The 2016 Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame will include a boxer, a triathlete and a speed skating coach.
The inductees were announced Wednesday, Feb. 3, during a special press conference at the Ches Leach lounge.
Donna Brooks
Donna Brooks, executive director of Prince Albert YWCA, helped pave the way for women’s hockey in Prince Albert.
“I don’t know if the young ones know actually what we went through back in the 80s. I don’t know if they know that because it is just so far removed. But I’m certainly glad that all of us played back then and helped to grow the sport, and build this sport so that the girls today have a place to play,” Brooks said.
For a greater part of the decade she played on men’s teams. She also represented Prince Albert on both the provincial and national levels.
Bryan Swystun
He played hockey at the college level and coached hockey and American football in Europe. More recently, Swystun has coached hockey in Prince Albert including the Pee Wee AA Raiders and the Midget AAA Mintos.
Swystun also helped develop minor football in the city, including 6-man and the River Rider’s program.
Ron Hlasny
Ron Hlasny helped found the Prince Albert Speed Skating club in 1991.
Hlasny coached skater Elliot Nelson to four gold medals at the 2006 Saskatchewan Winter Games and competed in the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
He looked fondly back on the days when he started coaching in Lethbridge.
“It was just that one little kid in Lethbridge who sort of just went out…They had this little club and needed someone that had the technical aspect of coaching and could follow her lap, after lap, after lap and get her to just build herself to where she could actually just go and compete and win a medal for her club,” he said.
Mark Nagy
Mark Nagy has been the race director for the Frank Dunn Triathlon in Waskesiu for 26 years.
As a competitor, Nagy has been a part in 26 half marathons and 14 full ironman triathlons. He competed in 11 straight triathlons from 2001 to 2011.
Bob Tichkowski
Bob Tichkowski has been involved in boxing since he was 10 years-old. He founded the Wild Cat Boxing Club, which would later be renamed the Thomas Settee Boxing Club.
During his time as coach, Tichkowski helped train eight Golden Gloves champions and 10 Saskatchewan provincial champions. He has also coached at the national level.
Bruce Vance
Bruce Vance is being recognized for promoting hockey and softball in Prince Albert at provincial, national and international levels.
Vance was instrumental in bringing a World Junior hockey pre-tournament game to Prince Albert in 2011. He also helped bring the ADT Challenge Cup to Prince Albert in 2008, where Team WHL played Russia.
“I’ve certainly worked with a lot of great people and a lot of great athletes over the years,” Vance said. “I share the award with a lot of people who supported me all along.”
The Prince Albert Kenshukan Judo Club
Kenshukan was founded by Jim O’Sullivan over 60 years ago and has provided a training ground for thousands of athletes.
The club has hosted hundreds of competitions over the years including the national senior women and junior judo championships in 1979.
The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be held April 30 at the Ches Leach Lounge in the Art Hauser Centre. Tickets can still be purchased through Community Services at City Hall.
nmaxwell@panow.com
On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell
