1995 PA Optimist Toppers – Team

The 1995 PA Optimist Toppers were a team for the volleyball record books in Prince Albert.

The team first found success in 1994, when several of the team members played for the Toppers and were crowned provincial champions. From there, 1995 would be their year as players from Prince Albert, Kinistino, Tisdale, Melfort, Birch Hills and MacDowall  came together to play for a dominant Toppers team that would make Prince Albert sports history.

After earning their right to attend nationals in Prince Edward Island, the team needed to raise more than $20,000 in just three weeks in order to make the trip. In addition to practicing on the court during those three weeks, they were also out in the community raising money through various fundraising events.

All of the teamwork paid off as the ’95 Toppers were able to afford the trip and were the first team to represent Prince Albert at nationals. They would go on to win a silver medal. Team members were:

• Mike Davis
• Jesse Ens
• Scott Graham
• Christian Hudon
• Jeff Hunt
• Brad Hvidston
• Tyler Kabatoff
• Dan Lloyd
• Rene Quintal
• Derek Smith
• Joey Stabner
• Kent Vermett

Coaches: Griff Peet, Dale Regel

In addition to the team silver medal, the Toppers had a few individual award winners at Nationals. Scott Graham was named the Most Valuable Player and Derek Smith was recognized as an all-star.

Although a number of the players on this team had previously played against each other on opposing teams, they all came together as one in Prince Edward Island on their way to winning the silver medal.