Plaque recipients: Cindy Tymoruski, Battleford Community Youth Club (BGYC), Sunrise Millers team, Gregg Sheppard, Wade Belak and Johnny Ballendine Jr. (KennethCheung/battlefordsNOW)

By Alyssa Rudolph

local legacy

Battleford inducts first Wall of Fame honourees

Nov 21, 2025 | 5:28 PM

Wade Belak was a fearless hockey player who grew up in the Battlefords and became an enforcer in the NHL.

Cindy Tymoruski coached youth figure skating athletes for over 45 years in the Battlefords area and has taken them to national levels.

In addition to both spending most of their time on the ice, Belak and Tymoruski now have something else in common: being among the first inductees into the Battleford Wall of Fame inside the local rink

On Thursday, six plaque recipients were inducted by the town. The wall is made up of three categories: builder, team and athlete, and the goal is to add six more entries each year.

Guests enjoying the Wall of Fame ceremony at Alex Dillabough Centre. (KennethCheung/battlefordsNOW)

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Belak, who passed away in 2011, was inducted into the athlete category. He moved to Battleford when he was six years old and joined the Battleford Community Youth Club (BGYC) a year later. He played all his minor hockey in the Battlefords, including two years with the AAA North Stars.

Barry Belak, Wade’s stepfather, said his son’s induction brought back many memories.

Barry Belak with his sons plaque. (KennethCheung/battlefordsNOW)

“Memories starting with him when he just started skating and going up the ladder to where he made professional [teams],” said Belak.

The hockey player made many teams in the NHL, including Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators. Belak said he hopes young players in the community look up to his son’ work ethic.

“Wade had a very, very strong work ethic, and that’s how he got onto WHL teams, He got into the NHL. He was tough; he was a tough competitor. And that’s all his mama and I preached is that you work hard, maybe you’ll get there and he did,” he said.

Tymoruski was inducted into the builder category and said this recognition meant a lot to her.

Cindy Tymoruski posing with her plaque. (KennethCheung/battlefordNOW)

“It’s heartwarming. It’s very, very special and to be one of the first inductees after being part of BCYC as well as the Battlefords is pretty special,” she said.

The figure skating coach played a huge role in young athletes’ lives. She coached figure skating on a district level for winter games, and both provincial and national competitions.

“Thank you to all the people, the youth and the parents and the volunteers, because they’re the ones who put out all their time, finances and energy to make sure that their children get good coaching and good sport experience,” said Tymoruski.

MLA for the Battlefords, Jeremy Cockrill said the Wall of Fame will help to inspire younger generations.

“I think excellence breeds excellence. You think about young hockey players looking up at guys like Gregg Shepard or Wade Belak, guys who played in the NHL. Not everybody’s going to play in the NHL, of course, but seeing that you can grow up in the Battlefields, you can play your minor hockey here, and then you can reach the highest levels of your sport,” said Cockrill.

Other plaque recipients included Battleford Community Youth Club (BCYB) in the Builder category; 1934-1935 Sunrise Millers hockey team in the Team category; and, Johnny Ballendine Jr. and Gregg Shepard as Athletes.

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