North Stars host successful Hall of Fame Induction Dinner

“I’m very pleased with the way that it all turned out,” North Stars president and chair of the host committee Troy Slwyka said. “It’s a great way to end a successful season for the Battlefords North Stars.

“The inductees are phenomenal. It was a great day to celebrate hockey in the Battlefords, let alone the province of Saskatchewan.”

Many of the nominees have ties to the Battlefords, including Smith-Bell, Tuer, Wheler, and the Wilkie Outlaws provincial championship team of 1983-84.

Smith-Bell grew up in nearby Edam and played boys hockey in the Battlefords as a kid. In 1991, she was named captain of the first-ever Saskatchewan women’s hockey team to compete at the Canada Winter Games. She would then play on the Canadian national women’s hockey team from 1994-2002, which included a spot on the 1998 Olympic team in Nagano, Japan, when women’s hockey was first played as an Olympic sport.

“It’s an emotional night for me,” Smith-Bell said. “I’m the second female to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and it’s hard to put into words right now. As a female growing up, it wasn’t something that I envisioned. You don’t envision making the Olympic team because it wasn’t a reality at the time.

“To share this honour with my family being here tonight and friends, coaches – my first coaches were here tonight to be with me. It’s pretty spectacular.”

Wheler is also a local, who began officiating hockey as a 14-year-old in Battleford before advancing through the ranks.

He is now an officiating manager with the NHL, where he helps referees apprenticing in the American Hockey League hone their skills so they can break into the NHL.

“It’s surreal,” Wheler said of being inducted. “It’s really, really humbling to be recognized because there are so many people that are instrumental in your progress…and I’m extremely honoured to be here.

“I’ve been to other events as a spectator, but with no real attachment to anybody being inducted. But to actually be here, it’s amazing because you stop and think…about the great game of hockey, and it doesn’t matter what role you play in it. It’s just amazing to be a part of it.”

Wheler’s brother Mark, who was in attendance as well, is a current NHL linesman with over 1,500 games under his belt.

Saskatchewan-raised TSN hockey analyst Darren Dreger was the master of ceremonies for the evening, who was asked by SHA general manager Kelly McClintock several months ago whether he could help out. Because of the year-round nature of NHL coverage these days, Dreger wasn’t sure if it would fit with his schedule. But in the end, the dates worked perfectly.

“Coincidentally, this week is the week that my family had identified as the week we were coming back home to visit friends and family in Langenburg, so I said, ‘Yeah, I’m in.’,” Dreger said.

“I love it. It’s a major event. You’re recognizing…a number of people, rightfully so, but it still has that small town, informal feel. There’s nothing stuffy about it. Everybody here is having a great time and enjoying it but also celebrating and recognizing the contribution of all of those who are rightfully honoured here tonight. That, to me, is why I’m here.”

The induction dinner was extremely well attended, with just a couple empty tables, and almost the entire rosters from the Border Kings and Outlaws showing up.

The 3-on-3 road hockey tournament in the afternoon was also well attended, and included a few current North Star players joining in on the fun.

“Even though my team hasn’t been winning every game, we’re still having fun,” North Battleford native Owen Lamb joked as he waited for a line change during a game. “Everyone is trying hard and we’re all just giving it everything we’ve got.

“Hopefully this brings some young kids to our games this season and maybe makes some future North Stars out of them.”

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

North Stars host successful Hall of Fame Induction Dinner

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