Sport in Saskatchewan
The province has produced notable athletes in many sports, especially in hockey and curling, along with many Olympians, including gold and multi-medalists like Ethel Catherwood, Catriona Le May Doan, and Mark McMorris.
[2] By the early 1950s, the province was home to more than 500 affiliated curling clubs and boasted approximately 19,000 curlers, the most per capita in Canada.
Some other notable curlers from Saskatchewan include Vera Pezer, Rick Folk, Sandra Schmirler, and Ben Hebert.
Professional hockey existed in Saskatchewan on-and-off through the first half of the 20th century, ranging from the Prince Albert Mintos in 1911 to the Saskatoon Quakers in 1959.
Most notably, local promoter Bill Hunter purchased the St. Louis Blues in 1983 and tried to relocate the franchise to Saskatoon, a move that was blocked by the league.
The Prince Albert Raiders and Swift Current Broncos have each won one national title, in 1985 and 1989 respectively, while the Saskatoon Blades have made two appearances.
[9] Prominent Saskatchewan players to play in the tournament for Canada include Theoren Fleury, Ryan Getzlaf, Jordan Eberle, and Brayden Schenn.
Canada's all-time leading scorer at the tournament, Connor Bedard, played three seasons for the Regina Pats and served as team captain.
The Prince Albert Raiders have won the tournament three times, the Weyburn Red Wings twice and the Notre Dame Hounds and Humboldt Broncos once each.
[12] The province briefly hosted a women's professional team, the Saskatchewan Prairie Ice, which was based out of Lumsden.
[14] Saskatchewan also boasts two successful teams in the Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL), the Saskatoon Valkyries and the Regina Riot.
Established in 1910 as the Regina Rugby Club, the "Riders" are one of the oldest sports teams and community-owned franchises in North America.
Many recreational leagues abound around the province, and baseball, both fastball and slowpitch, are featured in many community festivals, rodeos and reunion gatherings.
In the 1950s, the community of Indian Head became the home of an all-black baseball team called the Rockets, made up of segregated Negro league players from Jacksonville, Florida.
Poor promotion and low attendance in most league cities saw the CBL abbreviate its first season at the All-Star break in July 2003.
When the WBL folded part way through the 1992 season, many of its Canadian franchises together created the National Basketball League.
The NBL would play only one full season, and the Slam won the 1993 league title, the province's first professional basketball championship.
The 2007 championship was decided on August 18, 2007, in Regina, with the Prairie Fire capturing the MacTier Cup 28–12 over the Niagara Thunder.
[31] McAdam also helped found the province's first NRL team, the Saskatoon Wild, which played for several seasons before folding.
[33] Some Saskatchewan players who have made history in soccer have been Norman Sheldon, David Greyeyes Steele, and Lorne Gray.
In March, 2021, Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation announced that Marquis Downs would no longer host thoroughbred racing and that it was in negotiations with Living Sky Sports and Entertainment to repurpose the site for a soccer-specific stadium.
The purpose of the Saskatchewan Games is to provide an opportunity for the province's developing athletes, coaches and officials to participate in a multi sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition.
The event was known as the Great Northern River Roar was an annual stop on the Champboat Series tour, and featured some of the top names in the sport such as the Seebold family.
During its time in Saskatchewan, pilots heralded the event as the Indy 500 of powerboat racing, meaning it was the most prestigious to win.
The course was also noted for being very dangerous as the pillars for the bridges coupled with the tight turns made for skilled piloting of the boats on the river.
Dr. Jack Leddy, Barbara Turnbull, Pat Fletcher, Dr. Robert D. Reid, Joanne Goulet, Thomas (Tom) Ross, Phil Lederhouse, James Joseph (Jim) Scissons, Gordon Keith Rever, and Geraldine Street.
[44] Presently Elk Ridge Resort and Waskesiu Golf Course near the Prince Albert National Park is one of the best known across Canada.
[37] Cathy Wedge, Olympic level equestrian rider, was inducted into both Saskatoon and Saskatchewan Hall of Fames.
ParticipACTION promoted a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and nutritional diet to increase health and well-being.
Peter Loubardias, currently the voice of Canadian Hockey League games on Rogers Sportsnet, was at one time the host of Sportsline on then-STV (now Global) in Saskatoon.
