Reggie Primeau – Athlete
“Little Chief” was born in Prince Albert on August 13, 1936 and while growing up in the city he became involved in many sports – excelling in baseball, softball and hockey.
Reggie’s talents were displayed with the Tadman’s Rockets and P.A. Elks in baseball, the Ace-Hi Flyers and Marlboro Jacks in softball and the Prince Albert Mintos in hockey. His talents were recognized at an early age as he was a runner-up for the Prince Albert Athlete of the Year in 1953 and the following year was named the city’s top athlete.
Like most kids from this area, however, Reggie’s first love was hockey and for three years he proudly wore the colors of his hometown Mintos while playing at the Junior “A” level in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Despite his smallish stature – Reggie was only 5-foot-8 and roughly 160 pounds – he demanded respect on the ice. His skating skills and touch around the net had people noticing his abilities and in 1957 at the age of 21 years old he turned professional. Reggie’s first pro team was the Saskatoon Regals of the old Western Canada Hockey League and from 1958 to 1960 he had stops in Trois Rivieres, Que., Springfield, Mass., Troy, Ohio, Greensboro, N.C. and Portland, Ore.
It was while Reggie was in Portland that he made a move that would last a lifetime. His former junior coach, Ken Ullyot, had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was guiding the International Hockey League Komets and he beckoned his former player to join him there and Reggie never looked back. Reggie started with the Komets in 1960 and for eight seasons he was one of the most productive players in that franchise’s history. Reggie played in 511 games scoring 222 goals and adding 373 assists. He sits in sixth place on the all-time scoring list for Komet players and that position could be even higher had he not decided to retire for half of the 1965-66 campaign and all of the 1966 – 67 season. He finally called it quits for good in the spring of 1969.
Reggie also added 59 points in 53 playoff games helping the Komets to the Turner Cup championship in 1962-63 and 1964-65.
Reggie, like several other Komet players, decided to make Fort Wayne his permanent home long after his playing career had ended. He is a member of the Fort Wayne Komets Sports Hall of Fame and it is with great pride that the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame add Reggie Primeau’s name to its honor roll in the athlete category.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
