Art Strueby, who was the first ever team president of the Barons/North Stars franchise, pictured here at the golf course at the North Stars 50th Anniversary Weekend. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Where it all began

North Stars’ founder, Strueby reflects on 50 years

Jun 27, 2023 | 2:59 PM

The Battlefords North Stars recently held their 50^th Anniversary Weekend June 23-24 to celebrate the first five decades of franchise history.

Among the more than 400 people who came out, was a special guest: the man who made it all possible, Art Strueby.

Strueby was the first-ever team president, spearheading the community’s effort – along with the backing of the board – to establish the first Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League franchise in the Battlefords community.

Dubbed at the time, the “Battlefords Barons,” the initial team monicker would stick with the club for its first 10 years of existence from 1973-74 to ’82-83, before being changed to the “North Battleford North Stars” from 83-84 to ’99-00, at which point the “Battlefords North Stars” title was established.

Strueby, who was enjoying the weather, walking outside the clubhouse with his son Terry Strueby, who played goal for the Barons for two of the team’s earliest seasons from 1974-76, talked of how the team first came about, those five decades ago.

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R-L: Art and Terry Strueby, pictured here at North Battleford Golf and Country Club for the Stars’ 50th Anniversary Weekend. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Coming over from Prince Albert originally, Strueby coached North Battleford’s St. Thomas College team to the Junior B provincial championship in back-to-back years in 1972 and 1973.

The success led to many in the community calling to advance to the Junior A ranks of competition, with Strueby the man for the job.

“Being that I helped start the Raiders in P.A., they said you’ll be in charge,” Strueby recalled with a laugh. “So I went and found 10 guys with $1,000 and I went and bought the franchise for $6,000 in 1973.”

Upon buying the team, Strueby and the early investors then gave it to the city of North Battleford to be community-owned, remaining on as team president.

As can be expected from an expansion team, the Barons struggled in their first season, competing in the 12-team SJHL, finishing sixth in the Northern Division with a 10-40-0 record in 50 games, though still ahead of Regina’s Silver Foxes in the overall standings.

“We didn’t have the worst team in the league, I think Regina had a team that never won a game hardly, he recalled with a laugh, when asked what sticks out about the earliest days of the club.

“But we had good crowds here always,” Strueby added. “People came out whether we were winning or losing and covered all the expenses.”

The franchise’s fortunes began to shift quickly with the addition of new head coach George Dorman in their second season of 1974-75.

While only behind the bench for a single year with the team, Dorman led the Barons to a 43-point jump in the league standings (from 20 points to 63), to finish third in the Northern Division and sixth of the then 13 teams in the league, with a 31-26-1 record.

Over the years, as the team transitioned to the “North Stars” and new management came along, Strueby has remained in the community and continued to follow the team closely. He is still as a season-ticket holder with the club, with his seats in the same spot as that first season 50 years ago, just behind the players’ bench.

He said the weekend’s 50^th Anniversary gave him a chance to reconnect with some familiar faces from those earliest days of the team.

“I haven’t seen some of those guys for 20, or 50 years I guess, so that’s the nice part about meeting some of the old guys again,” he said. “It’s quite something to get together 50 years later.”

As he looks back on the first half-century of Junior Hockey in the Battlefords, Strueby said what stands out most is the joy the team has brought to so many.

“Our team was always a good community team and [on the ice] this is the best the team has ever done, without a doubt,” he said.

“It’s just been a very exciting life being with the hockey team.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1