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.