Category Archives: News

Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame – Annual Report – 2014

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SSHF-2012-logo-color-LargeEach year, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame strives to preserve and promote the history of sport in Saskatchewan. In doing so, we hope to tell the stories of the people in this province, along with their achievements in the world of sport.

2014 was quite the year for the Hall of Fame, thanks to many incredible stories, courtesy of some truly remarkable people. With events, exhibits and improvements made in every area of the Hall, 2014 really was one for the books.

With our 2014 Annual Report, we take a look back at the year that was and a look forward at the year that will be in 2015. We invite you all to take a look with us, as we showcase our year in review within this report.

Thanks to all the fans and friends of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame who have continued to support us and make our mission to showcase the stories of Saskatchewan’s sporting finest a successful one.

You can download a copy of the 2014 Annual Report, right here:

Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Annual Report 2014

Barnstorming Baseball on the Prairies Commemoration Tour – Saskatoon & Regina

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The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame are pleased to welcome to the province renowned historian, author and founding member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mr. Phil S. Dixon. Mr. Dixon will be delivering presentations in both Saskatoon and Regina recounting a significant time in baseball history – that of the barnstorming tours of the Negro Baseball League into Western Canada in the 1930s & 1940s. As part of a 90 city North American tour, Mr. Dixon follows the touring path of the Kansas City Monarchs and their legendary players including Jackie Robinson, Leroy Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, and Wilbur “Bullet” Rogan.

Mr. Dixon states, “Most people have heard of Jackie Robinson, some have heard of Satchel Paige, many have heard of the Kansas City Monarchs but few know how connected they were to your local community. In honor of the 90th Anniversary of the Monarchs’ first World’s Championship in 1924, I am returning to 90 cities where they played games to present this team’s unique history, and I do so with a local twist.” Delivering an illustrated presentation with historic photographs, entertaining stories and colourful baseball poetry, Mr. Dixon talks about games played in our province against local competition as well as the history of African-American ball players from our communities who participated in the Negro Leagues.

Many people are unaware of how their communities played an integral role in the success of Negro League Baseball and overall goodwill throughout North America at a time when it was exceedingly difficult and impossible in some areas for Black people to travel. However, the teams from the Negro League traveled and were welcomed to towns and cities to play baseball. Now that history can reach places and people who may not ever get to the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

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Presentations will be held on: 

Wednesday, June 17, at 3:00 pm at the Saskatoon Public Library, Cliff Wright Branch auditorium & Thursday, June 18, at 3:00 pm at the Regina Public Library, Central Branch theatre.

Admission is free but donations to the Halls of Fame would be appreciated.

 

For information contact:

Phil S. Dixon
Speaker/Historian
Belton, Missouri
816-922-0680

Sheila Kelly
SK Sports Hall of Fame
Regina, SK
306-780-9233

Jane Shury
SK Baseball Hall of Fame
Battleford, SK
306-446-1983

 

For The Record – April 2015

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For The Record

Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2015

On Thursday, April 16th, President, Trent Fraser, and Induction Celebrations Chair, Linda Burnham, announced the seven inductees who will become the newest members to be enshrined as part of the Class of 2015. The inductees will be officially inducted at the 49th Annual Induction Ceremony to be held at the Conexus Arts Centre on Saturday, June 13th, 2015.

During the announcement, Linda noted that: “2015 has been declared The Year of Sport in Canada by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. The declaration from the Governor General celebrates the role that sport plays in our Canadian identity and its vital connection to the cultural fabric of our nation. Here, at the Saskatchewan Sport Hall of Fame, we certainly echo that sentiment which is truly embodied in our Class of 2015. We look forward to enshrining them during our Induction Celebrations in June. Their accomplishments will also be featured in our Dedication to Sport exhibit as we share with the people of Saskatchewan the great sport history of our province.”

The Class of 2015 includes:

IN THE ATHLETE CATEGORY:

Cliff Koroll – Hockey
Milos Kostic – Triathlon
Jason Parker – Speed Skating

IN THE BUILDER CATEGORY:

Sharon Tkachuk – Athletics
Richard “Dick” White – Multi Sport

IN THE TEAM CATEGORY:

1985 Moose Jaw Generals AA Senior Men’s Hockey Team – Hardy Cup Champions
2009 Eugene Hritzuk Senior Men’s Curling Team – 2009 World Senior Men’s Curling Champions

Tickets to the 49th Annual Induction Dinner & Ceremony are $100/person and are available directly from the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame via 306-780-9232, [email protected], or online at www.sasksportshalloffame.com.

