Category: 2019 Inductees

Those inducted in 2019 to the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame

  • Luc Robin – Meritorious Service

    Luc Robin is a highly sought after and valuable volunteer due to his knowledge, hard work, dedication and willingness to come up with and implement, solutions for all groups and associations with which he is involved. He is known for his work in Female Hockey and Softball throughout Prince Albert.

    Robin has been coaching Hockey in Prince Albert for 33 years and has been a board member of the Association since 1988. Along with his good friend Jim Flynn, Robin has guided the Midget AA program for 31 of those years. He assists in running the annual Female Hockey Tournament, which is one of the largest in Western Canada, and has been on the Nor-Sask Female League executive since 2012 and is currently their Vice-President.

    In 2014 Robin was awarded the Hockey Canada Century Tour Canadian Tire Heroes of Play Award which celebrates and recognizes the “behind-the-scenes” people who contribute to the success of hockey in Canada. He also received the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Presidents Award in 2014.

    In the world of Softball, Robin also was a well-respected coach for both male and female teams over 12 years. He served on the Executive of PA Minor Softball for 15 years and was a founding member of the Aallcann Development Fastpitch Organization (ADFO).

    If there is a major hockey or softball event in the city, Luc Robin is usually one of the first to volunteer and gregariously offers his time to not only make sure events are executed with ease, but also is the guy you go to for electrical, mechanical or structural challenges, as he will get a solution, most times, fixing things himself.

    Luc Robin also has been a member of the East Hill Community Club Executive for 31 years, and a member of the St. Michael Knights of Columbus for 30 years. 

    Luc Robin is being inducted for Meritorious Service.

    Luc Robin – Meritorious Service

  • Derek Smith – Athlete / Builder / Meritorious Service

    Derek Smith is a rare individual who has accomplished so much, and affected so many things, he is a triple inductee as an athlete, builder and for meritorious service.

    As a competitor Derek Smith excelled in volleyball and softball at many levels. In volleyball he was a stand out for the St.Mary Marauders and Prince Albert Toppers club team. He helped the Marauders to Provincial gold in 1994. Smith and the Toppers won Provincial gold and Canadian silver in 1995 with Derek being named to the All-Star team at nationals. He would go on to red shirt with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies volleyball team.

    Smith was a dominant pitcher in softball starting with PA Minor Softball in the Squirt B division in 1988 winning B Provincials with the MacDowall Monarchs. There were numerous accolades for Smith through the 1990’s in softball including gold at the Midget Canadians in 1995 with the PA Ken-Gar Selects where he was named tournament MVP. Smith was named the Softball Saskatchewan Athlete of the Year and adding his volleyball prowess, he was named the Kinsmen/900CKBI Athlete of the Year for 1995.

    More softball honours came his way in the late 90’s including a Canadian championship with the PA Northern Business Selects in 1996, Junior Canadians Silver with the Saskatoon Junior Merchants in 1997, pitching again at Junior Men’s nationals in 1998 and finally an appearance in the Australian Men’s Fastpitch championship in 1999. The year 2000 saw Smith help the Prince Albert Aallcann Astros to the Senior A provincial title and an appearance at nationals, followed by various Senior A, National and International Softball Congress appearances with the Saskatoon Merchants.

    Derek Smith then pulled back some from playing to get into coaching and mentoring, in a big way. That success in competition built the foundation for a coach that also has accumulated a stellar resume in volleyball and softball.

    In softball, Derek Smith has been coaching since 2005, starting, like in his playing days, with PA Minor Softball. His success reflects his knowledge of the sport and ability to teach skills to young athletes. He followed his boys Riley and Ethan through the age classes with success including U12 Provincial gold (2012), U14 Provincial and Western Canadian Gold (2015), U14 Silver (2016 & 2017), U18 Provincial Silver & National Bronze (2017) culminating with the 2017 Softball Saskatchewan Coach of the Year Award in 2017.

