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P.A. Sports Hall of Fame welcomes in 2016 inductee class

Apr 30, 2016 | 10:39 PM

This year’s inductee class of the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame were officially celebrated on Saturday at the Ches Leach Lounge.

Here’s a quick peak at the accomplishments of each inductee.

Donna Brooks, athlete, hockey

Donna Brooks was instrumental in paving the way for women’s hockey in Prince Albert.

At one point, she was the only female registered in the Prince Albert minor hockey before starting an all-girls team in the pee wee division.

She went on to represent Prince Albert at both the provincial and national levels in hockey.

Brooks delivered the acceptance speech for all the athletes. When she got to her part, she thanked her parents, all the girls and women and all the guys for their support “when playing hockey wasn’t the coolest thing for girls to do.”

Bryan Swystun, athlete/builder

As an athlete, there weren’t too many sports that Bryan Swystun didn’t play.

He was particularly good at hockey as Swystun played collegiate hockey with the Camrose College Vikings and University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He then played professionally in England with the Romford Raiders, playing and later coaching with the club.

Locally, Swystun also been involved with minor football in the city, including 6-man and the River Rider’s program, as well as lacrosse, badminton, basketball and soccer.

Ron Hlasny, builder, speed skating

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.

 

Mark Nagy, builder, triathlon

Mark Nagy has been the race director for the Frank Dunn Triathlon in Waskesiu for 26 years.

The race had been running since 1982, but Nagy has elevated the race with his expertise since 1990.

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, builder, boxing

Bob Tichkowski founded the Wild Cat Boxing Club, which is now known as the Thomas Settee Boxing Club after a renaming.

Tichkowski helped train eight Golden Gloves champions and 10 Saskatchewan provincial champions as a coach with the club. He also coached at the national level in the 1990’s.

Bruce Vance, meritorious service

Bruce Vance is being recognized for promoting hockey and softball in Prince Albert at provincial, national and international levels.

Vance was the president of the Crescent Heights Community Club for seven years, and built an NHL sized rink and held an Outdoor Classic game on the ice on Jan. 19, 2013. He’s also co-managed the Prince Albert A&W Bears for three years with his wife Liane, and was the co-founder of the Girls Prairie League of Softball.

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.

Prince Albert Kenshukan Judo Club

The Prince Albert Kenshukan Judo Club is over 60 years old, one of the oldest organizations in the city and is being recognized this year in the hall of fame as a sports organization.

Jim O’Sullivan founded the club and have since trained thousands of judokan. In 1979, the club hosted the National Senior Women and Junior Championships, where then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker was presented with an honorary black belt.

panews@jpbg.ca

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