Zenon Markowsky – Builder

The Prince Albert Mintos Midget AAA Hockey team has flourished since 1999 under the leadership of Zenon Markowsky. His vision of how to build and operate a sports organization resulted in unparalleled success for this organization that operates under the umbrella of the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association.

One of Markowsky’s trademark accomplishments was he campaigned to have PAMHA remove the quota system of limiting out of town players. When this was done it resulted in more players from out of town attending try outs. This allowed the Mintos to select the best players from the province, yet focusing on local players.

Markowsky also spearheaded the Mintos construction of a $170,000 dressing room addition to the Art Hauser Centre exclusively for their hockey club to give the boys “their own space”. The City provided an interest free loan to the team that they were able to pay back in five years.

Assisted by a strong board of directors, that Markowsky calls the “heart and soul of the organization”, the Mintos won the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League, Western Regionals and the National Championship – Telus Cup in 2006 and 2007 marking the first time in the history of the National Midget Championship that the same team had won back-to-back titles. In 2014 Markowsky suffered a health set back but that did not stop him from being part of a Minto organization that hosted a very successful Western Regional Championship, won by the host team. The Mintos went on to win the 2014 Telus Cup in triple overtime.

Markowsky was also a founding member, and served for ten years on the Buckland Board and was instrumental in building a facility, currently known as the Northern Regional Recreational Centre. He served on the board of directors of the Prince Albert Raiders for four years as well as volunteering at many fastball and baseball tournaments in Prince Albert.

Markowsky also played a part in starting the Outdoor Hockey League out of the Parkland Community Club Rink, Along with current Hall inductee Bob Romanchuk and Jeff Krafchuk of Bosco Homes Society, equipment was distributed to youth who wanted to play hockey.
He also coached soccer, baseball hockey and ringette.