    His volleyball, coaching also is rather decorated, starting in 2013 with the Smashing Bananas program. He lead his team to a Nationals appearance for U16 in 2016 and won Provincial Bronze with another appearance in Nationals in 2017 and a Provincial Bronze in 2018.

    For all of the tremendous successes Derek Smith has had as an athlete and coach, he is also a go-to organizer. He organized and has been President of the Prince Albert Community Basketball Association since 2010. He has grown that program from a couple of dozen young players in it’s inception to hundreds learning the sport of basketball. He administers the entire association including organizing coaches, gym times, registration, website, tournaments and more.

    In softball he has been on executives of PAMSA and ADFO and one of the key organizers of Project Triple Play, which saw Derek Smith as the co-chair of the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championships in July 2018. According to WBSC, that event was one of the best ever at the World level. Smith and Co-Chair Felix Casavant were named the Prince Albert Kinsmen Club/Daily Herald Citizens of the Year for 2018. The event left a lasting legacy of 2 world-standard diamonds as well as hosting the first ever World Championship in Prince Albert that will be remembered for decades.    

    Derek Smith will be inducted as an Athlete, Builder and for Meritorious Service.

    Derek Smith – Athlete / Builder / Meritorious Service

  • Paul Roy – Builder

    Paul Roy became involved in rugby as a player with the Fredericton Exiles RFC from 1979-1985. This chapter included league, provincial, and maritime championships. The opportunities that provincial teams, tournaments, tours and eventful road trips offer a young athlete proved to be too much to resist. The sparks of a life-long attachment to rugby were struck and kindled. 

    Convocating with his education degree from UNB in Spring of 1985, Roy received a job offer “out west,” and he made a life-changing move to Saskatchewan. On October 6th, he played his initial rugby match in his new home province. It was also the eventful day he met teammate Mark McElligott, and an enduring friendship and collaboration were set in motion.

    In 1987 along with other teammates, he set in motion a mini-rugby program at Riverside, Boucher and Holy Cross schools, introducing rugby to Grade 7-9 boys. Following two successful years, the budding youth program was cut short, as co-collaborators’ career moves brought an end to this first attempt to develop local youth rugby. In the following decade, Roy was involved with the Prince Albert Gryphons RFC as a player, coach, and referee until that team’s era drew to a close in 1995.

    A second attempt followed in 2002, as Roy introduced the sport to a group of eager Grade 7-9 students attending PACI. The following year, McElligott and students from Carlton Comprehensive High School came on board. As a result of this significant collaboration, the fledgling team then competed in exhibition games for two years and, as the Sask. Rivers Dragons, successfully joined the North Saskatchewan High School Rugby League in 2005.

    Prince Albert rugby has been on the upswing ever since, thrilling their supporters with constant and continued success at league and provincial competitions. From 2002 to 2019, some 220 local-area student athletes have suited up for the Dragons. Prince Albert and area players compete each year for Saskatchewan at age-group regional and national competitions.

    The groundwork laid over the years resulted in the genesis of a senior men’s team to represent the area: The Prince Albert Whiskey Jacks RFC. Formed in 2015, with a core of former Dragons providing players, support, and sponsorship, the Whiskey Jacks celebrated the 2018 provincial championship.

    The domino effect has also produced a dedicated Dragons’ alumni who now coach and promote the sport, a mini-rugby program, and in 2019 the formation of a local girls’ team. These developments highlight the ongoing growth and development of local rugby, and open up possibilities for aspiring athletes of both genders in the Prince Albert and area community.   

    Over the past 35 years of coaching, inspiring, mentoring, and developing lasting relationships with local student athletes, Roy has dedicated countless hours to fostering the growth and recognition of the sport of rugby in Prince Albert.

    Paul Roy is inducted as a Builder into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame.

    Paul Roy – Builder

  • Blake Edwards – Builder

    Blake Edwards became involved boxing upon moving to Prince Albert in 1996 joining the K.O. Combinations Club under Bob Tichkowsky and Braddock Koch. He worked hard at training to improve his strength and personal well-being. He thrived under the coaching of the two PA Sports Hall of Fame inductees Tichkowsky and Koch and developed a strong passion for the sport. Often he would be called upon to teach and coach competitors and non-competitors alike.

