Category: 2008 Inductees

The 2008 inductees to the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame

  • 1971 St. Mary Marauders Football – Team

    1971 St. Mary Marauders Football – Team

    The St. Mary Marauders obliterated the Moose Jaw Peacock Tornadoes 61-27 on their home field at PACI to win the 1971 3A Saskatchewan High School Football Championship.

    St. Mary closed out the win with 40 unanswered points. Tom Chad had 22 carries for 264 yards and scored four touchdowns. Mick Jutras had 22 carries for 117 yards and scored one touchdown. The Marauders grounded out 506 yards rushing as a team in the championship game.

    The provincial championship was indicative of the Marauders season. The Marauders finished the 1971 season with a record of 10-1-1 and outscored their opponents 415-153.

    The Marauders finished second in the Prince Albert High School Football League standings in 1971. In the semifinal, the Marauders downed PACI 56-7 to set up a showdown with their archrivals, the Riverside Rams. Tom Chad scored a touchdown in the final minute of Game 1 to give the Marauders a 14-10 victory. Because Riverside won the regular season title, the Marauders had to win two games to advance to the North East Saskatchewan School’s Athletic Conference Championship. Coming off their first game first game come-from-behind victory, the Marauders destroyed the Rams  27-1 to advance to the provincial northern finals.

    The Marauders then stomped on the Melfort Comets in the northern final 39-0 en route to the provincial championship game.

    No Prince Albert high school football team has won a provincial championship since.

    The Marauders were innovators in high school football at that time. On defense, they switched personnel around to give teams different looks. They allowed defensive captain Archie McKay to call blitzes at any time he liked. The Marauders also studied primitive projector-style game film to gain an upper hand on their opponents. That was in addition to an offensive playbook that contained 200 different plays with multiple formations.

    The Marauders coaching staff included head coach Keith Powell, Jim Lyons, Bob Miller, and George Yuzik, the student trainer and manager.

    The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes the 1971 St. Mary Marauders to the Hall.

    1971 St. Mary Marauders Football – Team
  • 1970 Riverside Rams Football – Team

    1970 Riverside Rams Football – Team

    The 1970 Riverside Rams Football Team was the first Prince Albert collegiate 12-man football team to win a Saskatchewan title.

    The provincial championship capped a run of four straight city championships for the Riverside Rams – 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970.

    The Riverside teams, in the preceding years, were sprinkled with excellent athletes that attained provincial and national prominence after their high school careers at the university and professional sporting levels. Names such as Rick Wilson and Barry Mudry come to mind in reviewing teams from the four-year run. The provincial crown eluded those earlier teams, despite strong efforts from year to year.

    One noteworthy aspect of the 1970 championship team is that there were no individual outstanding star athletes. The team’s success was attained by virtue of a strong and united effort through the entire year, and a work ethic that was pervasive throughout the entire team.

    The coaching staff, Bill Watson, Howard Gange, Bob Reed and Bob Smisko, inspired a level of loyalty and commitment on the field and that was generated by their example of hard work, commitment, and dedication.

    In the years that have passed since the championship was attained, many of the players still sustain close personal relationships with the outstanding gentlemen who continued through to their respective retirements, and beyond, to contribute significantly to their profession, their communities, and the athletes they so successfully coached.

    The 1970 season saw the Rams clinch the league championship by defeating the St. Mary Marauders 26-12. Quarterback, Rod Young, led the Riverside attack with two majors while

    Wayne Hansen and Alan Logue each had one. Bob Daniels converted two of the four touchdowns.

    The Riverside Rams met St. Mary Marauders in the Prince Albert High School Championship for the fourth consecutive year on Tuesday, October 27, 1970 where they defeated St. Mary 17-0 to advance to the Northern 3A final against North Battleford Composite High School. In the City Championship, Alan Logue scored both majors and two safety touches accounted for the other four points. Bob Daniels was good on one of two converts.

    The Rams advanced and defeated North Battleford Composite Mustangs 37-19 in the Northern 3A final. Rams touchdowns were scored by Mike Furi, Alan Logue, Rod Young, Wayne Hansen with two, and Tom Andrews. Bob Daniels converted one touchdown.

    The win advanced the Riverside Rams to the Provincial High School Football Championship against Notre Dame College of Wilcox. Riverside was considered the underdog in the Saskatchewan final, but that did not deter the Rams. They defeated the Notre Dame Hounds 32-12 to capture the Saskatchewan High School 3A Football Championship. Alan Logue paced the Rams with three majors while Doug Klarenback and Wayne Hansen scored one each. Bob Daniels was good on one of five converts and Tony Basaraba booted a single point.

