1989, 1991, 1993, 1997 Prince Albert Kings Fastball – Team

The Prince Albert Kings peace officers fastball team stepped onto the global stage and captured two gold

medals, a silver and a bronze at the World Police and Fire Games.

The Games were not an event to bring peace officers closer to community, but an event that brought peace officers from around the world together to promote their profession.

In early 1989 Prince Albert Police Service officer Ian Reiman initiated the formation of the Kings with goal of playing fastball at the World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver. The team needed to be a special group of players. Not only would they have to become a team quickly, every member had to be a fireman, police officer or peace officer to qualify.

In late July a group of 16 Prince Albert peace officers headed to the West Coast. The team included seven guards from the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, six jail provincial jail guards and three Prince Albert police officers. Wearing borrowed uniforms, the Kings took to the diamond taking on teams from across Canada and the United States. The Kings were able to gel as a team and won bronze defeating the San Jose, California police department.

In 1991, the Kings headed to Memphis, Tennessee and captured a silver medal. The Kings dropped a 4-2 decision to the defending champions from Toronto in the second game of the all-Canadian A-B final, they forced the second game with a 4-0 win in Game 1.

It was off to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1993 for a golden experience. Eleven Prince Albert peace officers survived the tournament undefeated despite not being able to wear steel cleats. A Colorado Springs sporting goods store owner took the Kings a variety of rubber cleats in different sizes and brands for the players to buy before they could play their first game. The Kings, having adjusted to playing in rubber cleats and after a few innings with bloody blisters developing, dug in to capture gold.

In July 1997, the Kings headed to Calgary as the tournament favourites and won their second gold medal in four years. The Prince Albert team beat Hayward, California 6-4 in the final to earn top honours in the five-team tournament.

This pick-up team of ball players not only represented Prince Albert and Saskatchewan but were proud ambassadors of Canada as teams from all around the globe played at the Games.

Kings’ players, their wives and families fundraised for each of the trips to the World Police and Fire Games. Gateway Mall made a donation of $3,500 to the team to help with players expenses in 1991.

Members of the Kings team were Blayne Nelson (player/coach), Ian Reiman, Barry Schrader, Floyd LaVallee, Darcy Kaglea, Charlie Mathiason, Darren Harrison, Curtis Juravinski, Larry Henry, Garry Pischke, Jody Pochipinski, Ronnie Boyer, Chris Hudon, Dale McFee, Brian Bonkowski, Gordie Epp, Tim Woods, Larry Neudorf, Larry Smytaniuk, Pat Robin, Eddie Buck, Jason Hope, James Brezinski, Sandy Ervin, Vince Pilon, Terry Read, Tim Pocha, Wayne Rocheleau (coach).

The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes the 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1997 Prince Albert Kings to the Team category.