Category: 1993 Inductees

The 1993 inductees to the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame

  • 1980-1981 Prince Albert Raiders – Team

    1980-1981 Prince Albert Raiders – Team

    In the late 1970s and early 1980s there was no junior hockey franchise more successful than the Prince Albert Raiders.

    In a period of six years the Raiders appeared in five national finals winning four of them. The 1980 ‑ 81 championship team was unique in that a majority of the players went on to a higher level of hockey for an extended period of time.

    Three players ‑ Greg Paslawski, Dave Tippett and James Patrick enjoyed illustrious National Hockey League careers while four others were associated with minor professional teams for a number of years. They were Warren Harper, Robin Bartel, Steve Rierson and Bill Watson.

    The 1980 ‑ 81 Raiders also spawned three Olympians with Tippett, Patrick and Bartel having represented Canada at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Tippett later returned to the Olympic program in 1992 to help Canada win a silver medal in Albertville, France.

    Junior coaching ranks also benefited from the 1980 ‑ 81 Raiders as five of the players went on to successful coaching careers either as a head coach or as an assistant. This list included Peter Anholt, Bob Lowes, Mark Odnokon, Carl Van Camp and Doug Hendricks.

    Prince Albert breezed to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship that year ‑ its sixth straight ‑ and then defeated St. Boniface in the Anavet Cup and St. Albert in the Abbott Cup finals. At the Centennial Cup tournament in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Raiders beat the Belleville Bulls 6 ‑ 2 in the final game after losing only once in the round-robin portion of the tournament.

    Terry Simpson was once again the head coach and general manager while Rick Wilson was his assistant. Both Simpson and Wilson went on to successful careers as assistant coaches in the NHL with Simpson also having a stint as the head coach of the New York Islanders.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1993

  • Jim O’Sullivan – Builder

    Jim O’Sullivan – Builder

    A 30‑year involvement in the sport of judo has rightfully gained Jim O’Sullivan a place in the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame.

    O’Sullivan first joined the Prince Albert Judo Club in 1961 and one year later he was the head instructor for that organization. O’Sullivan has instructed over 4,000 students in the art of judo which in itself includes self-discipline and dedication. O’Sullivan has not let his interest in the sport remain at the club level. He has held almost every post at provincial, national and international levels.

    O’Sullivan has managed provincial teams at national meets and national teams at international competitions. O’Sullivan has also attained an “A” level in officiating and with that he has worked at another large number of events.

    In 1976 O’Sullivan was a technical official for judo at the Olympic Games in Montreal and from 1981 ‑ 1988 he was the general secretary to the North American Judo Confederation.

    O’Sullivan was recognized for his contributions to Prince Albert in 1982 when he was named the Sportsman of the Year.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

  • Olga Johnston – Athlete

    Olga Johnston – Athlete

    Despite approaching middle‑age, Olga Johnston took up archery and for 17 years she was a dominant figure in that sport both at the provincial and national levels.

    Johnston joined the Prince Albert Archery Club in 1969 at the tender age of 37. The first three years of competitive archery were a learning process for Johnston as she entered numerous provincial championships, but never made it to the winner’s podium.

    In 1973, however, that all changed.

    Johnston captured the Wascana Invitational and provincial Felkl and Hunter competitions that year to push her well into the top 10 in provincial women’s rankings. One year later Johnston captured her first provincial title when she topped the list at the Saskatchewan indoor championships held in Prince Albert.

    Johnston later finished third at the Canadian outdoor championships, also held in Prince Albert, and from that performance Johnston was included in the Canadian team which competed at the 1974 world championships in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

    Although Johnston finished 1lth at the world championships, it was easily the highlight of her career. In total, Johnston competed at 10 national championships after more than a decade of first or second‑place finishes at the provincial level.

    Johnston competed at the Western Canada Summer Games in 1975, 1979 and 1983. In three Saskatchewan Summer Games appearances, Johnston won the gold medal all three times ‑ 1976, 1980 and 1984.

    Johnston has also given plenty back to the sport as she has instructed numerous city‑sponsored archery programs as well as lessons with the Prince Albert Archery Club.

    Johnston has served on the executive for both the Prince Albert Archery Club and Saskatchewan Archery Association as well as having managed the provincial entry at the 1981 Canada Summer Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

    After having retired from the sport in 1986, Johnston was presented with a life membership to the Saskatchewan Archery Association in 1990. That same year, Johnston came out of retirement for two events ‑ the Western Canadian Masters and Canadian Masters ‑ and she won gold medals at both events.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

  • Ollie Fiddler – Athlete

    Ollie Fiddler – Athlete

    More than 40 years of competitive softball in two countries earned Ollie Fiddler the nickname “The Legend”.

    From the time he was eight years old in Prince Albert, Fiddler knew that he wanted to be a softball pitcher and with his remarkable talents he outlasted all his rivals before moving to the United States and doing it all over again.

    Fiddler pitched for 21 years in Prince Albert and Saskatoon leading numerous teams to city and provincial championships. From 1955 to 1962 Fiddler racked up an impressive 22‑2 record at The International ‑ a tournament held annually in Minot, N.D. In those seven years, Fiddler guided the Saskatoon Merchants to three International championships.

    Fiddler’s performances at The International caught the eye of American manager Ruben Huber and in 1968, at the age of 34, Fiddler moved south of the border. In the next 21 years Fiddler continued to dominate every league in which he pitched.

    Fiddler won four state championships while in Minot ‑ 1968, 1969, 1979 and 1984. He also had one appearance in the U.S. national tournament in 1976.

    In his career, Fiddler fanned more than 14,000 batters, won more than 1,500 games and had a .285 batting average. Other notable statistics include 42 no‑hitters and 400 one‑hitters.

    Fiddler was inducted into the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame in 1986.

    Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.