1978, 1980 and 1984 Molson Canadian Senior Men’s Basketball – Team
The Molson Canadian team had dominated Prince Albert senior men’s basketball since the early 1960s. But in 1978, the team set new standards for excellence on the court in Prince Albert.
In the 1978 Saskatchewan Intermediate Men’s Championship, the Canadians advanced to the final after eliminating a Saskatoon entry in the semifinals and a Regina team in the quarter-finals. The Molson Canadians claimed their first Saskatchewan title beating a stacked team of university players from Kerrobert 64-60. The victory also meant the 1978 Molson Canadians were the first provincial champions from the Prince Albert Senior Men’s Basketball League.
That same year, the Molson Canadians claimed their own Molson Canadian Northern Classic basketball tournament and the Prince Albert Senior Men’s Basketball League Championship.
The 1980 version of the Molson Canadians entered the provincial tournament as favourites. Two new key additions were Wes Stevenson and Don Lamont, former university players who elevated the play of all those around them. The Molson Canadians again met Kerrobert in the final and easily claimed their second Saskatchewan title 92-60. Earlier in the tournament, the Molson Canadians edged Weyburn in the quarter-final by one point and then ousted Meadow Lake, which had lost only one game that year.
The Molson Canadians also won the city championship in 1980 and the Molson Canadian Northern Classic tournament.
In 1984, the core of the team from the previous championship teams remained in tact. Al Beaver, Don Lamont, Rod Simair and Tim Reid continued to lead the way as the Molson Canadians claimed their third Saskatchewan title. Prince Albert came back from a 20-point halftime deficit to beat a fast-paced, young Regina Capital Electric team 56-53. Saskatoon teams fell to the Molson Canadians in the quarter-final and semifinal.
The Molson Canadians were also winners of their own tournament, the Molson Canadian Northern Classic, in 1984. The tournament ran for 20 years, ending in 1995 with the Molson Canadians winning it eight times.
The Molson Canadians continued playing in provincial tournaments but were not victorious again. The team finished playing basketball in 1995 with long-time players Pete Rieben, Don Delorme, Bill Barzeele, Glen Roberts and Tim Reid still playing.
The 1978 Molson Canadians were Al Beaver, Don Delorme, Pete Rieben, Bill Barzeele, Rod Simair, Glen Roberts, Tony Basaraba, Chris Hudon, Dave Anear, Tim Reid, coach Lanny Price and manager Neil Bartlett.
The 1980 team included Tim Reid, Pete Rieben, Bill Barzeele, Don Lamont, Rod Simair, Glen Roberts, Henry Strelioff, Al Beaver, Jim Rideout, Don Delorme, Wes Stevenson, coach Lanny Price and manager Neil Bartlett.
The 1984 Molson Canadians were Al Beaver, Bill Barzeele, Pete Rieben, Glen Roberts, Don Lamont, Rod Simair, Clair Campbell, Bryan Akre, Tim Reid, coach Lanny Price and manager Neil Bartlett.
The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes the 1978, 1980 and 1984 Molson Canadian senior men’s basketball team to its wall of fame in the team category.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.