In addition to the announcement of our latest class, there is plenty more going on here at the Hall. We invite you to come and see everything that is new and exciting within our walls, including our latest exhibit Chalk, Wheat and Diamonds: Saskatchewan ‘Ball.

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You can also find out more on our latest happenings by downloading the newest version of For The Record, right here:

For the Record April 2015

Congratulations to Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame 2015 Inductees – From Canadian Senate

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THE SENATE Thursday, April 23, 2015

SASKATCHEWAN SPORTING HALL OF FAME

CONGRATULATIONS TO 2015 INDUCTEES

Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk: Honourable senators, I rise to congratulate the Saskatchewan Sporting Hall of Fame class of 2015. This year’s inductees include the 1985 Moose Jaw Generals AA Senior Men’s Hockey Team, whose record winning streak saw them take the 1985 Hardy Cup, and the Eugene Hritzuk Senior Men’s Curling Team, which in 2009 took the World Senior Men’s Curling Championship.

The inductees also include five individuals. Richard White is the longest-serving president of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Dick served more than 30 years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Regina and 15 years as the President of the Regina Association of Basketball Officials.

Another inductee is speed skater Jason Parker, whose many titles include a silver medal in team pursuit at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. In a career spanning 20 years, Jason has competed in three Winter Olympics and 75 world cups and world championships.

The third inductee is triathlete Milos Kostic, who, in 25 years of competitive running, has completed 17 half Ironman and Ironman events, 70.3 triathlons and 20 Ironman or Iron- distance triathlons. A three-time Triathlon Canada Grand Master Triathlete of the Year, Milos holds the Ironman World Championship record in the men’s 65 to 69 age group.

The fourth is hockey player Cliff Koroll, who, as captain for the University of Denver, led his team to win the 1968 NCAA Men’s

Hockey Championship. Cliff played for the National Hockey League Chicago Blackhawks from 1969 to 1980. He later spent seven seasons as the Blackhawks’ assistant coach and two as their public relations director.

Sharon Tkachuk is also being recognized as a builder in athletics for her 45-year officiating career. Sharon has refereed at four Canada Summer Games, three Commonwealth Games, and the 1983 World Student Games. In 2001, she was chief referee at the World Outdoor Championships in Edmonton. Sharon has also been a dedicated high school track and field, volleyball, softball, basketball and curling coach. She has been to Canadian junior and senior championships, the Canadian Interuniversity championships and the ParAthletic championships. Sharon has also served on the National Council of Fitness and Amateur Sport, the board of Saskatchewan Athletics, the Bob Adams Foundation and many others. She is also well known to students whom she has taught and nurtured.

The other inductees will no doubt understand if I point out that Sharon is part of the parliamentary family. Her husband, Senator Tkachuk, is justifiably proud of her, and we join him in that.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Andreychuk: I invite all senators to congratulate this year’s Saskatchewan Sporting Hall of Fame inductees. Their contributions to athletics and to Saskatchewan are a source of pride to their province and to Canada.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Download your copy of the official Senate document right here:
Congratulations to Class of 2015 – English

Congratulations to Class of 2015 – French

Employment Opportunity – Weekend & Casual Staff

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The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is looking for Gallery Hosts/Interpreters.

This opportunity includes the following responsibilities:

Opening & Closing procedures for the Hall of Fame exhibit galleries on weekdays for after hour special event bookings and on weekends for regular operating hours including, but not limited to:
• Assisting with the delivery of SSHF guest services
• Supervising the multi-sport simulator
• Assisting with the delivery of SSHF programming, including setup and cleanup, as required
• Housekeeping – dusting shelves, vacuuming floors, cleaning glass fixtures, etc.

Perfect for part-time summer employment, the position will include regular and/or casual hours available starting Saturday, May 16, 2015.

We are looking for team members who have:
• Interest in, and knowledge of, Saskatchewan sport
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communication skills
• Strong inter-personal skills
• Reached 16 years of age or older

The new members of our team will work with us at the Hall of Fame, located at 2205 Victoria Avenue, right here in Regina. The position comes with salary of $11/hr. Not to mention all the great experience you will get, working with one of Saskatchewan’s most history institutions!

