Douglas Primeau – Athlete

The late Doug Primeau was a highly successful participant in bowling, fastball and baseball through the 1970’s and 80’s. A successful athlete, Doug also gave back to the sports he was involved with as a coach and mentor. Bowling saw Primeau excel on lanes across Canada based out of Minto Bowl in Prince Albert. His prowess started in 1965 when he won the Senior Boys Singles Saskatchewan title, representing the province at Nationals in Agincourt, Ontario followed by the same feat in 1966 and a trip to Vancouver, BC. That would start a string of 13 Provincial titles for Primeau in singles bowling. He also won 4 provincial crowns on teams: 1978, 1979 and 1981 on the PA Men’s team and in 1983 as part of the PA Mixed team. The ’78 Men’s team went on to win the National championship with a 12-6 won/loss record at the Nationals in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The 1983 PA Mixed team also won the Canadian Title, again hosted in Thunder Bay. Primeau has previously been inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the ‘78 Canadian Men’s team and also is in the PA Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the ’78 team and the ‘83 Canadian Champion Mixed team. His legacy at Minto Bowl was being called “Mr. Quick Fix”. He would study bowlers and be able to give them advice on how to improve their game. These tips more often than not, improved the bowlers’ games. In fastball, Doug Primeau was the king of the Hot Corner, playing 3rd base for decades. In 1972 he led the Social Services team to the Sportsman League title and was named league MVP and all-star 3rd baseman. 7 times Primeau played in Canadian Native Fastball championship tournaments for the PA Tribesmen (1978), SMDC Native Sons (1980, 1981, 1983), and as a playing coach for the Friendship Centre (1983, 1984, 1985). The British Columbia Arrows were the team Primeau-led teams couldn’t get by, twice losing to them in finals of big tournaments: in 1983 they lost 12-6 to the Arrows in an International tournament in Norman, Oklahoma, and in 1985 they lost 3-2 to the Arrows in the final of the Canadian finals hosting in PA. In 1976 Primeau was named the 2nd team all-star 3rd baseman at the North American Native Championship in Gallup, New Mexico. Primeau also was a mainstay on the 1978 and 1979 Prince Albert Bohs Baseball team. They won the Provincial championship both years. In 1978 they went on to win the Western Canadian title in Thompson, Manitoba. In 1979 they represented the province at the Westerns in Edmonton, Alberta. Doug Primeau also was involved with football and basketball during his high school days at PACI, going on to play in the PA Senior Mens Basketball League. He also was an avid golfer at Kachurs. Doug Primeau passed away in 2003 at the age of 55. Inducted as an athlete into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame: Douglas Primeau.