Sask Hockey Hall of Fame induction dinner sees locals recognized

YORKTON – The Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame held their induction dinner in Yorkton on Friday night.

The induction saw several local and provincial individuals honoured, as well as two local teams.

"This is the first time it has ever been in Yorkton," said Chad Holinaty, organizer of the event, adding, "this is the twelfth annual hall of fame dinner."

Holinaty said the event was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, but had to be paused due to the nature of the global pandemic.

"We're really excited to have a good representative group of the Mallers, and of the Terriers and their staff that are coming in here tonight – so awesome to have those team reps as well as all of the other players, grass roots, and builder inductee categories," said Hollinaty.

The 1992-93 Mallers were among the two teams inducted into the SHHF, as well as their head coach, Allan 'Al' Harrison' and the team's manager Wayne Henley, who were inducted posthumously.

The Mallers would go on to win the Air Canada Cup in 93, besting Ste-Foy Gouverneurs in the finals of the tournament.

The 2013-2014 Terriers were also honoured with an induction for their winning season which ended when they beat the Carleton Place Canadians to win the Royal Bank Cup.

Among the individuals honoured with inductions into the player category were former NHL players, Kelly Buchburger, originally from Langenburg, Clifford "Cliff" Koroll originally from Canora and Nicholas "Nick" Schultz, originally from Strasbourg.

A posthumous induction was honoured to Mandi Schwartz.

Schwartz played for the Notre Dame Hounds and graduated from the school in 2006.  She then went on to continue her hockey career at Yale University, according to the induction dinner's program.  

"At the start of her Junior season, Schwartz extended her consecutive games steak, playing 11 games (73 total) before facing a sudden illness. In December 2008, Schwartz had a tough road ahead when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia," read the program, adding, "after receiving treatment and the news that her cancer had gone into remission, Schwartz would later learn that the cancer returned in December 2010. On April 3, 2011, Schwartz tragically passed away in a Regina hospital after being admitted the day preceding."

Mandi's mother, Carol Schwartz, was in attendance to accept the induction.  

In the builder category, Gerald 'Gerry' James was inducted for

"James was a duel-sport athlete, playing competitively in both hockey and football. At age 16, James was playing for the Winnipeg Monarchs Junior hockey team and a year later would become the youngest Canadian Football League (CFL) player to ever play," read the program.

"In 1951, James would move to Toronto to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs' Junior affiliate, the Toronto Marlboros. With the Marlboros, James would win the 1955 Memorial Cup – only a few months after winning his first of two CFL Most Outstanding Canadian awards. A few days after the Memorial Cup win, James made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During James' career, he would appear in 149 NHL games, scoring 14 goals and adding 26 assists along with 257 penalty minutes," read the program.