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
Patrick
Hardy - Football
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, and for over 50 games with
the Dinos Patrick was a starting player playing halfback and
corner. Now an avid golfer golfing to a single-digit
handicap and still plays hockey with the Usona Oilers.
Kelly Kisio was a dominant NHL player and an
inspiration to his team mates. Called "a coach's
hockey player" - heart, desire, coachable, desire, quick
shot and great hockey sense, he distinguished himself from
an early age. WHL Rookie of Year, New York Ranger's Fan
Favourite, captain, and averaged 70 points a season. In
San Hose,
voted by the media as “Sharks
Player of the Year”,
assistant captain and led
team
in scoring. More recently as GM of Calgary Hitmen
awarded the Lloyd Saunders
Memorial Trophy give to theWHL’s Top Executive and led
team to several division and league victories.
Jim moved to Wetaskiwin in 1982 and at the time of his
induction was 89 years of age and still going strong.
An
extraordinary fundraiser and a driving force in
establishing many successful projects, including the Hall of
Fame. Before
living in Wetaskiwin Jim was involved with the Saskatoon Elk’s
Hockey Club, the Humboldt Indians Junior Hockey Club, the
New Westminster Royals Hockey Club, the
Vancouver
Minor Lacrosse Association, the New Westminster O’Keefe
Lacrosse
Club, the Edmonton Oil Kings Hockey Club and the Edmonton
Oilers Hockey Team.
Bruce spent countless hours as
a coach and organizer in the minor sports of hockey and
fastball. Significantly, twenty-three of the young men
that Bruce coached in minor hockey went on to play at a
higher level, either junior, college or in the NHL.
Many men can attest to the positive influence
that
Bruce had on them
as teenagers when Bruce was their coach in either hockey or
fastball during the 1970’s and
1980’s. That is a fine legacy and only one of
the reasons he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Brian Brown's contribution to sports, particularly fastball
and hockey can be highlighted by several notable awards -
Winner of Winter Olympic Coach Award, Alberta Amateur
Softball Associations Award of Merit, Honorary Ironman
Award. Add his accolades as coach of several Gold
Medal Championship teams and the recognition from his peers
for being chauffer,
grounds keeper, co-coordinator,
referee, umpire, organizer and the ultimate fan and you get
but a brief description
of a man dedicated to helping build sporting programs in
this community.
The team started practicing
in February in the Wetaskiwin Drill Hall. Batting
practice consisted of trying to hit a ball on a string swung
from a hockey stick. The coach poked holes in the
tennis balls so coming out of the pitching machine they'd
curve or drop - making this team dominate the Men's League
completely. They had it all: good pitching, strong
batting
and fast base running.
