The Gunville family completed the ceremonial puck drop to kick off the first annual U18 AA Ron Gunville Memorial Tournament. (From left to right) Indigenous Sports Academy Eagles captain Deegan Wapsass, Taryn Gunville, Sherry Gunville, Reed Gunville, and Prince Albert Vulcans assistant captain Zach Svenson. Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D’Andrea

Remembering Ronny

For ‘Gunner;’ the first Ron Gunville Memorial Tournament is underway

Nov 13, 2021 | 9:33 AM

From now on, a hockey tournament in Prince Albert will be named after one important figure in the Prince Albert hockey community.

The 1st Annual U18 AA Ron Gunville Memorial Tournament launched on Friday at the Kinsmen Arena, named after Raiders’ director of player personnel and former player Ron Gunville. Gunville was key in building the Raiders team that won the 2019 WHL Championship. Gunville passed away on Dec. 18, 2018 from cancer at age 48.

Before the hosting Prince Albert Lakeland Towing Vulcans opened their tournament against the Indigenous Sports Academy Eagles Friday at the Kinsmen Arena, Gunville’s family of wife Sherry, son Reed and daughter Taryn were honoured at centre ice and all teamed up during the ceremonial puck drop.

“It’s an honour, obviously, but he probably wouldn’t want all the spotlight,” Reed laughed, “but I know all his friends, family and relatives are super grateful and honoured. It’s something to be proud of.”

Gunville played for the Raiders from 1998-1990 before he was moved to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Gunville then started scouting with the Prince George Cougars in 2009, before joining the Raiders as their assistant director of player personnel in 2013 and was promptly promoted to the director in 2016.

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The name “Gunville” has been synonymous with hockey in P.A., and it isn’t limited just to Ron. If there was a hockey bench, Gunville’s father Chick Gunville spent a ton of time behind it coaching hockey in Prince Albert. His brother Trevor has also coached, and now billets Raiders, and Reed won the RBC Cup, the national Junior A championship with the West Kelowna Warriors back in 2016.

Reed is working for the Prince Albert Fire Department, Sherry is vice-principal at Arthur Pechey and Taryn is finishing up her degree.

For Gunner

Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt admitted he only knew Gunville for a few years while the two worked for the Raiders together.

He didn’t know Gunville too much before Hunt joined the team as its general manager in 2015, when Gunville was the assistant director of player personnel. The following year, Gunville was promoted to the team’s head scout to work hand-in-hand with Hunt to build the rosters each year.

“It’s funny how far our relationship came in a short time,” Hunt said.

Hunt said that Gunville was never afraid to share his opinions on anything, good or bad and took his job very seriously. But when it was time to lighten the mood, Gunville was always there with a quick joke.

“He had a way about him to ease the room, he had a real good sense of humour. He had a contagious laugh,” Hunt said. “He just had a terrific memory for all people.

“I told the story about him and I riding around town in the Raider truck,” Hunt added. “Some young kids stopped by the facility, and we were talking to them with the friendly banter they had. Then Gunner asked one of the young guy’s brother. That tells me how Gunner just cared, he cared about people and cared about kids.”

The U18 AA Ron Gunville Memorial Tournament will run until Sunday, with the finals taking place on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW