By Dana Reynolds

La Loche wrestler hopes his story inspires northern youth to follow their dreams

Aug 31, 2016 | 7:00 PM

Keith Shewchuk may be described as a born entertainer.

At six years old, his father bought him a guitar. His primary dreams were of rock stardom, first performing in La Loche as a youth at community dances and eventually travelling across much of Western Canada making a living playing in a band.

But like any great entertainer, a bigger, grander stage soon called. What might have started as a side gig, promoting wrestling shows in his home town, turned into 2014 honours as High Impact Wrestling’s manager of the year. Keith “Crazy Horse” Shewchuk’s next show takes place September in Prince Albert where he said fans should “expect the unexpected.”

“I was just always so intrigued by the business and was always a wrestling fan,” he said adding as a youngster he’d had a predilection to turning the channel Saturday mornings from cartoons to Stampede Wrestling.

While Shewchuk has wrestled in the ring, most of his career has been spent as a manager, or what could be described as the mouthpiece for the talent. He admits the concept was much more popular in the 80s, but wanted to bring back the fast-talking, flamboyant role. He listed greats like Jimmy Hart and Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, manager for Andre the Giant, as some of his favorite pros but confessed, “there’s too many to list.”

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He was told in order to work as a manager, he’d need to come up with a unique character.

“I don’t know how Crazy Horse came about. It was something that was natural,” he said adding a friend actually suggested it. “I thought it was pretty cool, so I kept it.”

Since 2008, Shewchuk has appeared in hundreds of shows, and managed many a champion wrestler. He is most recognizable by his signature sunglasses and black leather vest. But beyond the pomp and pageantry of the ring, what’s really important to Shewchuk is being a positive example for youths in La Loche.

“There’s not many opportunities out here. There’s a lot of things lacking, like in terms of recreation and things for the youth to do,” he said explaining oftentimes the boredom, turns into trouble and, at the worst of times, turns into depression.

“Suicide was something that really affected our community at one point… we had suicides happening once a week. We’ve had gang problems in our community, a lot of issues with alcohol, drugs and a lot of things that can steer a person away from their goals,” Shewchuk said.

He has tried to use his local celebrity status to encourage young people to keep on the straight and narrow. Shewchuk said he used to teach music in schools, specifically give guitar lessons.

It’s his hope, if youth in La Loche see one of their own doing well, and doing what he loves, it could be used as a source of inspiration.

“If I could send a message to anybody, I would just say… keep your dreams alive, yo,” he said.

Under the banner of Ringside Wrestling, Shewchuk will appear as Crazy Horse in a Canadian Wrestling Elite event, Sept. 23 in Prince Albert. Doors open at the Midtown Hall at 6:30 p.m.

-With files from Nigel Maxwell.

dreynolds@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @danitska