    The Boxing Club fell on difficult times financially and eventually closed in 1999.  A few years later, Edwards took the initiative to revive the sport and soon after was in contact with Koch to rekindle boxing in PA.  Through hard work and determination with many volunteers, they found and modified a facility, purchased equipment and brought boxing back.  Edwards, who trained and coached at the club, was instrumental in fundraising to sustain the sport. With the assistance of volunteers he would host dances to raise money for the club in order to keep the fees low for members.

    One of Edward’s greatest fund raising ventures was R U Tuff Enuff. The concept was to have boxers who had no previous competitions, take part in an event for prize money, in 3 male weight divisions and an open women’s division. Edwards knew it was a daunting undertaking, so he approached the Prince Albert Kinsmen Club, which he was a member of, and the idea was developed in 2001 with the first event in 2002. The first two years the event was held in the SIAST Gymnasium with sold out crowds of over 1,000 spectators. The event then moved to the Comuniplex and was a significant fund raiser through 2015, becoming the largest event of its kind in Canada.  The budget grew from $600 to $60,000 and provided significant revenues to the coffers of the Boxing Club.

    R U Tuff Enuff provided a spike in the interest of boxing. Edwards was the go-to person taking calls from potential fighters, to coaching them, to assisting them in the ring during events. Each event featured between 25 and 32 fighters, many of which were influenced by Edwards.

    On the administrative side of the sport, in order for R U Tuff Enuff to operate, a boxing commission was required as the event was deemed professional due to the prize money being awarded. Edwards spearheaded the commission with the assistance of City lawyers and others to make sure the provinces first professional boxing event in decades was hosted in Prince Albert in 2004.

    In R U Tuff Enuff’s final year, 2015, the event became a Golden Gloves boxing event due to national regulations. Again Edwards was front and centre hosting over 20 bouts featuring boxers from northern Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was in the corner for many local boxers helping them win Golden Gloves, one of the most prestigious awards for amateur boxers.

    Edwards coached Junior Boxing which has allowed his own children Aiden, Logan and Sara to learn the sport along with many others. He continues to coach a boxing program for 5-14 year olds with many graduating to the main club.

    Blake Edwards – Builder

  • Mark McElligott – Builder

    Mark McElligott’s passion for the game of rugby, and friendship with Paul Roy, has resulted in the development of the sport in Prince Albert. McElligott played rugby in Saskatoon for Holy Cross High School and the Wild Oats of the North Saskatchewan Rugby League, before attending St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, where he played for the X-Men. In the mid-80’s McElligott moved to Prince Albert to work for CIBC and joined the Prince Albert Gryphons Rugby Club. He was a leader on that team as a player and coach, including being a team captain through 1995 when the Gryphons ceased operation.

    In 2001, McElligott teamed up with Roy to develop a high school rugby program leading to the Prince Albert Dragons who joined the North Saskatchewan Junior Rugby League in 2002. The Dragons were made up of high school players from the public school division and played in the North Saskatchewan Junior Rugby League. The year 2018 marked the 16th season for the Dragons who finished 1st or 2nd fourteen times.

    The debut of the Prince Albert Whiskey Jacks senior team came in 2015, initiated by McElligott and Roy. The two were instrumental in coaching, fundraising and guiding the club with hard work and determination. McElligott also was a key player with the Whiskey Jacks, who would win the second division title in 2017 then the provincial crown in 2018.

    In 2016 McElligott and Roy teamed up again to create Prince Albert Mini Rugby. This program is for children aged 3-14 to be introduced to rugby and had 70 registrations who would have the opportunity to learn from the two veteran coaches.

    McElligott has coached, mentored and developed over 200 student-athletes in the Dragons program from its inception in 2002 through to 2018. Dragon players to go on to play at a National level with the Prairie Wolf Pack and Prairie Blizzard include: Rylan Gibb, Ashton Milligan, Tristen Franc, Kaleb Beauchesne and Jesse Mourot, among others. Franc and Milligan have also played internationally for the Dog River Howlers during South American tours.

    Rugby in Prince Albert exists because of the friendship of Mark McElligott and Paul Roy and their hard work, time, knowledge, skills, determination, sacrifice and love of the game.

    Mark McElligott joins the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in the Builders category.

    Mark McElligott – Builder

  • Blair Hoffman – Athlete / Meritorious Service

    A lifetime of competing in hockey, baseball and slo-pitch with success at many different levels makes Blair Hoffman one of Prince Albert’s most decorated athletes. From 1960 through 2018 (58 years and counting), Hoffman did not miss a season of playing in either hockey or baseball.

    Hoffman is a baseball and slo-pitch veteran in many ways. After playing minor ball in the Battleford area where he grew up, Hoffman would join the North Battleford Beavers organization where he was part of a winning organization. In 1968 with the Midget team they would win the Provincial championship and finish 2nd at Westerns. The Junior team would win 2 league titles between 1969-73 with Hoffman on the roster, then he played with the senior Beavers from 19971-73.

    He them would join the Naicam Vikings of the Central Baseball League in 1974 and be there player/coach the following season. Hoffman was the league all-star centre fielder both seasons. He would then go on to play with the Birch Hills Brewers of the Torch River Baseball League from 1976-81, winning 4 titles there.

    The Prince Albert Oldtimers (35 years plus) added Hoffman from 1986-2002. During this time Hoffman was awarded the Sask Baseball Ten Year Appreciation Award for his support of the Twilite Baseball program in the province.

    Slo-Pitch is the sport in which Hoffman has the most notoriety, many because it provides opportunities for players to compete throughout their lifetime. He started with the Taco Time Men’s Molson League Slo-Pitch tam from 194-88 winning league MVP honours in 1986. As a member of the Prince Albert Old Spikes 40 Plus Slo-Pitch team Hoffman would be part of the SPN Championship team in 1994, then National silver medallists in 1996 as well as numerous Provincial titles in the 90’s.

    Hoffman played with the Prince Albert Legends Plus 50 Slo-Pitch team from 2002-2015 winning three Bronze medals at the Plus 50 SPN Nationals and 1 silver & 1 bronze at the Plus 60 SPN Nationals.

    A major international accomplishment for Hoffman is at the Huntsman World Senior Games conducted annually in St. George, Utah. Hoffman has competed for teams out of St. Albert, Albert (the Buzzards and Combines) for 13 consecutive years (from 2005-2018 and counting), winning no less than 10 medals including 4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze. This makes Hoffman the most decorated Huntsman World Senior Games Slo-Pitch athlete from Saskatchewan over the 24 sports all-time at these games.

    Hoffman also has competed at hockey starting in minor days, to university intramurals, senior and old timers for close to 60 years. He has skated with the Prince Albert Silver Foxes Oldtimers team since 1978 (32 years and counting) winning the West Hill tournament and Melfort Oldtimers tournament on numerous occasions.

    Blair Hoffman’s extensive and storied career in baseball, slo-pitch and hockey have represented the City of Prince Albert proudly through close to 6 decades of competition.

    Blair Hoffman – Athlete / Meritorious Service

  • Don & Ethel Hlewka – Builders

    Prince Albert’s Minto Bowl has been a second home for thousands of Prince Albert residents for over 50 years since Don & Ethel Hlewka took over the operation in 1968. Family has always been the theme for the Hlewka’s and it has resulted in a lifetime of memories for many at Minto Bowl.

    In 1967 Don & Ethel began negotiations with Art Swift to purchase the original location of Minto Bowl: 154 – 8th Street. However, before the final deal was reached a fire damaged the alleys. Don told Swift if he rebuilt the alleys he would buy them. That transaction was completed in April, 1968 and Don & Ethel became the owners of Minto Bowl which featured 11 mixed leagues, 1 men’s league and  the introduction of the Youth Bowling Council.

