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1981 Provincial Juvenile Champions
1981 National Bronze Medalists
The Wetaskiwin
Avalanche Juvenile Men’s Volleyball Team, a group of
Wetaskiwin 16, 17 and 18 year olds, was successful in
winning the 1981 Juvenile Provincial Volleyball
Championships and the Bronze Medal at the National Juvenile
Volleyball Championships. They became the first team from
Wetaskiwin in any sport to win a medal at a National
Championship. The team’s amazing achievements certainly
qualify the Juvenile Avalanche for induction into the
Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.
(Click to view Team Photo with Names)
The Wetaskiwin
Avalanche had been in operation as a Juvenile Men’s Club
since 1977. Wetaskiwin Composite High School Coach Larry
Ethier formed this club so that his high school players
could extend their season from September to May instead of
from September to December. They could then enter the
Juvenile Men’s Provincials and perhaps qualify for a spot in
the National Championships. Larry also became involved with
the activities of the Alberta Volleyball Association which
helped to increase the number of his contacts and his
knowledge of the sport. The first season he guided his team
to the 1978 National Championships in Fredricton, NB before
making another trip eastward with his school squad in 1979,
this time to Quebec City. After missing 1980 Provincials in
a rebuilding year, the 1981 squad was ready. After winning
the 3A Provincial High School Volleyball Championship, eight
members of the 1981-81 Sabres Volleyball team continued on
with the Wetaskiwin Avalanche Club. Two members of the 10
member Avalanche team were Edmonton players recruited by
Coach Ethier.
Young
Avalanche Squad Lures
International Volleyball to Wetaskiwin
In 1981the
Avalanche Club did not compete in a league and had not
competed in many tournaments but had been practicing and
playing exhibition matches against University, College and
Senior Men’s A teams. When a Senior Men’s 1st Division club
from Germany was touring to play volleyball through Western
Canada the Avalanche team asked to be a part of the tour.
The German club were not sure if the Avalanche would be
competitive enough. The Avalanche were respected in Alberta
and the University of Alberta Golden Bears Volleyball team
(National Champions that year) agreed to play the Avalanche
while the coaching staff of Germany’s team watched.
Impressed by the play of the Avalanche, the German team
agreed to play the Avalanche thereby bringing international
volleyball to Wetaskiwin. The Avalanche team solicited
sponsorship in advertising in a game program as a means of
hosting the team to a dinner afterwards as well as gaining
sponsorship for the team should they qualify to go to
Newfoundland for the National Championship. The match was
won by the older, more experienced German team 3-1 with
scores of 13-15, 15-12, 5-15 and 11-15. It was a
respectable showing for the young Avalanche squad. The
international match took place in between the Provincial
playoff tournaments so it was good preparation for the
Wetaskiwin team.
"Winner Takes All" Team Going to
Nationals
The 1981
qualifying play for the Provincial Championship consisted of
three tournaments with different weighting factors. The
first tournament was played in Calgary. The Avalanche went
undefeated in six matches, losing only one game during the
day. After the first tournament, Wetaskiwin was in first
place. The second tournament was held in Edmonton and
Wetaskiwin ended up second in that tournament behind
Calgary. The third tournament was held in Wetaskiwin at the
high school and Centennial Elementary. Going into the
finals Wetaskiwin had 98 points and Calgary had 95 points so
it was “winner take all”. Wetaskiwin won the tournament and
the right to represent Alberta at the National Championships
in St John’s Newfoundland.
In preparation
for their trip to Newfoundland Coach Ethier had his players
up jogging every morning at 5 AM in an effort to become used
to the time difference. To hopefully win a medal, Coach E
implemented a new offence and kept the skill level of his
players tuned up. As well, he tried to develop a strong
team attitude.
Twenty-four
teams comprised of 275 athletes converged on the city of St
John’s for the National Tournament, to that time one of the
biggest events in the city’s sporting history. Once
Wetaskiwin won the Provincials, plans were already in place
for the team to be billeted with relatives of one player and
in four other households . Each night during their stay in
St John’s they dined in different homes enjoying the great
hospitality of Newfoundland.
Undefeated Streak Leads to Bronze
In round-robin
play in the National Championships the Wetaskiwin Avalanche
went undefeated and ended up in first place in their pool by
winning against British Columbia 16-14, 15-11, Quebec
16-14-15-7, Newfoundland 15-2, 15-4, Ontario 17-15, 15-11
and Saskatchewan 16-14, 15-7. Due to their first place
finish, the club received a bye into the semi-final where
they met and lost to the eventual tournament champions,
Quebec, by scores of 15-13 and 15-11. A quote in the
Wetaskiwin Times from Ethier stated: “If we played Quebec in
10 matches, I’d have to say each team would win five”
indicating how competitive the Avalanche were. With a few
breaks going their way they could have won gold. The Quebec
loss dropped the Avalanche into play for the bronze medal
against the Manitoba Wesman. The locals won the first game
15-10, lost the second 15-3 before coming back to win the
third game and the bronze medal 15-9. They lost one match in
the tournament and won the bronze medal, an incredible feat
for the Avalanche. “It was an amazing year” said Coach E
in the same Times article.
The club was
supported by the Legion and other Wetaskiwin service clubs
as well as the business and residential community. The
Wetaskiwin Avalanche Branch #86 became established as one of
the most intense areas for Volleyball in Alberta, a
testament to their coach and the athletic ability and
dedication of the team members.
Still Most Decorated Volleyball Team
in More than Forty Years
The 1981
Wetaskiwin Juvenile Men’s Avalanche Volleyball Club remain
the most decorated Volleyball Team in Wetaskiwin’s history.
Coming from our small community and winning a medal on the
National stage is something the team and our community will
always treasure. Congratulations to all of the team members
and especially to their Coach Larry Ethier. Larry was
inducted into the Wetaskiwin & County Sports Hall of Fame in
2016 as a Builder for all of his efforts with young people
in our community. His untimely passing away in 2017
saddened all of us, especially his former students and
athletes he coached.
The 1981
Juveniles are a credit to their sport and our community and
super role models for the young people of Wetaskiwin and
County. Their induction into the Wetaskiwin & County Sports
Hall of Fame is well deserved!
Team Members
include: Brian Licis, Middle Blocker; Ken Klause, Middle
Blocker, Harold Mohler, Setter; Pat McFeely, Setter; Clayton
Bodnarek, Power Hitter; Murray Knudsen, setter; Wade Beacon,
Middle Blocker; Bill Verbeek, Middle Blocker; Greg Kirwer,
Power Hitter; Trevor Norton, Middle Blocker; Larry Ethier,
Coach; and Bruce Grant, Manager
Read the presentation speech by
Kristi Paukstat
Read the Teams Acceptance Speech - Trevor Norton |
