Alberta’s Hockey Hall of Fame is filled with people and teams who have left a footprint in our provinces hockey community. Five individuals and two teams are being recognized this year, making up the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame induction class of 2009.
“The Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame is an important showcase of our games history here in Alberta. We look forward each year to honouring those before us who have made hockey in Alberta, Canada and around the world what it is today” said Scott Robinson, executive director, Hockey Alberta Foundation.
The 1962-1963 Edmonton Oil Kings and the 1974-75 Camrose Lutheran College Vikings have been selected for the Achievement Category.
Edmonton won its first Memorial Cup for National Junior Hockey supremacy in 1963 before record crowds over the Niagara Falls Flyers of Ontario. The Oil Kings were the only junior team in Canada at the time that played in an all senior hockey league against the likes of the Drumheller Miners and the Lacombe Rockets. The Oil Kings defeated the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Estevan Bruins on route to the Abbott Cup championship before they faced the Flyers, in what was called the greatest Memorial Cup ever by many.
The 1974-75 Vikings were the first Alberta college team to win a national championship at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association level. A small college of only 390 students, the Vikings became a national champion by beating significantly larger schools for the Alberta College crown before capturing the CCAA National Championship. Camrose was also one of the first colleges to take a team to Europe. Their International contacts eventually led to the birth of the Viking Cup, one of the most significant international tournaments in our history.
Four of Alberta’s hockey ambassadors are being inducted into the Hall of Fame under the Builders Category.
As the Western Hockey League President from 1972 to 1996, Calgary native Ed Chynoweth was instrumental in the development of Major Junior Hockey throughout Canada. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2008 some of Ed’s significant accomplishments include the development of the WHL scholarship program, Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, the International Centre of Excellence and played a significant role in bringing the World Junior Hockey Championships to Red Deer, Alberta for the first time in 1995.
Don Dillon of Ponoka is one of the founders of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Associations’ Minor Council in the late 1950’s, Don was the chairperson of the council for 14 years. Don was instrumental in forming what is now known today as the structure of the Minor Hockey Zones in Alberta. Don later went on to assist the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in the formation of a National Minor Hockey Council.
David Duchak of Edmonton was the 1st Commissioner of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 1965, David was also a founding and executive member of the Calgary Stampeder Hockey Club that would capture Alberta’s first Allan Cup in 1946-47. The AJHL’s regular season champion trophy is named in Dave’s honor for his significant leadership in the development of Junior A hockey in Alberta through the 1960’s.
Calgary’s Dave Ganely is one of the longest serving directors on Hockey Alberta’s Referee Council. Dave has spearheaded the development and administration of officials in Alberta for over 20 years. He has been a member of the Hockey Development Council of Hockey Alberta for over 15 years and has been recognized by Hockey Alberta and the Provincial Referee Council for numerous awards including the Hockey Development Award.
This year’s Pioneer inductee is John “Doc” Gibson of Calgary. John is recognized as the “founder of professional hockey in North America” Doc as he was known, was also the Alberta Amateur Hockey Associations 3rd President in 1910-11 and was instrumental in developing early residencies rules for hockey clubs that fostered the growth of hockey in many communities in Alberta. Known in his day as “one of the best defenders in the game.”
The inductees will be recognized at the Hockey Alberta Awards Gala taking place on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Capri Hotel & Convention Centre - 3310 50 Ave, Red
Deer, Alberta. |