Victor Chad – Athlete
Victor Chad joins his brother Frank as a 2004 Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame inductee, as well as previous inductees, brother John Chad and nephew Tom Chad.Championships followed Vic Chad. Vic joined his brother Frank with the Prince Albert Junior Mintos in 1938-39. The Mintos lost the 1939 provincial junior hockey championship in a road game that went until 2 a.m. That was when Moose Jaw settled the game with the overtime winning goal. Although called the Junior Mintos, Victor was one of many players on the team that was only juvenile aged playing an older Moose Jaw team. Vic played left wing on the Minto Kid Line with Jack Cook and Eddie Mosher. Vic was described as fast and tricky despite his slight build of 145 pounds
After a season with the Prince Albert Juvenile Nationals, Vic played with the Flin Flon junior team in 1941. The next season, Vic played with Flin Flon’s senior team before joining Canada’s effort in the Second World War in the spring of 1943. The decision to join the military resulted in Vic turning down an opportunity to turn professional. Vic spent 2 1/2 years in the services and finished with the rank of Pilot Officer.
After the Second World War, Vic joined the Washington Lions of the Eastern United States Hockey League. There, he collected 11 goals, 11 assists and two penalty minutes in 35 games. Vic suffered a leg injury that ended his professional hockey career after only one season. He returned to his hometown of Prince Albert.
Back at home, Vic reunited with his brother Frank on the Prince Albert Regents senior hockey team. Vic took on the task of being a player-coach with the Regents and found success from 1946-48. Vic led the Regents to the Northern Provincial Senior “B” Championships all three seasons.
In 1949, the Prince Albert Regents changed their name to the Monarchs, but that was all that changed. Vic again guided the Monarchs to four consecutive Northern Provincial Seniors “B” Championships as a player-coach.
Vic moved on to coach the Prince Albert Mintos in their second season of operation, but resigned due to business commitments. With brother Frank, Vic opened Chad Brothers Sporting Goods Shop in December 1946 and their success on the ice carried over to their business.
Vic died in 1966 at the age of 44.
The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame is proud to add another member of the Chad family to our local shrine.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
