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Coach Hockey & Fastball
Six Provincial Championships Fastball
Two Provincial Championships Hockey
First Coach, Wetaskiwin Icemen
1979-1999
 Brian Brown was born and
raised in the Wetaskiwin area and all his life Brian has had
a passion for sports. For over twenty years he played for
the Falun Hockey Club and for six years he played slow pitch
for the Falun Men’s team.
However, once
his sons showed interest in playing sports, Brian became
involved with coaching. It is for his commitment,
contributions and achievements in coaching hockey and
fastball that Brian is being inducted into the Wetaskiwin
and County Sports Hall of Fame.
Gold Medals in Fastball
1984, 85, 87, 88, 90, 91
Brian first started coaching
fastball at Falun in 1980. There were not many players to
choose from so, anyone that came out to play had a spot on
the team. For the next eleven years, until 1991, Brian
coached most of the same players as they moved through the
different age levels. Through his leadership, dedication,
effort and time the team
became winners
earning Provincial Gold Medals as Squirt ‘B’ in 1984, Peewee
‘B’ in 1985, Bantam ‘A; in 1987 and 1988, Midget ‘A’ in 1990
and Junior ‘B’ in 1991. As Bantams the team represented
Alberta at the Western Canadian Championships placing fourth
in 1987 and winning the Silver Medal in 1988. In 1990 the
team reached the pinnacle of their sport and represented
Alberta as Midgets at the National Championship where they
placed fifth.
During Brian’s Coaching Years that Falun
Became the “Fastball Capital” of Alberta
Besides coaching, Brian’s
time was also occupied with the administration of the
fastball program in the small community of Falun. This
involved organizing tournaments, being chauffer, grounds
keeper, co-coordinator, etc. Brian’s efforts were
influential in having the diamonds at Falun upgraded with
shale, bleachers and players dugouts. It was
during Brian’s
coaching years that Falun became the “Fastball Capital” of
Alberta and the community’s reputation as such travelled
across Canada. Brian was instrumental in organizing a
Peewee tournament at Falun where a team from Brampton
Ontario was invited to participate. Four years later the
Falun boys met the same team at the National Championship in
Milverton, Ontario at the Midget level.
Minor Hockey Championships 1979-1994
Head Coach Six Alberta All Star Games
Brian’s involvement with
Wetaskiwin’s Minor Hockey programs began in 1979 and
continued until 1994. During those years Brian coached
boy’s teams
from
Mites to Midgets. In 1986-87 and 1987-88 Brian coached the
Bantam Legion 86’s to two Provincial Championships. In
1988-89 the Legion 86’s were the ‘A’ Zone 4 Champions.
Brian was Assistant Manager in 1989-90 for the Kinsmen
Midgets when they were Provincial silver medalists. During
his coaching years Brian was selected as the head coach in
six All Star games including the Alberta North-South Bantam
All Star game.
1988 Alberta Provincial Champions
Besides coaching hockey,
Brian also served on the executive of the Wetaskiwin Minor
Hockey Association for six years from 1984-1990. He was
Vice President for two years, Bantam Coordinator for three
years
and
Timekeeper Coordinator for one year. Brian also refereed
hockey for five years prior to his coaching years and as
well, he umpired fastball for three years from 1985 to 1987.
First Head Coach of Icemen
Alberta Amateur Softball Associations Award of Merit
Winter Olympic Coach Award
When the Wetaskiwin Icemen
were formed in 1991, Brian was chosen as the first Head
Coach and coached for the next three years. From 1995-1997,
he
was
the assistant manager for the Icemen. He later took on the
position of co-coach for the Millet Thunder Senior ‘AAA’
team from 1997-1999.
Brian was selected to receive
the Alberta Amateur Softball Associations Award of Merit for
his
contributions to softball in his community. In 1988 Brian
received the Winter Olympic Coach Award. During his
involvement with the Wetaskiwin Icemen, Brian was given an
honorary ‘Iron Man Award” for attending all games and
practices, an award typically given to players.
Due to his
outstanding
contributions to the young people of our community through
his coaching of hockey and fastball we are proud to induct
Brian into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.
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