed in 1925 by Lois LaRock Sr., the team won the city championship in its maiden season. That set the stage for what lay ahead as the Flashlights claimed 10 straight city titles and three consecutive provincial championships from 1932‑34.

    Two members on the provincial championship teams, Jimmy Brown and Jack Wilson, gained berths on the Saskatchewan all-star team.

    Other members of the provincial championship teams included Bill Combs, Harry Robertson, Sylva Menard, Elmer LaRock, Jim Hazel, Vaughn Bell, Jack Wooley, Chuck Legault, Louis LaRock Jr., John Johnson and Art Hall. In 1934, the team added George Freeland, Alex Strachan, Trevor Moore. Harry Duffield, Johnny Donald and Jack Stowell

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

  • Andrew Zwack – Builder

    Andrew Zwack – Builder

    Mention the sport of baseball in Saskatchewan and the name Andy Zwack almost immediately enters the conversation.

    Zwack’s involvement in the sport ranged from player to umpire to executive member.

    Born in Cudworth in 1917, he began a seven‑decade association with the sport as a player in the city school system eventually graduating to the Junior program in the Prince Albert and District Baseball League. From 1933‑39, Zwack played on three provincial junior championship teams and in 1940 began a three‑year stint with the Prince Albert Bohemians’ in a senior circuit. Zwack ended his competitive playing career in 1943 with an appearance in the Western Canadian championship as a member of the Norvans in the Greater Vancouver Commercial Baseball League.

    The following year, Zwack took up umpiring and worked in the Prince Albert and District & Northern Saskatchewan baseball leagues. After 7 years in that capacity, Zwack expanded his portfolio to become the initial umpire‑in‑chief of the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association.

    In 1957, Zwack became both the president of the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association and umpire‑in‑chief for the Saskatchewan Baseball Association. During his two‑year tenure as the minor baseball president, Zwack initiated the formation of a midget baseball league.

    In 1966, Zwack assisted with the formation of the Western Canada Baseball Association, not only serving on the board of directors but also becoming the association’s first umpire‑in‑chief. The following year, Zwack became president of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association. He was also named to the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball board of directors and became umpire supervisor for the federation.

    From 1970‑76, Zwack was on the board of directors of both the Western Canada Baseball Association and the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball along with being the first executive director of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association. He held the latter position until his retirement in 1986.

    Zwack’s honours for his involvement in baseball include life memberships in the Saskatchewan Baseball Association, the Western Canada Baseball Association and the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball. He was named the Prince Albert Citizen of the Year for 1961 and also has been honoured as the Prince Albert Sportsman of the Year.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

  • Chester Leach – Builder

    Chester Leach – Builder

    “Ches ” Leach was involved in bringing junior hockey to Prince Albert twice.

    Born in 1917, Leach participated in a number of sports during his younger years including baseball, small‑bore rifle, boat racing and showing horses, but his greatest passion was hockey.

    In the late 1940s, along with Charles Goddard, Leach helped form the Prince Albert Mintos junior hockey club. The Mintos competed in the Saskatchewan Amateur Junior Hockey League and were a training ground for a number of future National Hockey League players.

    In the early 1960s, Steve Ruznisky assumed control of the community owned Minto team, but Leach remained very visible in the local hockey scene. That visibility resulted in Leach and Reg Martsinkiw joining forces in 1970 to land an expansion franchise in the SAJHL. The hockey club, known as the Prince Albert Raiders, went on to unprecedented success including four national championships (Centennial Cups) in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Leach was president of the team when it won its first national championship in 1977. His involvement with the team was honoured in 1989 when a new facility at the Communiplex was christened the Ches Leach Room.

    Leach was named coach of the year in the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association in 1972 and Prince Albert Sportsman of the Year in 1976.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

  • Gordon Wilson – Athlete

    Gordon Wilson – Athlete

    Gordon Wilson was one of a unique group ‑ a multi‑sport athlete and coach who excelled in hockey, baseball and softball.

    Born in 1923, Wilson played hockey in the winter and ball in the summer.

    As a hockey player, Wilson started in the Prince Albert Church Hockey League and graduated to the Junior Blackhawks in1940. For three years he tended net for the Blackhawks with a future National Hockey Leaguer, Johnny Bower, as his backup.

    Wilson served in the Second World War from 1943 ‑ 46 and when he returned to Prince Albert he played senior hockey and also officiated at Junior Minto games. Wilson gradually withdrew from the sport as a player and went into coaching where he was very successful at the pee wee and bantam levels. One of his highlights as a coach was having his son Rick on his team. Rick Wilson went on to enjoy a successful hockey and coaching career in the National Hockey League.

    When it was too warm to be involved in hockey, Wilson could be found at the ball diamonds. He played baseball for the Bohemians and Anavets ‑ for a number of years, but his greatest success came in softball where as a member of the Riverside Royals he helped the team to four Northern championships and provincial titles in 1959 and 1961. Highlights during this time included a league‑leading batting average of .456 in 1956 and a game winning grand‑slam home run against The King (Eddie Feigner) and His Court in a highly publicized exhibition game.

    Wilson later turned to coaching women’s softball teams and in 1975 he guided the Browne Motor Dusters to the provincial Senior C championship.

    Very active in the Royal Canadian Legion, Wilson received the award of merit for his involvement in community activities.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.