The 2023 Sask. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Class. Missing from photo: Jeff Friesen. (Submitted photo/Hockey Saskatchewan)

By Martin Martinson

In Meadow Lake

Sask Hockey H.O.F. induction ‘a night to remember’ for Class of 2023

Aug 29, 2023 | 4:36 PM

The Ted Knight Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame held its 10^th annual induction dinner over the weekend at the Meadow Lake Golf Club.

Four individuals, one family, and one team made up the class of 2023, including Jeff Friesen (Meadow Lake), Wade Redden (Lloydminster), and Ron Greschner (Goodsoil, Sask.) who were inducted in the player category, Mark Wheler (North Battleford) who was enshrined in the officials’ category, the King family (Meadow Lake), inducted in the builder/grassroots category, and the 2005-06/2007-08 Meadow Lake Stampeders, in the team category.

Dwight King, who was inducted along with his brother DJ and sisters Dayna King and Danene Kopperud, for their work with the King’s Hockey School, called it a night they will all remember.

“It was a great experience; for our community to be able to host an event like that is pretty rare and for the job they did, both the City of Meadow Lake and Sask Hockey, it made for a really special night,” he said. “It turned out really well and we’re happy to be inducted with the rest of [the Class of ’23] inductees beside us. It’s something we’ll remember forever.”

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DJ King said while receiving the call to the Hall would be special in any circumstance, having this year’s Induction dinner in their hometown only added to the excitement.

“It’s quite the accomplishment for sure to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame, but to have it happen at home makes it even that much more special, just having so many friends and family able to attend,” DJ said. “The turnout was awesome, and they did a really good job.”

It was a full house at the Sask. Hockey Hall of Fame’s 10th Annual Induction Ceremony. (submitted photo/Hockey Saskatchewan)

Each year, proceeds raised from the annual induction dinner are split 50/50 between the Sask Hockey Hall of Fame and the host community’s chosen initiative. For Meadow Lake, the proceeds will go towards their efforts in building a new rink after the Meadow Lake and District Arena burned down back in June of 2021.

Dwight King said he knows full well the impact the local rink has on a community like Meadow Lake, and what it means to countless families like his own.

“We grew up in the area and we had our minor hockey experiences there in the past rink, with a lot of great memories accumulated over the years,” Dwight said, reflecting back on his early years. “So to able to still give back to the kids around the area and help towards a new arena and environment to build their own memories is something we’re happy to see as soon as possible for our community.”

Ron Greschner, who is also from the area, having grown up in the nearby Village of Goodsoil, just under an hour north of Meadow Lake, made perhaps the longest trip of anyone to take in the weekend’s induction festivities, flying in from New York for the ceremony.

A veteran of nearly 1,000 NHL games over his 16 years with the New York Rangers from 1974-90, the former Rangers’ captain who still resides in the Big Apple, said it was a full circle moment of sorts to return to small-town Sask., where his hockey dream first began all those years ago, and join his own heroes from the past in the Hall.

“It’s definitely an honour,” Greschner said of his induction. “Growing up in Saskatchewan, Gordie Howe was the ultimate hockey player we all looked up to, forward or defence, being from the same province. Now, I’ll be next to him, as I’m “G” and he’s “H” so it makes it even more of a special honour. I’m not next to him in stature but I’m next to him in alphabetical order.”

Ron Greschner with his four kids (pictured left to right): Ashton, Georgia, Gia-Rose, and Jagger. (submitted photo/Ron Greschner)

Greschner made a family trip out of it along with his four kids, stopping first in Winnipeg to visit family, before getting into Saskatchewan where they stayed with another cousin in Meadow Lake on their way north to Goodsoil.

“Three of my children had never really been there – they’ve been there but they were so little – so they wanted to see that five-mile walk I had to school in the snow they’d heard about growing up,” he said with a laugh. “Turned out it was only half a mile,” he said with a wink.

Between family get-togethers in town and the induction dinner itself, Greschner estimates he saw about 200 relatives and friends throughout the trip with well over 100 cousins who came out.

“It was such an honour and it was so well put on and so well done; the emcee was great and it was just a fabulous day,” he said of the experience. “I had friends that came that we played hockey together growing up in the peewee leagues and senior leagues, and just seeing all the farms with families all working to get the combines out… my kids were asking questions as they had never seen anything like that as they grew up in New York.”

Greschner said he plans to return to the Prairies again next summer with his kids.

“I love going back up there. The people are so genuine and it’s hard to match anywhere else.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1