The Prince Albert Titans could not play in 2022-23 and their future is in the hands of the PJHL. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Remember the Titans

Year In Review: Titans unable to play in 2022-23; Future Uncertain

Dec 26, 2022 | 5:00 PM

As 2022 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

For years, the Prince Albert Titans gave hockey fans another level of the sport to cheer for and gave local players another opportunity to pursue junior hockey. This season, however, that opportunity wasn’t there and there’s no telling when or even if it will be again.

Over the summer, the franchise was placed in the hands of the league, the PJHL, and what they’ll do with them remains to be seen. It’s possible a new ownership group will return the club to Prince Albert, but just as possible that they might relocate entirely.

“Our coach and vice president, Kim Dryka, and I had talked about the long-term viability of a Junior B franchise in Prince Albert,” said Wayne Mesenchuk, former Titans president and general manager. “We came down to a decision that Kim has been coaching in PA right through minor hockey and into Junior B for 34 years, and I’ve worked managing teams for 17.”

In April of this year, Mesenchuk retired after a 47-year career with the government. He tried to find someone else to take over the franchise first, but couldn’t find anyone to allow the team to play this season.

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“I’ve been involved in hockey for nearly all my life at different levels,” said Mesenchuk. “It came to a point where good things have to come to an end. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of dedication, it’s a lot of volunteers. To some degree, people are getting played out.”

Returning players were put into a dispersal draft, with several of them ending up in Saskatoon. Among those players was reigning league MVP Ben Zultok, who has spent this season with the Saskatoon Quakers.

“It was upsetting seeing the team go down,” said Zultok. “They couldn’t do it anymore, I guess. It just didn’t work. Then I got a call in the summer saying the team was down and I’d be picked somewhere else.”

Zultok is from Prince Albert, and had fond memories of playing for the hometown team. Ironically, many of those best memories came on the road.

“Our road trips were always the best,” said Zultok. “We went down to Regina one weekend and we ended up winning both games. We ended up winning more games on the road I think this past season than we did at home. Every time we went down there, everyone was in such a good mood.”

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP