1973 East End & 1975 Old Dutch Twins – Team

A strong core of players who made up the East End Squirts in 1972 and 1973, and the Old Dutch Twins from 1974 to 1977, dominated Prince Albert Minor Softball. These teams won the City Championship all 6 of those years with the East End team winning the Provincial Squirt Championship in 1973 and the Old Dutch Twins winning the Provincial Pee Wee title in 1975. Tom Lavallee coached both Provincial championship teams with Joe Pete the Manager of the ‘73 team and Ian MacKay the manager of the ‘75 squad.

As a Squirt aged squad, the East End boys lost to Saskatoon Westgate in the 1972 final, but exacted revenge the following year taking the Saskatchewan title over the same Westgate team.

The Old Dutch Twins had success at the provincial level all four years of their existence. They lost in the 1974 final, but bounced back to win the 75 Saskatchewan crown. In 1976 they would lose in the semi-finals, and lost in the play downs in 1977.

Eleven players and coach Tom Lavallee were on both the 1973 East End and the 1975 Old Dutch Twins Provincial Champions: Mike Markewich, Craig Eldstrom, Kevin Lavallee, Greg Bantle, Bernie Kalika, Greg Smith, Scott Bruce, Marty Shaw, Darwin Stephens, and Robert Doucette. The 1973 East End team also included Cameron Pete, Bob Tetarenko, Tim Best and Manager Joe Pete. Additional members of the 1975 Old Dutch Twins were Tim Gitzel, Mike Mallo, Kelly Anderson, Bob Lowes and Manager Ian Mackay.

As the team members grew into adulthood, the skills they learned such as loyalty, initiative, dedication, hard work and teamwork gave them the skills to succeed in life. Tim Gitzel went on to be the President of Cameco. Bob Lowes was a successful hockey coach and manager and went on to be the Head Scout of the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. Robert Doucette was President of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan for 9 years.