Brent Zbaraschuk – Builder
Brent Zbaraschuk was mentored by his dad Wally at the kitchen table and dressing rooms as a coach, as well as boardrooms of local Prince Albert sport organizations; telling his son that it was their responsibility for ensuring the kids had a safe place to play sports. Following his dad’s footsteps, Brent contributed more than 35 years helping to build the sports of hockey and soccer in Prince Albert and across Canada.
On the local front, Brent served as the East End Community Club president for two years during which time the East End rink completed major renovations. Brent also served as the Prince Albert Referee Association’s treasurer-scheduler and then Referee in Chief for Prince Albert Minor Hockey’s Referee division, with his greatest accomplishment being the mentorship and development of Prince Albert’s youth officials, with officials progressing to the SJHL and WHL. His duties didn’t end there as he was a level three referee for many years and a minor hockey coach in the Bantam, Midget and Midget AA age classes from 1994-2001, with many of the players he coached moving on to the junior ranks, CIS, NCAA Division 1 and AHL.
Brent spent 18 years at the provincial level as a board member of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association. From 2004-2024 Brent progressed through various senior leadership roles from Zone 8 Director to Vice President of Administration and Finance, Chairman of Appeals, Chairman of Minor and Director of Operations for many Saskatchewan Winter Games and Sask First programs. Once leaving the board, Brent was asked to sit on the Hockey Saskatchewan Governance Review Committee due to his thorough knowledge of constitutional and governance policies, culminating in a new governance model for Hockey Saskatchewan.
Brent also made an impact outside of Saskatchewan. Brent was Hockey Saskatchewan’s representative on Hockey Canada’s Minor Council for five years. The council’s responsibility was to ensure the sport at the minor level was growing in a positive manner, while ensuring grassroots had a say in the governance of the game. Brent served as the chair of the Telus Western Regional Canadian Midget AAA Championships in Moose Jaw in 2011 and Prince Albert in 2014. Brent was Hockey Saskatchewan’s Esso Cup representative in 2023 with the Regina Rebels at both the Manitoba/Saskatchewan Regionals and ESSO Cup Nationals hosted in Prince Albert. Brent was Hockey Saskatchewan’s representative at the 2009 Telus Cup in Selkirk (Norte Dames Hounds) and the Telus Cup in 2014 hosted by Moose Jaw, which was won by the Prince Albert Mintos. Brent was the chair of the Western Canadian Bantam Championships hosted in Kindersley (2013) and Warman (2017).
On the soccer scene, Brent served as the East End Community Soccer Club representative and then served a term as president of the Prince Albert High Noon Optimist Club. It was during this time that the association’s indoor soccer program was exploding at the seams, and a soccer facility was seen as a requirement versus using local school gyms. Thus, the beginning of acquiring the first soccer centre was soon realized.
Brent also took the time out to serve his community as the chair of the Prince Albert Public Library and as Reeve and Counsellor for the RM of Paddockwood #520.
