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2011 Inductees

 INDUCTEES 2011

 
2011 Inductees

For biographical information and details on the sporting achievements of the inductees please click a picture below or the link to the "Full Story". 

ATHLETE

Jimmy Rattlesnake

Jimmy Rattlesnake, the ‘Smilin’ Rattler’ is a legend.  He was one of Canada’s greatest aboriginal athletes and baseball was his game.  He was the first Aboriginal baseball player from Canada to play professionally in the US. He was an outstanding pitcher who was scouted by a New York team in the 1930’s and invited to Spring Training.   The team was high on him. A “southpaw”, he was great at picking off players trying to steal bases, it was like he had eyes all over and he was fast... but he didn’t like the big city of New York.

Full Story

Dallas Dorchester

His first racing year set the stage for what was to become one of the most celebrated “Hall of Fame” careers in the sport of chuckwagon.  Dallas was the 1984 World Champion Chuckwagon Driver and won more than 40 show championships in his illustrious career.  His record of five North American Chuckwagon Championships stand to this day. Dallas was a founding member of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association. Dallas Dorchester won all the big races.  His last major win came in 1996 when he captured the Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award symbolic of the Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion.

Full Story

Rod Buskas
Rod was an WHL All-Star and received the Best Defenseman Award for the Tigers.  He also set a record of seven points in one game with the Tigers scoring two goals and adding five assists.  After his solid junior career, Rod was drafted in 1981 in the sixth round by the Pittsburg Penguins.  Rod was a “hard nosed physical defender” and in 1990-91 he was Pittsburgh’s all- time leader in penalty minutes, a record at that time.  He played with Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Chicago. This past year he was invited by Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguin organization to play in the Winter Classic Alumni game, an elite group, he scored a goal in a 5-5 tie.

Full Story

Sheila Friesen

At age seven Sheila began private lessons when it became apparent that she had the ability, focus and determination to excel in her chosen sport and that she did.  She qualified for Provincials at the age of nine and competed at the Juvenile Ladies level.  Sheila’s dedication and countless hours of practice enabled her to reach figure skatings’ elite level where she represented her city, province and country by competing at national and international level competitions. In 1997 Sheila was chosen to represent Canada at the World Winter Universiade Games in South Korea where she placed fifth.  She had the honour of being chosen by the Canadian Team to carry the Canadian flag in the Closing Ceremonies.

Full Story

SPECIAL AWARD

Vlad Brecka
Vlad Brecka was not just a one sport official.  When Vlad Brecka moved to Wetaskiwin in 1966,  he began an officiating career that impacted the sports of basketball, fastball, slow pitch, football, hockey.  From 1969 to 1974 he coached High School basketball. In 1967, he was introduced by Jack Abram to the joys of umpiring fastball. He went from umpiring house league fastball to umpiring major men’s fastball (Car Capitals) and eventually to umpiring slow pitch. He also refereed basketball from 1974 to 1990 for the North Central High School League. This included zone playoffs and championship games. He also had the opportunity to referee basketball games for Camrose Concordia College.

Full Story

BUILDER
 

Elwood "Woody” Johnson

in 1994-1995 that Woody and a few local parents whose children were playing hockey rejuvenated the Winfield Hockey Program. They drafted a new set of bylaws and established more formal protocols and procedures.  The “Mighty Ducks” were born and many great things were about to happen to the small town of Winfield.  Besides coaching, Woody contributes by volunteering in the administration of the sport and is a driving force in major fundraising ventures for local hockey programs and facilities.  During his time as principal at the Winfield Elementary School, he always hosted a Track and Field Day.

Full Story

TEAM AWARD

Wetaskiwin High School Senior Girls Volleyball Team-1990

For the Wetaskiwin High School Senior Girls Volleyball team, 1990 was a magical year.  Nine of the eleven team members had been Provincial Champions the preceding year at the ‘3A’ level.  After their success in 1989, the girls and their coach felt it would be more challenging to compete at the ‘4A’ higher level.....and just maybe, achieve their dream of being the very best high school volleyball players in Alberta.

Full Story

If know of a person or team whose achievements should be recognized please consider submitting a nomination to the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame. Read about criteria and the nomination process or get the nomination form by following this link.