Category: 1998 Inductees

Brad Tippett was born on Sept. 8, 1959, in Regina, Sask., and grew up in Moosomin, Sask. were he developed a variety of athletic abilities before moving to Prince Albert in 1972.

Once he moved to Prince Albert, his hard work and dedication made him successful in every sports endeavor he undertook.

In soccer he was a provincial champion at the under-14 and under-16 levels and he was a provincial finalist in the under-18 division. He played for the Sask. Selects for two years in the under-16 division and was a part of the silver medal squad at the 1976 Saskatchewan Summer Games.

In school sports, Brad won the Grade 8 athletic award at Arthur Pechey School and he also captured the top athlete award for Grade 10 while attending Prince Albert Central Institute. His involvement in high school sports ranged from football to basketball to soccer to wrestling to track and field. He was a top athlete in each of these disciplines while still maintaining a high average in academic studies as his Grade 10 provincial math contest championship would support.

Hockey, however, was where Brad enjoyed the most success. Growing up in the West Hill area, Brad often played with other community clubs when they were on the road to provincials. In 1974, he was a pick-up by East Hill and helped that club capture the silver medal at the Saskatchewan Winter Games in North Battleford. In 1976, Brad joined the Melfort TMs of the North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League and captured rookie-of-the-year honors while helping the club capture a provincial championship. The next year he moved up a level to play with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders and again he was rookie-of-the-year as the Raiders reached the Centennial Cup final only to lose to Guelph, Ont. In 1978-79, Brad was a league all-star and was also a national champion as he helped the Raiders claim their second Centennial Cup in three years.

His work did not go unnoticed as he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Michigan. For the next four years he played for the Wolverines and during that time he captured every award imaginable. He was a team captain in his final year along with being named the most valuable player and hardest worker. A spot on the national senior all-star team was the final feather in his collegiate career as Brad graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1983.

Brad turned professional that summer and his first stop was with Sherbrooke of the American Hockey League. While with the main farm team of the Winnipeg Jets, Brad was once again the top rookie and he also captured the Molson Cup Award for three-star selections. Brad moved on to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the 1984-85 season and while with the Komets he was named team captain while being in the top three in scoring.

Offered an opportunity to go home, Brad took on the marketing job with the Prince Albert Raiders in 1985 while also beginning his coaching career with the Midget AAA Raider club that competed in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Brad became an assistant coach with the Raiders the following year and moved in to the office for two more years as assistant general manager and then general manager.

A head coaching job in the Western Hockey League was too good of an opportunity to turn down so in the fall of 1989, Brad left Prince Albert for the Regina Pats where he remained for the next four years.

Brad continues to coach minor hockey and it is a certainty that his experiences and successes will rub off on the younger kids. His work ethic and determination were key ingredients to his success and it is because of them that the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes Brad Tippett into the shrine in the athlete category.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

If ever there was a success story to be told, then one wouldn’t have to look any farther than that of Dave Tippett.

Born in Moosomin, Sask. on August 25, 1961, Dave spent his early years in that community and in Regina before moving to Prince Albert in 1972. Once he arrived in Prince Albert, the world was his stage – literally.

An exceptional all-around athlete, Dave first tasted success in 1974 when he won a provincial soccer skills championship. That led to a national skills title which then saw him participate at the world competition in Paris, France, where he placed eighth. In the game following the skills championship at the world event, Dave was named the most valuable player.

His talents in soccer helped him win provincial championships in high school and at the under-18 level. He was part of the Sask. Select soccer program and also attended a national youth camp in Victoria.

With all that success in soccer, one would find it hard to believe that he would do even more in another sport, but Dave did – in hockey.

Dave was team captain of all of his minor hockey teams and in 1976 led the Prince Albert Bantam Raiders to a provincial championship. At 17 years of age, Dave played Junior B hockey in Melfort and was rookie-of-the-year. The following season, he was the most valuable player of the Junior B Jaks in Prince Albert before being brought up to the Junior A Raiders for their run for a second Centennial Cup championship in three years. Dave remained with the Raiders for two more years where he led the team in scoring and helped the club reach the national championship in each of those seasons. With two national championships and a national runner-up record behind him, Dave moved on to college hockey where he played for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux for two years. Again he tasted success as he was part of the NCAA championship team in 1981-82 and was co-captain of the club in his final season.

For the 1983-84 campaign, Dave lived a dream that few can say they experienced as he was the captain of Canada’s national team which competed at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Although the club narrowly missed bringing home a bronze medal, Dave received three special honors. The first was from his coach Dave King who said he was the most coachable player he ever worked with. The second was when he was named Prince Albert’s Athlete of the Year and the third was when he was signed to a professional contract with the Hartford Whalers.

Dave played six years with the Whalers and had one stretch where he suited up for 419 consecutive games. A defensive specialist in the NHL, Dave won numerous team awards including Unsung Hero and Mr. Hustle in addition to several community service awards.

Dave was traded to the Washington Capitals in 1990 and while with that club he was loaned to Canada’s national club for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. This time around, Dave fulfilled the dream as Canada brought home a silver medal.

Dave played the 1992-93 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and concluded his NHL career the following year with the Philadelphia Flyers. During the NHL players’ strike in 1994, Dave went to the International Hockey League’s Houston Aeros where he was player / assistant coach. He retired from playing after that season, but remained as an assistant coach before being promoted to the head coaching position on Jan. 1, 1996. The director of hockey operations was later added to his portfolio as a new career continues to provide success for Dave Tippett.