    The northern title and the provincial crown were the first ever by a Prince Albert team. The team was captained by Gary Laing, Don Friske, Tony Basaraba and Rod Young.

    1970 Riverside Rams Football – Team
  • Darlene Chartrand, Ross McIntosh & Robert Pilon – Meritorious Service

    Darlene Chartrand, Ross McIntosh & Robert Pilon – Meritorious Service

    In 1983 a Save the Rec Committee was formed with Ross McIntosh and Robert Pilon as two of the founding members. The committee was formed in response to a proposal by Prince Albert City Council to convert the Margo Fournier Centre from a multi-purpose recreation facility to an arts centre for the performing arts.

    The Save the Rec Committee persuaded City Council to reconsider the proposal. With the Save the Rec committee’s goal achieved, Ross and Robert realized sports groups in Prince Albert needed to unite and speak with a common voice.

    Darlene Chartrand joined the pair and the Prince Albert Sports Council was born after several months of work. Their vision and mandate was to have all of Prince Albert’s sports groups unite into one organization to benefit all of them as well as the community.

    The trio also negotiated a deal with a new bingo hall to have sports organizations volunteer and earn money for their many projects. The Prince Albert Council also signed up to work bingos in order to have funds to donate to a variety of projects and sporting organizations.

    Together they recruited and formed an inaugural Board of which Robert was the president, Ross the vice-president and Darlene the treasurer.

    Thanks to the groundwork of its founders, the Sports Council has donated to and sponsored literally thousands of individuals, teams, and events. In addition, they have contributed significantly to many projects in Prince Albert and area. These projects include the scoreboard & bleachers for Diamond 2 at Prime Ministers Park, the Canoe & Kayak Boat House, P.A. Gymnastics & Soccer Centre ,Cross Country Ski Trails, the Summer Games Sports Centre, the Margo Fournier Centre, the Rotary Trails, the Skateboard Park, and several Community Club rink upgrades. In addition, they have contributed to the 1992 Summer Games, 1999 Western Canada Summer Games, and the 2002 Special Olympics.

    Since its beginnings, the Sports Council’s donations have exceeded $1,234,00.00. Today the Sports Council continues to support, donate and contribute to a variety of projects ensuring the continuation of the “dream and vision” of its founders.

    Darlene now lives in Alberta, Ross in Illinois and Robert in Ontario.

    The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame is thankful for the work Darlene Chartrand, Ross McIntosh, and Robert Pilon have done and proudly welcomes them into the Hall.

    Darlene Chartrand, Ross McIntosh & Robert Pilon – Meritorious Service
  • Richard “Chick” Balon – Athlete

    Richard “Chick” Balon – Athlete

    Richard moved from his hometown of Wakaw to Prince Albert in 1955 to play bantam hockey. Chick joined the Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan junior hockey league in 1956 to play with his brothers Dave and Rudy. Chick blasted onto the junior scene capturing rookie of the year honours in 1956-57. By 1959-60, Chick was the scoring champion with 55 goals and 64 assists for 119 points in 53 games.

    Chick turned professional in 1959 when the Mintos season ended and retired 21 years later. He spent his first five professional seasons toiling for Canadian teams in Trois Rivieres, Que., Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., Vancouver, B.C., and Sudbury, Ont.

    During the 1963-64 season, Chick moved south of the 49th parallel and played for the Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Blades, Dayton Gems, Milwaukee Admirals and Baltimore of the International Hockey League. The centreman was part of four IHL championship teams (Fort Wayne, Toledo and Dayton) and was an all-star four times.

    Chick played 1,094 professional games, scored 358 goals and collected 483 assists for 841 points, as well as 1,088 penalty minutes.

    He joins his brother Dave Balon in the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame.

    The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame is proud to welcome Richard “Chick” Balon in the athlete category.

    Richard “Chick” Balon – Athlete
  • Pat Bibby – Builder

    Pat Bibby – Builder

    Pat Bibby has been a pillar of the grassroots movement in the curling and softball communities of Prince Albert for many years.

    Pat has attained Level 3 coaching certification, and conducts provincial curling courses. She is also an instructor at Prairieland Curling Camp and presents at curling symposiums across Canada. She has coached numerous curling teams at the club, regional, northern and provincial levels in women, junior and intermediate categories. For over 40 years Pat has been a member of the Business Girls Curling Club holding numerous executive positions throughout the years. Her dedication was culminated with being presented a lifetime membership in 2005.

