This year’s inductees to the P.A. Sports Hall of Fame

Before that, Emmerson was a Rookie All-Canadian, Canada West Rookie of the Year and the U of S Rookie of the Year (for all sports) in the 2011-12. She was also named a CIS All-Canadian and Defensive All-Canadian in 2013-14.

Emmerson now is an assistant coach with the Carlton Crusaders senior girls basketball team and the P.A. Optimist Toppers Volleyball Club.

Dwayne Gareau—athlete

Gareau has been a staple with the St. Mary Marauders coaching both senior boys soccer and senior girls basketball since 2006. But Gareau is an athlete in his own right. Gareau played soccer with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, being named team captain and was a Canada West All-Star in his final two years. He played with the Calgary Storm of the USLA League in 2003, and was a key player on the HUSA Soccer team that won provincial men’s titles from 2004-2018.

Scott Byrne—athlete

Scott Byrne comes from the famous Byrne family, and helped establish the family business of bull fighting. Byrne worked each spring and summer on the rodeo circuit. Byrne was selected by the riders to be a bull fighter at the Calgary Stampede 16 years in a row, PBR events 10 years in a row and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association 14 years in a row, among other events. He received the Glen Keely Memorial Award in 2016 and was named the Canadian Cowboy of the Year in 2016.

Martin Ring—athlete and builder

Ring has made so many impacts in sports in Prince Albert, he was inducted into both the athlete and builder categories.

As an athlete, Ring has a large and full trophy case. Ring won a provincial amateur titles in 2014 and was on provincial amateur golf teams in 1995, 1997, 2004, 2008 and 2014. He’s won the Waskesiu Lobstick four times, 1994, 2001, 2007 and 2010, May Day Masters in 1998, Men’s Northerns in 2000, City Open in 2013 and the Senior Men’s Northern in 2018. He also won eight Cooke Municipal Golf Course Men’s Championships as well.

Ring has also contributed in other ways to golf in the city. Each time a major event comes to Cooke, Ring seems to find an important role to play. He was the chairperson of the 1999 Canadian Club Champions’ Championship, and tournament advisor and finance chair for the Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship in 2004. He was the host chair in the 2017 Provincial Mixed Championships and co-chair of the upcoming 2020 Provncial Senior Golf Championships.

Andy and Merle Kozun—Meritorious Service

The Kozun brothers in Andy and Merle Kozun have been involved in a lot of sports in Prince Albert, but are most known for their contributions to the Prince Albert Mintos Midget AAA hockey team. They’ve been on the team’s board of directors and were huge parts of putting on the first midget AAA outdoor game in 2013, the Western Regionals in 2014 and building the Minto fitness centre in 2017. They help out each game, sell tickets, raise funds, collecting garbage and do anything that’s needed.

Both coached their daughters’ ringette teams, with Merle winning gold in the Provincial B Belle championships in 2004 and silver in 2006. Andy also coached his children in soccer, softball and skiing.

Barry Schrader—Meritorious Service

Schrader has been an important figure in officiating in Prince Albert. He became the Female Development Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, putting him in change for the development and recruitment of female officials. He’s also selected officials for the Esso Cup championships, Sask Winter Games, Sask First Programs and National Aboriginal Championships. He’s been referee in chief for Prince Albert minor hockey for three terms, including one starting in 2019. He’s also been a softball umpire since 2000.

Wendell Whitter—builder

After graduating from Carlton and playing on their football team, Wendell Whitter started getting back into football when his son Kristian began in the sport. He eventually got his coaching certification and became an assistant coach with the Junior Crusaders from 2002-07.

In 2008, Wendell Whitter became the first head coach of the pee wee River Riders. He then moved onto the board, being vice president from 2014-18 for local football association, and was coaching the pee wee River Riders until 2018. In 2009, he started the Indoor Flag Football League.

The award is given to Wendell Whitter posthumously. Accepting the award on Wendell’s behalf was his wife Val.

Bill Watson—builder

Bill Watson coached the Riverside Rams to seven city championships from 1967-1973. Those Rams teams reached the Northern Saskatchewan 3A finals in all of those years except one, and won it in 1970. Watson was transferred to Carlton Comprehensive High School, and led football teams to the provincial finals in 1980 and 1984. He was named the Prince Albert Sportsman of the Year in 1987, one year after retiring from coaching.

The award is given to Bill Watson posthumously. Accepting the award on Bill’s behalf is his grandson Ethan Watson, a quarterback at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

East End and Old Dutch Twins—team

The same group of kids that won the East End Squirts from 1972 and 1973, and the Old Dutch Twins from 1974 to 1977 dominated Prince Albert Minor Softball. These teams won the city championship in all six of those years. The East End team won the Provincial Squirt Championship in 1973, while the Old Dutch Twins won the Provincial Pee Wee Championship in 1975.

Coach Tom Lavallee was on both the provincial winning teams, as were Mike Markewich, Craig Eldstrom, Kevin Lavallee, Greg Bantle, Bernie Kalika, Greg Smith, Scott Bruce, Marty Shaw, Darwin Stephens and Robert Doucette.

Bob Lowes was on the 1973 East End team, and is now the head scout for the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. Robert Doucette was on President of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan for nine years.

Prince Albert Lacrosse Association- organization of the year

The Prince Albert Box Lacrosse Association was formed back in 2001, but has now branched into field lacrosse as well, as the association rebranded themselves to include all types of lacrosse.

Field lacrosse has gone from 44 athletes to 400 in the past few years.

Javan Bexson played lacrosse in that first year and is now the president of the Prince Albert Lacrosse Association. He’s the son of Joe and Betty Bexson, who helped found and solidify the sport of lacrosse and the association in its early days.

The Predators won the junior box championship in 2018, while the 2016 pee wees, 2017 bantams and 2019 midgets have won provincials.

Prince Albert’s Brendan Rooney started playing lacrosse in P.A., and went on to win the NCAA Division 1 championship with the Yale Bulldogs in 2018.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

by Jeff D'Andrea

This year’s inductees to the P.A. Sports Hall of Fame

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