Doug Winterton. (supplied photo/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Ring reflects on the loss of longtime friend Doug Winterton

Jul 23, 2020 | 3:21 PM

Doug Winterton passed away peacefully Monday morning at the age of 91, leaving a legacy behind with the Prince Albert Raiders and elsewhere in the community.

Winterton was involved with the team from the team’s infancy in the 1970s and played the roles of billet father, secretary, and the team’s president in their SJHL days, before becoming a big force in the team’s booster club to help raise funds for the team. He was inducted to the Raiders’ Wall of Honour in 2013 and continued to still be involved with the team well after that.

“You talk about somebody that bled green — that was Mr. Winterton,” said Martin Ring, Raiders’ colour commentator and longtime friend. “Throughout the playoff stretch there last year, it was so exciting to see him and [his wife] Joan come to the games. You could just see the excitement and feel the excitement from him. We’re sure going to miss seeing him in the media room.”

Both Ring’s and Winterton’s families have always been a part of the Raiders. Winterton started out as a billet father for some of the team’s earliest players. Ring was in a similar boat, but as a billet brother. And like Winterton, Ring’s father Ralph was also a past president of the team.

“The Ring family has known the Winterton’s for a long, long time,” Ring said. “The Winterton’s did have some billets come through the house, I believe the most famous one going through their house would’ve been Brad McCrimmon. Brad came through here as a 15-year-old and of course had a tremendous career in the NHL.”

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It wasn’t just the Raiders that Winterton spent a lot of his time with. He was also a big help when it came to the local golf scene.

Doug was just a tremendous supporter, not only for the Raiders, but for the entire community. He was involved a lot with the golf club, in particular with the senior men’s golf club. He loved the game of golf.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW