Starting with the most recent inductees this page highlights the accomplishments of athletes who have been honoured with induction into the Wetaskiwn and County Sports Hall of Fame. From here
you can access the full story and photographs of any inductee.
These Athletes competed in different sporting arenas, but the
elements of their success are the same: determination, innovation, commitment,
loyalty, teamwork, a
positive attitude, skill, the desire to achieve and old fashioned hard work. Their
legacy is not just a record
of athletic accomplishments, but their ability to lift those
around them to a higher level.
Tarin Podloski’s induction recognizes one of the most decorated careers in Canadian university hockey. A product of the Wetaskiwin Minor Hockey Program, Podloski rose through the ranks to play for the Edmonton Chimos and U18 Team Alberta. Her five-year tenure with the University of Alberta Pandas was historic, featuring four conference titles, three national championships, and CIS Player of the Year honours. As the Canada West all-time leader in assists and a multi-year international gold medalist with Team Canada, her jersey now resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
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Fritz Kirstein was known for his golfing and curling prowess, plus he was an avid sportsman. He competed in an era none of us can imagine when there were sand greens and natural ice. Fritz was one of the early members and shareholders of the Wetaskiwin Golf Club and served on the board in the 1920’s. His popularity, wins and sterling golf play was influential in "putting the Wetaskiwin Golf Club on the regional map in the 1920’s" He was community minded - volunteer coach of the first Wetaskiwin Colonels Hockey Team, played in the Wetaskiwin band and when needed a chef at social funtions.
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Wayne, as a teenager, was
alway tinkering with engines and cars. This lead to motor sport competitions and several notable achievements. Now, 65 years later, at the age of 80 he is still an active participant in motorsports - drag racing and tractor pull. Led by Wayne his team is a leader in the tractor pulling community, and he has a track named in his honour. What makes
Wayne special is that throughout his time drag
racing in Canada and the US. he and his team kept Wetaskiwin front and centre, bringing widespread positive attention to our community.
Fritz Kirstein was known for his golfing and curling prowess, plus he was an avid sportsman. He ompeted in an era none of us can imagine when there were sand greens and natural ice. Fritz was one of the early members and shareholders of the Wetaskiwin Golf Club and served on the board in the 1920’s. His popularity, wins and sterling golf play was influential in "putting the Wetaskiwin Golf Club on the regional map in the 1920’s" He was community minded - volunteer coach of the first Wetaskiwin Colonels Hockey Team, played in the Wetaskiwin band and when needed a chef at social funtions.
Full Story
Wayne, as a teenager, was
alway tinkering with engines and cars. This lead to motor sport competitions and several notable achievements. Now, 65 years later, at the age of 80 he is still an active participant in motorsports - drag racing and tractor pull. Led by Wayne his team is a leader in the tractor pulling community, and he has a track named in his honour. What makes
Wayne special is that throughout his time drag
racing in Canada and the US. he and his team kept Wetaskiwin front and centre, bringing widespread positive attention to our community.
Carson Duggan excelled in several sports, but her true passion was hockey which garnered her a four-year scholarship at St. Lawrence University, conference rookie of the year honours and several titles: all-time leading goal scorer, female athlete of the year, and women's hockey MVP. During this time, Carson achieved a place on the All Academic Team for ECAC, a consortium of 300 schools. She went on to a multi-level career that would take her to the professional women's hockey ranks, an outstanding coaching career and two master's degrees.
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From learning to skate at age two and his experience in the Wetaskiwin hockey program Allen York decided he like being a goalie. At age seventeen he had a 2.16 goals against average and a .906 save percentage and won the AJHL Top Team Goaltenders award. Allan was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL and played professionally for six years in the NHL, AHL and ECHL. He helped his teams win several championships and earned All-Star recognition and Best Goalie awards for himself. One of the highlights of Allen's hockey career was playing in the 2013 Spengler cup for Team Canada.
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Jack Manson, in his 93rd year, received the recognition he deserves for his amazing hockey accomplishments. He has the distinction of being the only hockey player of his era that was a member of two famous and historic Edmonton hockey teams, the Edmonton Flyers, winners of the 1948-49 Allan Cup, and the Edmonton Mercurys, winners of the 1950 World Championship. As a goalie for both teams, Jack has been inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (Flyers-2005, Mercurys-2011), the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (F-2013, M-2007) and the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame (F-2001, M-1995).
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Rod Ronteyne was a prolific scorer and in his career he won five league scoring titles, was named MVP four times and voted onto All-Star Teams and as Most Popular Player a number of times. His most outstanding personal achievement was scoring fifty goals in thirty-nine games with the Red Deer Rustlers in 1958-59. Teams that Rod played on won twenty-two League and Conference Championships, two Provincial Championships, two Interprovincial Series and a Western Canada Championship. Rod played hockey for more than five decades.
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At the age of twelve (1972) Jerry Bremner started outriding for his father's chuckwagon racing team. His career as a driver began in 1984 when he garnered top rookie driver award and began a championship career that spanned an additional thirty years on the racing circuit. Among his myriad championship wins, Jerry won a total of nineteen WPCA show wins, three North American Championships, is co-holder of a Calgary Stampede track record that can never be beaten, and has a reputation for being the best caregiver of horses on the circuit.
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An all-round exceptional athlete, Justine Bouchard distinguished herself in the sport of wrestling. In her seventeen year amateur wrestling career that started in Wetaskiwin when she was 12, Justine amassed an amazing record. Besides twenty-six provincial gold medals, Justine won sixteen National Titles. She won those championships at every level starting with the Under 16 age group and progressing to the Senior Level as well as at the Canadian University Championships (CIS).
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Charlene Brown, 1996 Alberta Female Adult Fast Pitch Player of the Year, grew up in the Falun area when Falun was known as the “Fastball Capital of Alberta” so it was almost a given that she should become involved in the sport. Charlene started playing when she was six and as she progressed through the age groups she took part in sixteen provincial championships, becoming one of the best female pitchers in Alberta, and competing at the National Championships six times.
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She started her volleyball career in grade nine on the Queen Elizabeth Junior High School team. As Natalie progressed through the high school and university volleyball programs her love for the sport grew as did her skill level. During her outstanding volleyball career Natalie won three Provincial and two Canadian Championships. She was female athlete of the year three times, was awarded All-Conference three times, tournament All-Star at the Canadian level four times, All-Canadian twice and Academic All-Canadian four times. Natalie finished her volleyball career by playing her sport professionally.
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Larry developed a passion for competitive sports and his skill level allowed him to play both hockey and baseball. It was his hockey achievements, including the Manley Memorial Trophy for the best all-round and most co-operative Juvenile player as well as his claim to fame "hat trick in twenty seconds", still a long-held competitive hockey record, that made him a popular pick for teams across Alberta and the European Ice Hockey League where he chose to play in the 60's. His passion for coaching and mentoring was a natural follow-up to his outstanding playing career.
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David Biever earned his athletic reputation as an outstanding outrider on the Northern Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit between 1982 and 2009. Sought after by the elite of the sport he became multiple winner of chuckwagon racing's most cherished championships. He amassed more than thirty individual awards on the chuckwagon circuits across Western Canada. He has four Calgary Rangeland Derby wins, four Calgary Stampede Aggregate wins and earned a spot in the Sudden Death Final of the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby eleven times. Dave also won the Ponoka Stampede three times.
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Don Siler moved to Wetaskiwin when he was twelve years old. As a youngster he was involved in hockey, fastball as well as track and field. It was not until high school that he participated in football. After graduating from the Wetaskwin High School Sabres football program, Don continued his football career and played Junior Football with the Calgary Mohawks and then University Football with the Calgary Dinos. As quarterback for the Dinos, Don led his team to their first ever Canada West Championship, their first Atlantic Bowl Championship and their first Vanier Cup Final.
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Martin Sonnenberg was born and raised in Wetaskiwin and from the time he started playing hockey when he was five years old, it was evident that Martin was going to excel. Martin played in Wetaskiwin’s minor hockey system up to the Bantam level, played Bantam and Midget Hockey in Leduc and then Junior Hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. In 1998 Martin turned professional and signed with the Pittsburg Penguins of the NHL. Martin played in the NHL and AHL for eight seasons and then played in Europe for five seasons. His accomplished 12 year professional career took him to two continents, five leagues and twelve different teams.
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Garry Dorchester was the eldest son of the legendary Tom Dorchester and grew up traveling the professional chuckwagon circuit with his parents and siblings. During his relatively short 13 year career as a chuckwagon driver from 1966 to 1979, Garry won 14 races, a Central Alberta Chuckwagon Championship, a World Chuckwagon Championship and placed inside the top 10 in the world standings nine times. Throughout his chuckwagon career, Garry competed with a sense of skill, energy, emotion, courage and commitment.
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Don Duncalfe is being inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame for being the first graduate of the Wetaskiwin High School Sabre Football program to have a professional football career. In 1958 Don played for the London Lords of the Ontario Rugby Football Union and for five seasons from 1959 - 1963, Don was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos Football Team of the CFL. Don played high school football for the undefeated 1954, 1955, 1956 Wetaskiwin High School Sabres that won three league championships and went 23 games without a loss. While still in high school Don was invited to attend the Edmonton Eskimo Rookie Tryout Camp.
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When Murray was in grade
ten (1993) he was chosen to play for the Alberta
Juvenile Volleyball Team and competed in the Western
Canadian Championships. This set the stage for
what was to become an outstanding volleyball career.
While playing with U of A Golden Bears, more than once Murray was named 1st Team All
Canadian as well as MVP of the Golden
Bear Volleyball Team. He was awarded the Wilson Trophy emblematic of the
Outstanding Male Athlete at the University of Alberta. Murray competed Internationally for Canada for eleven years,
and was captain for four. He played volleyball
professionally in Spain, France and Italy. Murray was
assistant volleyball coach for the University of Regina
Cougars in his induction year.
In Mark’s amazing career, he represented Alberta at twenty-one different National Championships. Mark has bowled more than 25 games of 400 and over and bowled one perfect game of 450. Besides competing in the Open and Master’s bowling competitions, Mark represented Alberta in ten National TV Championships and was named one of the Century of Excellence Top 100 Male Bowlers by the Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association.
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During
his ten year NHL career he played
336 games, scored 64 goals and accumulated 69
assists. He was the first, and at the time of his
induction, the only Wetaskiwin Native to win the Stanley
Cup. He distinguished himself as a legend in
hockey as key member and active volunteer in the
community where he lived and was active in both sports
and politics. Each year the
outstanding Amateur athlete in Kingston, Ontario is
awarded the
'Gus Marker Award'.
Jimmy, 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.
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At age seven it became apparent that Sheila had the ability, focus and determination to excel in figure skating. She qualified for Provincials at the age of nine and competed at the Juvenile Ladies level. Countless hours of practice enabled her to reach figure skatings’ elite level where she represented her city, province and country at national and international 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.
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Rod, an WHL All-Star, received the Best Defenseman Award for the Tigers, also setting a record of seven points in one game with that team, scoring two goals with five assists. After his solid junior career, Rod was drafted (1981) in the sixth round by the Pittsburg Penguins. A “hard nosed physical defender” 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, and Chicago. In 2010 he was invited by Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguin organization to play in the elite Winter Classic Alumni game, where he scored a goal in a 5-5 tie.
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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 the time of his induction. Dallas was a founding member of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association. Dallas 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.
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Wetaskiwin born Patrick Hardy, an around athlete is honoured for his abilities, achievements and contribution to the sport of football - an outstanding football career in high school, at the junior level and at the university level where he played for the Calgary Dinosaurs for five years. In playing more than 50 games with the Dinos Patrick was a starting player playing halfback and corner. Now an avid golfer playing to a single-digit handicap he still played hockey with the Usona Oilers at the time of his induction.
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Kelly was a dominant NHL player and an inspiration to his team mates. Called "a coach's hockey player" - heart, desire, coachable, quick shot and great hockey sense, WHL Rookie of Year, New York Ranger's Fan Favourite, captain, and an average 70 points a season. In San Hose, voted by the media as “Sharks Player of the Year”, he was assistant captain that led the team in scoring. More recently as GM of Calgary Hitmen he was awarded the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy given to the WHL’s Top Executive; he led Hitmen to several division and league victories.
