Big class headed to Manitoba hockey hall

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/10/2024 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A large class of inductees will be honoured by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame on Oct. 5 at Canad Inns Polo Park. The group include five players, three builders, one official, one member of the media and one team. In addition, one team in the dynasty category and one individual in the grassroots category will be recognized, along with two veterans.

The players include four with NHL experience. Here in Manitoba, Duvie Westcott played for St. Paul’s High School and the Winnipeg South Blues. Transcona product Russ Romaniuk was MJHL rookie-of-the-year with St. Boniface Saints before joining the University of North Dakota. He played pro with both the Jets and the Manitoba Moose. Neepawa’s Shane Hnidy played briefly for his hometown Natives of the MJHL before moving to the Swift Current Broncos of the Western League at age 15. The late Brad Maxwell played in his hometown of Brandon before moving to the Western League where he won a Memorial Cup with the New Westminster Bruins.

The fifth player is Laurie Langrell, who played minor hockey in his hometown of Warren. In 1959, he was the leading scorer when the Winnipeg Braves won our province’s last Memorial Cup. After several seasons of minor pro, Langrell played intermediate and senior in Warren, Selkirk and Morden. He was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball HOF in 2021.

Two of the builder inductees have connections to the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League. Jack McKenzie from River Heights was a leader in the formation of the league and served as president for six seasons. Under the leadership of Wayne Deschouwer, the Charleswood Hawks won 13 MMJHL titles. The Mariapolis product also served as president of the Tiger Hills Senior League for 23 years. The 50-year resume of Flin Flon’s Harvey Bolton is highlighted by referee-in-chief roles for Hockey Manitoba as well as the Norman Region. In 2003, he was named Hockey Manitoba’s outstanding volunteer.

Paul Krestanowich’s 21 years with a whistle included time in the Western, International and American leagues along with Team Canada games. CJOB sports director Kelly Moore first joined the radio station in 1995 and spent 10 years as the play-by-play voice of the Manitoba Moose. After time back in Kamloops, where he earlier had worked for 18 years, Moore returned to ’OB in 2011 to co-ordinate its hockey coverage.

The Southeast Prairie Thunder won the Canadian senior AAA championship and the Allan Cup in 2012. The dynasty team is the 1986-92 Cartwright Clippers, who won six Southwest Hockey League titles during the period.

The veteran inductees are Gretna-born Hal Winkler and Winnipeg’s Ed Reigle. Winkler played goal in Manitoba senior hockey before turning pro in the Western Canada League. In 1923, he played in the Stanley Cup final with the Edmonton Eskimos and in 1927 with the Boston Bruins. After his playing career that saw him briefly in the NHL, Reigle served as the director of the Ice Hockey Association of Sweden. He later coached in Switzerland and for West Germany in the 1968 Winter Olympics.

Laurent Kerbrat, known as “the hockey man,” in St. Laurent, is the Hall’s first grassroots honouree. He spent 35 years making ice in the community as well as sharpening skates, refereeing and helping ensure every kid would enjoy the game.

☐ ☐ ☐

Sports collectors shouldn’t miss a show on Oct. 6 at the Phoenix Community Club on Seeking St. in Headingley.

Exhibitors will include early members of the Red River Sports Collectors Association, all of whom say they are downsizing their collections. As an original member of the group that was formed in 1982, this columnist can say with authority that the private collectors have outstanding collections that were compiled for reasons other than profit. You can expect to find vintage collectibles from all major sports, including wax boxes, cards, pins, pennants and posters. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The $2 admission goes to charity.