Bruce Vance will be inducted into the Prince Albert Raiders Wall of Honour on Oct. 20. (Submitted Photo/Prince Albert Raiders)

By paNOW Staff

wall of honour

P.A.’s Bruce Vance to be inducted in Raiders Wall of Honour

Oct 5, 2023 | 4:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders will soon honour a longtime resident and a man who devoted many years to the local hockey club and the community.

The team announced on Thursday that Bruce Vance will be inducted as a builder in the Raiders Wall of Honour on Oct. 20.

Vance spent 14 years with the Raiders from 2001 to 2015 and in that time was instrumental in bringing special events to Prince Albert including a World Junior pre-tournament game in 2011 and the ADT Challenge Cup in 2008.

He said it’s a special honour for him and his family.

“I was blessed to work with some great people, staff, fans, and players over that time,” he said. “To be on the Wall of Honour beside other esteemed builders like Donn Clark, Jim Bristowe, and the others is a great moment in my life.”

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“Working with him during my time with the Raiders was exceptional,” said Steve Young, former head coach of the Raiders. “Hockey is an industry where there are ups and downs, but Bruce always had a positive nature and a smile to keep things going. Bruce was very proud to serve the community and be a member of the Prince Albert Raiders.”

The name of the Raiders home, the Art Hauser Centre, wouldn’t have been possible without Vance’s support as he played a role in renaming the facility that was once known as the Communiplex.

“In the early days we worked hard to rebuild the franchise,” Vance added. “I was energized by the passion of Raider fans to make the team one of the best in the Western Hockey League.”

Vance has also given back to the community in many ways through coaching, managing, and volunteering, He was also the former President of the Crescent Heights Community Club and co-manager for the Mann-Northway Northern Bears and Prince Albert minor softball with his wife Liane.

Last weekend, the Bears honoured Vance at their home opener by wearing special jerseys with “Team Bruce” on the front and back.

The jerseys were auctioned off with more than $23,000 raised for the Victoria Hospital Foundation and Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.

READ MORE: A journey of hope: Prince Albert man shares his fight against cancer to inspire others

Vance was diagnosed with colon cancer for the second time in 2020 and told paNOW that he made the decision to stop chemotherapy in June.

“We’re battling it day to day and there’s a lot of support from my family that keeps me going and we just take every day as a bonus day as it comes.”

The Raiders will induct Vance to the Wall of Honour in a ceremony before the Raiders take on the Regina Pats on Oct. 20.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com