If this sounds like you, please submit a resume, along with cover letter to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame – Attn: Executive Director by May 1, 2015.

Submissions may be submitted via email to [email protected]

For additional information:
Sheila Kelly, Executive Director
306-780-9232

Easter Week Activities at Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

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Easter Holidays are almost here. Need something to do with the kids? How about a visit to the SSHF?

Check out our latest exhibit: For Those About to Rock: Women’s Curling in Saskatchewan
Try interactive curling in our wheelchair curling display!
Do a scavenger hunt!

Check out our new Sport Simulator and play like our inductees!
Six different sports available.

We can offer age appropriate activities that promote learning and fun, like a trivia challenge, “I Spy” or pick an inductee!
Use our 3 in gallery iPads to search for your favorite sport or find an inductee.

Easter hours are as follows:
April 7 – April 10
10:30am – 4:30pm

Regular admission charges apply
Adults: $5.00
Seniors: $3.00
Students/Children: $2.00
Children under 5: Free
Family: $10.00

Or purchase a Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame 2015 Membership for unlimited visits!
Individual: $35.00
Family: $50.00

For The Record – March 2015

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For The Record

WELCOMING VICKIE KRAUSS AS EDUCATION COORDINATOR

We are pleased to announce that Vickie Krauss has been promoted to full time employment as our Admin Assistant/Education Coordinator. Vickie joined our team at the beginning of September, 2014, in a part-time administrative capacity. Since then she has gone on to prove that she is an instrumental part of the team. With her background as an educator it was a natural choice for us to look at Vickie when it became time to re-hire for our education coordinator position. Vickie is thrilled to be able to use her skills in the development and implementation of our new curriculum based programming initiatives to support the new hardware being incorporated into the galleries, as well as the many exhibits featured annually.

Welcome to the team Vickie!

In addition to welcoming Vickie to our staff here at the Hall, there is plenty more going on. We invite you to come and see everything that is new and exciting within our walls. You can also find out more on our latest happenings by downloading the newest version of For The Record, right here:

For the Record March 2015

SSHF At Rogers Hometown Hockey

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There’s a lot to love in Regina at Rogers Hometown Hockey this weekend. Experience all your favourite Regina attractions at the community activation tent and enjoy excellent family activities on City Square Plaza. The SSHF will also be open from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday so that Plaza participants can visit our exhibit galleries for an expanded “hockey fix”. 

Happening in the heart of downtown Regina are a few great breakfasts:

  • Noon on Saturday – Free egg breakfast on Saturday at noon/ provided by the Saskatchewan Egg Producers.
  • Noon on Sunday – Free pancake breakfast on Sunday at noon/ provided by Regina Downtown Business Improvement District.

In addition to the breakfasts, there are plenty of activities for the whole family to take in! Highlights for the weekend include:

  • Free coffee & hot chocolate
  • Free chocolate milk for all the future all-stars on hand, courtesy of Sask Milk
  • Free jerseys for children, courtesy of Scotiabank
  • Free entertainment, including live music
  • NHL alumni & team representatives from the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers

And of course, there is the LIVE broadcast, featuring Ron Maclean on Sunday night, right on the City Square Plaza! We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the fun.

More details on the schedule and everything happening for Rogers Hometown Hockey can be found
RIGHT HERE

Holiday Hours 2014

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It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Once again it is time for us all to sit back, relax and spend some quality time with friends and loved ones. With that being said, we’d like to inform you all of our holiday hours for this year. We’d hate for you to miss us and we’d also love to see you and yours over the course of this happy season.

Please note our holiday hours below:

 

Gallery Hours:

Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 24 – close at 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 25 – closed

Friday, December 26 – closed

Wednesday, December 31 – early closure

Thursday, January 1 – closed

Regular Gallery hours resume on Friday, January 2, 2015

 

Administrative Office Hours:

Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 24 – early closure

Thursday, December 25 – closed

Friday, December 26 – closed

Wednesday, December 31 – early closure

Thursday, January 1 – closed

Regular Administrative Office hours resume on Friday, January 2, 2015

We’d like to wish a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years to all of you who have visited and supported us, during a fantastic 2014!

 

Hockey Legend Reflects on World War Service

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Earlier this week our country celebrated a day during which we remember those who have bravely served our country in order to uphold the rights and freedoms that make Canada so special. Celebrations took place across this great nation shining light on the brave actions of so many heroes from coast to coast who sacrificed to protect all the things we hold most dear. 