It is with extreme pleasure that the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame acknowledge Dave for his accomplishments by inducting him into the shrine in the athlete category.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

“Chief” was born in Big River, Sask. on November 28, 1942 and from an early age it was evident that he was destined for greatness in the sport of hockey.

Jim moved to Prince Albert when he was a child and he honed his craft while attending St. Patrick’s Orphanage. The 6 foot 2 Neilson developed into a solid defenseman and by the time he was 17 he was playing Junior A hockey with Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

One of the first Aboriginal stars of the sport, Jim turned professional when he was 19 as he played with the Kitchener Rangers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League. In 1962, Jim moved up the ladder to play with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League and it was there where he found a home for 12 years.

With the Rangers, Jim was named the team’s top defenseman in 1966 and was runner-up for the league’s Norris Trophy for the top defenseman in 1967-68. A sophomore by the name of Bobby Orr was the only defenseman to beat him in the voting that year.

Jim remained a pillar on the Rangers blueline and in 1972 helped the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final where they lost to the Boston Bruins in 6 games. In 1974, Jim was traded to the California Golden Seals and while in sunny California he was named the captain of the struggling club and was also the Most Valuable Player in 1975-76.

For the next 2 years, Jim played with the Cleveland Barons and again he was the captain of the club. He was also selected as the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Award which is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Jim completed his professional career in 1978-79 when he was part of the Edmonton Oilers who advanced all the way to the Avco Cup in the last year of the World Hockey Association. One of Jim’s teammates that year was a 17 year old rookie by the name of Wayne Gretzky.

In total, Jim played in 1,023 regular season games in the National Hockey League and amassed 69 goals and 299 assists. In 65 playoff games, he contributed 1 goal and 17 assists. Jim was named to 4 all star teams in his illustrious career and through all his hard work and dedication became a role model for the aboriginal population.

Jim Neilson was inducted into the Athlete Category of the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

Margaret Dreaver was born in Melfort on September 3, 1962 and right from the start she was a fighter who would not settle for anything less than the best.

Handicapped at birth, Margaret first became involved in the Special Olympics when she was nine years old while attending Reynold’s School in Melfort. After moving to Prince Albert, she continued to represent Zone 8 in provincial and national championships.

Margaret has been an all-season athlete for her entire career as she has competed in track and field, bowling and cross-country skiing.

In 1994, at the Canadian Special Olympic Games in Halifax, N.S., she won three gold medals in the 400-metre race, shot put and long jump while finishing fourth in the 200 metres. At the Saskatchewan Special Olympic Summer Games in 1997, Margaret again enjoyed a great deal of success as she brought home a pair of bronze medals. In total, Margaret has won more than 40 medals in track and field.

In cross-country skiing, Margaret’s highlight was a three-medal performance at the 1996 Canadian Special Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta. Margaret won a gold and silver in individual events and was also a part of the gold-medal winning relay club from Saskatchewan.

As a bowler, Margaret has been on a provincial championship team in 1989 and has also won the ladies high average in the Kinsmen Workshop League for a number of years. Margaret takes great pride in her bowling and is continually working at improving her technique.

In addition to her success in the sports world, Margaret has also grown into a very important part of the community. Margaret volunteers in numerous fundraising events such as the Law Enforcement Torch Run and also speaks to groups about the Special Olympics and what they truly stand for. Margaret is a development volunteer support worker and she assists students who have multiple disabilities.

It is with great pride that the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Margaret into the athlete category on the 10th anniversary of the local shrine. Margaret truly exemplifies what sportsmanship and athleticism stand for.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

“Little Chief” was born in Prince Albert on August 13, 1936 and while growing up in the city he became involved in many sports – excelling in baseball, softball and hockey.

Reggie’s talents were displayed with the Tadman’s Rockets and P.A. Elks in baseball, the Ace-Hi Flyers and Marlboro Jacks in softball and the Prince Albert Mintos in hockey. His talents were recognized at an early age as he was a runner-up for the Prince Albert Athlete of the Year in 1953 and the following year was named the city’s top athlete.

Like most kids from this area, however, Reggie’s first love was hockey and for three years he proudly wore the colors of his hometown Mintos while playing at the Junior “A” level in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.  Despite his smallish stature – Reggie was only 5-foot-8 and roughly 160 pounds – he demanded respect on the ice. His skating skills and touch around the net had people noticing his abilities and in 1957 at the age of 21 years old he turned professional. Reggie’s first pro team was the Saskatoon Regals of the old Western Canada Hockey League and from 1958 to 1960 he had stops in Trois Rivieres, Que., Springfield, Mass., Troy, Ohio, Greensboro, N.C. and Portland, Ore.

It was while Reggie was in Portland that he made a move that would last a lifetime. His former junior coach, Ken Ullyot, had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was guiding the International Hockey League Komets and he beckoned his former player to join him there and Reggie never looked back. Reggie started with the Komets in 1960 and for eight seasons he was one of the most productive players in that franchise’s history. Reggie played in 511 games scoring 222 goals and adding 373 assists. He sits in sixth place on the all-time scoring list for Komet players and that position could be even higher had he not decided to retire for half of the 1965-66 campaign and all of the 1966 – 67 season. He finally called it quits for good in the spring of 1969.

Reggie also added 59 points in 53 playoff games helping the Komets to the Turner Cup championship in 1962-63 and 1964-65.

Reggie, like several other Komet players, decided to make Fort Wayne his permanent home long after his playing career had ended. He is a member of the Fort Wayne Komets Sports Hall of Fame and it is with great pride that the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame add Reggie Primeau’s name to its honor roll in the athlete category.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.