    Pat continues to volunteer and support many local curling and softball events and competitions – she has been on the host committees as co-chair, secretary, head of statisticians, or a volunteer for the: 1984 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships; 1987 Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championship; 1992 Summer Games Softball, 1995 Saskatchewan Mixed Curling Championship; 1996 Midget Boys Canadian Softball Championships, 1998 Saskatchewan Junior Curling Championship; 1998 Bantam Boys’ and Girls’ Western Canadian Championships; 1999 Western Canada Summer Games Softball; 2001 Senior Men’s and Women’s Provincial Curling Championship, 2001 Midget Boys’ Canadian Softball Championships; 2004 Intermediate Women’s Curling Championship; 2005 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship; and 2006 Midget Boys’ Canadian Softball Championship.

    Pat has spent many years on the Board of Directors of the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club, and has been the Junior Curling Co-ordinator at the Prince Albert Golf & Curling Club for more than 20 years.

    Pat has received several awards including: Prince Albert’s Sportswoman of the Year in 1991; Saskatchewan Curling Association and Saskatchewan Ladies Curling Association Co-ordinator of the year in 1992-93; 1994 SCA Instructor of the Year; 1994 Art Manseau Memorial award for outstanding service and dedication to softball; 2004 Softball Saskatchewan Service Award; and, in 2002 was named a Life Member of the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club.

    The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes Pat Bibby as a builder.

    Pat Bibby – Builder
  • Felix Casavant – Athlete/Builder

    Felix Casavant – Athlete/Builder

    As an athlete, Felix started playing softball at age 5. The next year he started pitching and seemed to have a natural talent. Felix threw his first no-hitter as a pee wee in 1966. He was part of 10 city minor softball championship teams; was MVP four times; and appeared in nine provincial championship tournaments, capturing one silver medal.

    Felix graduated from minor softball to the P.A. Commercial Men’s League. He won league titles in 1986 and 1992 with the Coronet Kings, and was an all-star twice and MVP in 1977. Felix won his first provincial title in 1985 with the Sr. B Aallcann Wood Suppliers, and again in 1988 and 1993. Felix pitched regularly until 1995 at age 41.

    Felix was also an accomplished youth bowler and was part of the 1968 YBC provincial championship team from Prince Albert.

    As a builder, Felix is founder of the Aallcann Development Fastball Organization. The organization provides both boys and girls (squirt to junior) provincial caliber fastball teams in Prince Albert funding for tournament fees, travel, skill development and equipment.

    Felix started coaching in 1986 with his son Kyle’s team. Felix found immense success coaching youth and adult softball – three Western Canadian titles; second as Team Sask’s coach at the 2003 Western Canada Summer Games with eight players from his P.A. team; bronze at the 2000 Canadian midget boys’ championship; silver at the 2001 Canadian midget boys’ championship; bronze at the 2001 Canada Summer Games with nine members of his home team Astros on the provincial roster; 10 provincial championships; four city championships; four Sportsman League titles; and one silver Saskatchewan medal.

    He has held many different executive positions with the Prince Albert Minor Softball Association and Sportsman Men’s Fastball League from 1980 to present. Also, he has helped bring many different provincial and national softball events to Prince Albert. As a result, Felix is part of a six-member Softball Canada task force examining the improvement of Canadian championships.

    Finally, in 1995 he won the Art Manseau Memorial Award for dedicated service to softball.

    The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes Felix Casavant as an athlete/builder.

    Felix Casavant – Athlete/Builder
  • Curly Ray Fiddler – Athlete

    Curly Ray Fiddler – Athlete

    Born Curly Ray Fiddler, boxing was a passion picked up early. He started boxing at age 8 with the Prince Albert Legion Boxing Club. In 1947 he won his first boxing title at the pee wee level. Curly Ray’s pee wee title was the start of a successful boxing career that could culminate in being the top contender of Canadian Heavyweight champion held by George Chuvalo.

    Curly Ray defeated Tiger Macklin in Prince George, B.C. to become the Commonwealth champion in 1959. He followed that with the Saskatchewan Amateur Heavyweight title in 1962 beating Helmer Carlson in Melville. He also won the first of two most sportsmanlike boxer honours at this time.

    Curly Ray also held the British Columbia Light Heavyweight champion and was the North West Pacific title holder beating Gordie Garson in Canwood.

    Curly Ray successfully defended his Saskatchewan Amateur Heavyweight title in 1966 beating Andy Trak of Regina.

    Curly Ray found success in the ring hiding a disability. He successfully hid the fact he had been blind in his right eye since age 9 after a bow and arrow accident. The accomplished boxer and coach faked doctor exams his entire fighting career so that he could continue boxing.

    Curly Ray lost his final fight on June 10, 2007 to cancer.

    Curly Ray Fiddler – Athlete