One of those things is the proud culture that we have developed through sport. Many of the men and women who have served our country during its greatest conflicts are also those who acted as the greatest contributors to sport. On Tuesday we offered up a small thanks to them in the form of a list. The list included all of those who fought for our country and went on to see their names enshrined in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Among those names was NHL alumni and Toronto Maples Leafs goaltending legend, Johnny Bower, whose tale is perhaps among the most storied of those on this decorated record. 

Bower enlisted with the Canadian Armed Forces at just 16 years of age because, as he put it, “I wanted to be there, with my other buddies”. Bower was lucky enough to return from the fields of Europe and go on to have not only a fabled hockey career, but also to become one of this country’s most enduring personalities. 

Recently, Bower was present at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, where he and others recounted their stories and paid their respects to the countless others who gave everything. Enjoy the video posted here, of a Bower who continues to age with incredible grace and who has clearly not lost any of his charm. 

Once again, we would like to offer our gratitude and thanks to all the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces for all that they do.

SSHF Honours Inductees Who Served Our Country

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While it is difficult to put this type of gratitude into words, each year on this date, our country does what we can to show our sincere appreciation to those who have given their lives in service of our Nation’s freedom. Here at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, we are well aware of what words like dedication, sacrifice and commitment stand for, as it is our mission to recognize those people in sport, who best exemplify what these phrases mean.

On November 11 however, that focus shifts and we pay our respects to those who have committed, dedicated and certainly sacrificed everything, in order to keep Canada among the greatest Nations in the world. In sport, similarities are often drawn to a battle, or fight which exists between two sides. Those conflicts though, pale in comparison to what a select few have experienced, beyond the field of play.

With this piece, we aim to thank these people for everything they have done to serve and better the places we live, work and play. Saskatchewan along with the rest Canada is forever grateful to the service men and women of this country. Everything they do on a daily basis ensures Canada remains, well and truly the north, strong and free.

Robert Adams – Athletics
Calvin Bricker – Athletics
Alex Decoteau – Athletics
William Forsyth – Athletics
Stanley Glover – Athletics
Joe Griffiths – Athletics
Harold Mitchelmore – Athletics
Peter Prediger – Baseball
Stanley ‘Hub’ Gutheridge – Basketball
Anton Glasser – Bowling
Gaston Eichel – Boxing
Ernest ‘Ossie’ Herlen – Boxing
Claude Petit – Boxing
Claude Warwick – Boxing
Eldon Elliot – Broadcasting
Alfred Hill – Curling
H.J. “Pete” Wilken – Curling
Captain Stanley Harrison – Equestrian
Sandy Archer – Football
Dr. Bob Arn – Football
Ken Charlton – Football
Paul Dojack – Football
R.C. ‘Scotty’ Livingston – Football
Neil ‘Piffles’ Taylor – Football
Fred Wilson – Football
Leonard Bath – General
Rollin Henry “Roly” Howes – General
Tom ‘Scotty’ Melville – General
Robert ‘Bobby’ Reid – General
John ‘Jack’ Stewart – General
Edgar ‘Wally’ Stinson – General
George Ward – General
Dr. Jack Leddy – Golf
Dr. Robert Reid – Golf
Tom Ross – Golf
Edward Abbott – Hockey
Garth Boesch – Hockey
Johnny Bower – Hockey
Austin Creswell – Hockey
Frank Foster – Hockey
Norman “Heck” Fowler – Hockey
Frank Germann – Hockey
William ‘Bill’ Griston – Hockey
William ‘Bill’ Hunter – Hockey
Dick Irvin Sr. – Hockey
Gordon Juckes – Hockey
Mike Kartusch – Hockey
Victor Lynn – Hockey
Jack Maddia – Hockey
Charles McCool – Hockey
Frederick McCulloch – Hockey
Ernie McNab – Hockey
Don Metz – Hockey
Nick Metz – Hockey
Stan Obodiac – Hockey
William Beatty Ramsay – Hockey
Chuck Rayner – Hockey
Ed Staniowski – Hockey
Harold ‘Harry’ Watson – Hockey
Al Ritchie – Hockey/Football
Tony Cote – Multi Sport
Joseph Austman – Rifle Shooting
James Harry Girgulis – Shooting
Julien Audette – Soaring
David Greyeyes – Soccer
Robert Van Impe – Softball
Dr. Sam Landa – Sport Medicine
William ‘Bill’ Orban – Sport Medicine
Harry Bailey – Swimming
Bill Ebbels – Tennis
J.B. ‘Kirk’ Kirkpatrick – Tennis
Dr. John Leicester – Tennis
David Ironside Pyle – Wrestling

Lest we forget.