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Brenda placed second in her first competition and the rest is history. Her rise to the top of her sport was spectacular. During her thirteen year career, Brenda won eight World Championships, eleven Provincial titles, six Western Canadian titles, twenty Canadian National titles, five Canadian Open Championships, one Can-Am title and one Golden Bear Invitational Championship in Moscow. Winning with left and right arms, she was runner-up thirteen times. In 182 weight classes, she garnered 120 first place finishes; 40 seconds; 10 thirds, 6 fourths, and was in top four 176 times.
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In 1936 the Detroit Red Wings purchased his rights from
the Bulldogs and Earl played for their minor-league affiliate in
Pittsburgh. Earl put in a solid season and was called up to
replace Detroit’s injured goalie in game four of the
1936-37 Stanley Cup semi-final playoffs against
Montreal. Against the New York Rangers he posted
shut-outs in game four and five and became the hero,
leading his team to a Stanley Cup victory.
"Robbie" stopped the first penalty shot ever awarded
during Stanley Cup play.
After retiring from professional hockey, Robbie continued
his involvement by coaching the Edmonton Junior Canadians.
In Brad's career of over one hundred events only four times did he not finish in the top three. In a span of four years (1985-89) Brad was undefeated in left arm competitions. He won major titles with his left and right arm in both the Stand-up and Sit Down styles of Arm Wrestling and has competed across Canada, in the United States, Mexico, Russia and South America. In 1991 Brad was a Canadian Champion in two weight classes winning the heavy weight right and left arm championships as well as the super heavy weight left arm championship - an incredible feat.
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After a year competing on
the Teacher’s bowling team in Fort Saskatchewan, Gene began to compete at higher levels. In a short
period of time he was representing the Central Zone in
the Alberta “Open” Championships, a feat that he has
accomplished for twenty-two of the last twenty-four
years.
He also holds a national record for the most consecutive
strikes, 26 in a row. Gene has made the Master Bowlers' Alberta Team and
competed in the National Championships ten of the last twenty-five years. During his years of competing Gene has amassed over
thirty 400 point games with two perfect games of 450.
Valerie started playing softball at age five, developed into an exceptional pitcher and during her playing career achieved some incredible accomplishments and garnered many deserved awards. Softball is still part of her life, as a high school coach she instils the love of her favourite sport in young people.
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At the age of eleven he rode a horse in a race in Wetaskiwin and won. He credits this win for his lifelong desire to race horses. Tom last competed as a driver at the Calgary Stampede in 1981, retiring at the age of seventy. Tom’s passion for his sport was passed on to his sons and grandsons and to his pleasure, he was able to compete with and against his sons.
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Norma trained and competed as a member of the Amateur Athletic Club of Wetaskiwin and became a track phenomenon, dominating Women's' Track and Field in Alberta between 1928 and 1931. In 1929 she became Women's Dominion of Canada Track and Field Aggregate Champion ‑ Olympic Association of Canada.
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Val is the first hockey player from Wetaskiwin to play in the National Hockey League when it only had six teams. In more than 1,400 games played in the NHL between 1959 and 1974 - that number of games is incredible in itself - he is one of the least penalized players to have ever played pro‑hockey.
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Sandy's achievements have been in several sports (basketball, golf, diving, curling) and on a variety of levels, as an athlete and coach as well as serving in several executive capacities. In 1964 she earned the U of A Bakewall Trophy as Most Outstanding Female Athlete and was inducted into the University of Alberta Hall of Fame in 2006.
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The most dominant fast‑pitch softball pitcher in Western Canada during the 1980's, Glen Jevne's world class fastball career lasted twenty-three years within which time he pitched two perfect games. His stellar pitching performance in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis captured the hearts of North America.
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Randy
played with the powerhouse Northern Lights Wheelchair Basketball Team for more than twenty years.
In that time he played in 14 NWBA Regional Championship Tournaments and
was named All‑star and MVP on 11
separate occasions.
Rod was the #1 goal tender on the Denver University Pioneers Hockey Team. Among his "brilliant performances" he made unbelievable plays in the "greatest‑ever game played in Denver University history" on January 10, 1959 versus a Soviet touring team.
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The Selection Committee reviews all nominations and selects inductees
based on the criteria and merit. Each year new nominations are
received to supplement the pre-existing nominations on file.
Nominations
for induction can be made by anyone. Deadline - October 30th.
Delve into the highlights of another Category of Induction
athlete builders builders teams special awardExplore another feature of the WCSHF
sports memorabilia champions speak