1981-82 Knights of Columbus Bantam A Hockey Team
This group of boys became a great team for several reasons. The majority played together for five years under the skilled coaching of Jack Gardner and Barry Marianchuk. As 12-year-olds they made it to the Pee Wee provincial final and a year later the 13-year-olds won the Tier II Bantam B provincial title.
Under Coach Marianchuk, manager Henry Takatch and trainer Tony Blazeiko the 1981-82 season was the best for this team. They finished first in the league and competed in many major bantam tournaments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as representing Zone 4 at the Saskatchewan Winter Games and winning a bronze medal. They won the Bantam A provincial championship, gaining them a berth into the 1982 Western Canadian Bantam Championship in Kelowna BC. With a record of 46-8-1 heading into the Purolator Cup western championship they went on to win the crown with a 4-3 win over St. Boniface. The team won three individual awards at the tournament including Top Scorer and Top Forward to Brent Fedyk and Best Defenseman to Dave Mandziuk.
Several members of this team went on to play junior hockey and Brent Fedyk played in the NHL for many years. The member of this championship team were Glenn Freeman, Warren Blazeiko, Alan Migneault, Clark Protz, Brent Mireau, Grant Laube, Brent Zayshley, Robin Arndt, Toosh McBride, Rob Cumming, Clark Davies, Brent Fedyk, Dave Mandzuik, Terry Ryczak, Mark Marianchuk, Shawn Takatch, Greg McGowan, Coach Barry Marianchuk, Manager Henry Takatch, Trainer Tony Blazeiko.
Eddie Cote
Athlete: Multisport Special Olympics
Eddie Cote dedicated himself and enjoyed taking part in the Special Olympics for over 30 years. He did everything from bowling to cross country skiing where he won a gold medal at the 1993 provincial games. Eddie took part in many track and field events including the 50m, 200m, 400m, shot put, long jump and 4x4 relay.
He attended indoor track meets in Yorkton and Saskatoon, and numerous provincial and national championships in Sudbury ON, Calgary and Winnipeg. He won many gold, silver, and bronze medals over the years in track and field but one of his highlights was being named to the 1998 Saskatchewan team that went to Sudbury where Eddie won five medals including gold in the 200m.
One of Eddie's loves was floor hockey and under Dale Skibinsky's coaching Eddie matured into an excellent player and top goal scorer. He was part of the Saskatchewan all-stSar team that went to the Canadian championships in Edmonton in 1988 and was the top scorer in that tournament. Over the years Eddie won floor hockey medals at national (4 gold, 3 silver), Provincials (3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze), and Zone 4 (1 gold, 2 silver). He was the first Special Olympian to be inducted into a Sports Hall of Fame in Saskatchewan or Canada.
David Rodney
Athlete: Mountain Climbing
At 9:40 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 1999, Dave Rodney became the first person from Saskatchewan and the 12th from Canada to successfully climb to the summit of Mt. Everest and back. David lived in Yorkton for 16 years and was very active in all sports at the elementary and high school levels. He received his BA and BEd in Saskatchewan and went on to a teaching career in Calgary. It was here that his climbing career took off.
He started climbing mountains in the Banff area and frozen vertical waterfalls at Lake Louise, a skill that helped him at the Khumbu ice fall on Mt. Everest. He summitted Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina which is the highest mountain in South America and the southern and western hemispheres.
Dave's climbs have been successful because of his endless hours spent in his physical and mental preparations. Since "his climb", Dave has spoken all across Canada bringing his Everest experience to thousands.
Richard (Rick) Dawson
Athlete, Builder: Motorcross, Motorcycle
As a youngster growing up in Saskatchewan Rick was fascinated by dirtbikes and when he was 16 his parents got him his first one. By the next year, 1977, Rick entered his first race in Regina. He liked everything about the sport: the speed, the sounds, the colors and the rush he got from competing. From 1979-1985 he held motorcross (dirt bike) provincial titles at various levels including junior, senior and expert classes.
In 1993 Rick started to compete in professional motorcycle drag racing. After lots of bangs, bruises and breaks, by 1996 Rick was the number 1 pro stock racer in Canada and the American Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) western USA number 1 pro stock champion. He retained his Canadian pro stock racing title in 1997. He was also voted Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (CMDRA) Sportsman of the Year and held the record for the highest point total in Canada of all classes, setting and resetting records throughout the year.
In 1999 he regained his Canadian Pro Stock Class Championship title and set a new Canadian track record of 8.25 sec/155 mph for the quarter mile. In September 2000 at Mission BC Rick won his 4th and last Canadian pro stock racing title. His personal best time is 8.17 seconds on a quarter mile track at just under 160 mph.
Barry Marianchuk
Athlete: Hockey
Barry has been a fixture at the rink for many years. As early as 1971 he was captain of his Bantam team and in 1972 as a 16-year-old Barry began his five-year career with the Yorkton Terriers. In 1975-76 he won the top scorer trophy (44 goals, 38 assists) and was team captain. In 1976-77 Barry scored 46 goals for 241 career goals setting a Terrier record which held until 1982. In 1977 Barry was honored with a Barry Marianchuk appreciation night for his five years of dedication to the Terrier club and his excellence on and off the ice. He scored five goals that night before a crosscheck sent him to the hospital with a concussion. In 1987 his #19 sweater was retired at the first Terrier alumni game.
Barry has also had an impressive fastball career playing with the lnsinger Cardinals who were the league champs from 1970-74. He was the batting champion 1972-74 and MVP 1973-74. He cofounded the Theodore Chiefs in 1975-76 and was their batting champion in 1976 and MVP 1975-76. In 1977 he played in the Yorkton Commercial Fastball League and was Rookie-of-the-Year and played in the All-Star game.
Barry has been involved as a builder of hockey in Yorkton since 1980 when he coached his team of 13-year-olds to a Bantam provincial championship. In 1981-82 this team again won the provincial championship, a bronze medal at the Saskatchewan Winter Games and the Western Canadian Championship at Kelowna BC. In 1982-83 he coached the Midget team to another provincial title. In March 2000 he was awarded the 3M Canadian Coaching Recognition Award for outstanding commitment and contribution to the coaching of amateur hockey in Canada.