SSHF Wins ISHA 2014 Communication Award

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Left to right: Paula Homan (ISHA Communications Awards Committee), Saleem Chadry (ISHA CAC), & Sheila Kelly

Left to right: Paula Homan (ISHA Communications Awards Committee), Saleem Chadry (ISHA CAC), & Sheila Kelly

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) is pleased to announce that our website, www.sasksportshalloffame.com, has been awarded a 2014 Communication Award from the International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) as the best in the industry for institutions with a budget greater than $250,000 US.

The recent responsive changes made to our website, combined with the expanded content development, have been recognized by our peers in the industry with the awarding of an “ISHY” from ISHA.

Since re-launching the website Google Analytics has confirmed that the SSHF has made huge improvements in our online presence. We have grown from a few hundred visits per month to a situation where we now have thousands. Site visitors are averaging 12 minute visits as compared to the industry standard of less than 2 minutes. One of the most satisfying outcomes is that www.sasksportshalloffame.com continues to attract new visitors. The most recent data indicates that 77% of those looking at the website were new individuals. These statistics and much more combined to make us ISHY winners.

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We are indebted to our web designers, Command Base, for working with us on this award winning initiative.

The ISHY trophy was presented at ISHA’s annual conference hosted this year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

ISHA is a membership organization incorporated in 1971 to assist sport museums and halls of fame to develop, operate and promote their facilities in the best way possible. Member institutions are currently located throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand.

Saskatchewan and the Grey Cup Vignettes

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On November 19, 2013, the SSHF hosted the world premiere for our three vignettes celebrating the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their involvement with the Grey Cup as participants, hosts and champions. As Grey Cup 2013 unfolded it became quite apparent that our “new” videos were only historically correct up to Sunday, November 17, 2013, resulting in some significant post production work.

The updated vignettes, which were previously only visible at the Hall of Fame, can now be seen below. They provide the SSHF with a tremendous opportunity to showcase the Roughrider permanent collection and involve many of our inductees.

The SSHF is grateful for the financial support from the Community Initiatives Fund and Saskatchewan Lotteries which made the production of these vignettes possible.


 
Special thanks to:
Canadian Football League
FireCube Video
Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club
TSN
CBC
Global Television
Roger Aldag
Carm Carteri
John Charlton
Neil Donnelly
Gloria Evans
Alan Ford
Richie Hall
Jill McDougall
Rod Pedersen
Dave Pettigrew
Bob Poley
Mark Stefan
Glen Suitor
George Reed
Cleveland Vann
Rob Vanstone
Patricia Wallace
Warren Woods

Saskatchewan Sport Incorporated Adaptive Sport Grants

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Saskatchewan has the second highest rate in Canada of people who live with a disability at 14.5%. Sport can play an important role in the lives of people with a disability by being part of a healthy lifestyle and providing access to a social network and peer support while developing self-discipline and positive self esteem. Sask Sport Inc. is investing in these two programs because we believe all people, regardless of ability, should be given the chance to participate in sport activities.

Who is eligible to apply?
Local or community clubs/organizations can apply with the endorsement of an Sask Sport Inc. Active/Affiliate member; a provincial sport organization or a district. Active or Affiliate members of Sask Sport Inc. who are on the eligibility list of the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund.

What is the source of funding?
The program is made possible through the financial contributions from the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation and is administered through Sask Sport Inc.

What is the approval process & application deadlines?
There are two application deadlines April 15th and October 15th. Once the applications have been received an adjudication committee will meet to determine the recipients. Approximately 6 weeks after the deadline, organizations will be informed of the status of their application.

How do I apply?
It’s really easy, download an application form at: www.sasksport.sk.ca/adaptiveSport.php and provide as much detail as possible, answering each of the planning questions. Submit the application prior to the application deadlines of April 15 & October 15 of each year.

For more information contact:
Michelle Dezell
[email protected]
(306) 975-0861
www.sasksport.sk.ca

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