    In 1983, with the popularity of bowling and expanding numbers, the Hlewka’s would move to a much larger location beside Superstore. This new facility would include 20 lanes and the opportunity to modernize. The Hlewka’s always wanted to stay on top of new trends in the industry to keep bowlers coming back and attracting new ones, so they would make improvements over the years. This included new seating, a lounge, computerized scoring and overhead monitors showing scores, and the ever-popular Saturday Night Glow Bowling! During a 6-year period in the 80’s YBC bowling was at an all-time high at Minto Bowl with over 400 youth taking part each week.

    With Superstore eyeing expansion, and looking to purchase the alley, Don looked to buy the land where North American Lumber was located on 13th Street East. So, in 2004, another new location was purchased allowing the Hlewka’s to expand again, and introduce the Minto Bowl Recreation Centre. The new location includes 20 lanes and allows for more recreational activities for families.

    Prince Albert YBC bowlers prospered out of Minto Bowl with no less than 68 provincial champions and 19 National medalists: 3 gold and 16 Silver & Bronze coming from P.A.  Don would serve 9 years as the Chairman of the Youth Bowling Council in Saskatchewan.  Across Canada, Minto Bowl ranked 2nd or 3rd for YBC registration for 17 years.

    Minto Bowl was the pride and joy of Don & Ethel.  Since Ethel’s passing in January, 2018. Don Sr. has been joined on the staff by his son Derek, and Derek’s son Mark in providing a high quality, family-friendly bowling facility in Prince Albert.

    Don & Ethel Hlewka are inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame together in the builders category.

    Don & Ethel Hlewka – Builders

  • Brad Bibby – Athlete

    Brad Bibby can be found on the softball diamonds in the spring and summer and at the curling rink in the fall and winter; excelling for decades in both sports.

    In softball, Bibby has been a lifelong catcher, one of the key positions in the game, as you are in on every play while on defense. He started in the minor softball days with Parkland, then playing Senior for Coronet Kings followed by the Aallcann teams in Prince Albert. The 1993 Kings won the Senior B Provincials and Western Canadians. Bibby was part of Aallcann teams from 1994-2001 that would win two Senior A and one Senior B Provincial title, finishing second in Senior B twice.

    Bibby has travelled to Saskatoon twice a week for over 20 years to compete with various teams including the Saskatoon Merchants, Aspen, Delisle, Allied Masters and the Melfort 222’s. He has competed in Senior A, Senior B and Masters levels locally, provincially, national and internationally. Bibby has played for three national championship team: Saskatoon Aspen (2008 Senior A), and Melfort 222’s (2018 Masters).In total with these teams Bibby has the 2 National titles to go along with 3 Provincial Senior A titles and another Senior B crown. At the Senior A Canadians in St. Thomas, Ontario in 2004, Bibby was named an All-Star outfielder.

    All totaled, Brad Bibby has played in 1 Junior Western Canadians, 11 Senior Western Canadians (1st three times, 2nd once, 3rd once), 9 Canadians (1st twice, 3rd once) and at the ISC World Tournament 6 times.

    Bibby is also a mainstay at the Prince Albert Golf & Curling Club during the fall and winter months. He is a regular skip in the Econo Lumber Super League and traditionally has his rink near the top of the leaderboard.  He has won the Thompson Rock in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Bibby was on the 1989 Under 16 Juvenile Saskatchewan Provincial Championship rink and the 2011 Saskatchewan Provincial Travelers Club Curling Champion rink.

    Giving back to the sports he loves is also important for Brad Bibby. He has volunteered at many softball and curling events in both Prince Albert and Saskatoon including the 2018 WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championships and the 2019 New Holland Canadian Junior Men’s & Women’s Curling Championship in Prince Albert. He also instructs in the Prince Albert Junior Curling league and mentors young athletes with his knowledge, patience and kindness.

    Brad Bibby will be inducted in the athlete category.

    Brad Bibby – Athlete