A Fort McMurray sports retrospective

Written by Curtis J. Phillips
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 10:17

Last week we looked at some of the top local sporting events during my first 10 years on the beat, from 1982 to1992. This week we hop back in the time tunnel for 1993-2002.

1993

•A big year for local kids entering the world of pro sports, as Hartford Whalers draft Nolan Pratt in the NHL entry draft 115th overall. Pratt goes on to win two Stanley Cups (Colorado Avalanche, 2000-2001 and Tampa Bay Lightning, 2003-2004).

•City council declares June 9 “Joey Young Day” in honour of Joey Young as he becomes the highest Canadian player at the time to be drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays with a third round selection 93rd overall.

•A true champion, Oil Barons’ Bobby Stewart is named AJHL Rookie of the Year. Way to go Bobby.

1994

•A Fort McMurray team wins the Midget AA provincial hockey championships. Many of these kids will go on to become present-day community leaders.

•The National Jet Ski Race is hosted by the Fort McMurray Jet Sports Boating Association. Mike Klippenstein’s in charge. Have lost count how many world championships he has won to date.

•Brian Shantz wins his first of back-to-back scoring titles in the Central Hockey League and is named league MVP the following year.

1995

•Hockey’s Chris Phillips and badminton’s Sonny Lee both receive medals at the Canada Winter Games held in Grande Prairie.

•Fort McMurray Peewee Barons win the International Division at the Quebec International Peewee Hockey Tournament. Still a feather in the cap of local MLA Guy Boutilier as one of the coaches.

•Beacon Hill Arena is renamed the Frank Lacroix Minor Hockey Arena in honor of Frank Lacroix, a great man who dedicated countless hours to the betterment of youth within the community. (We miss you Frank.) Oil Baron’s A.J. Aitken is named AJHL MVP.

•We host the Canadian Triathlon Championships. More than 6oo athletes make the trip north.

1996

•Chris Phillips strikes gold as part of Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. He is also named Western Hockey League Player of the Year, playing for the Prince Albert Raiders.

•Bowman’s Tae Kwon Do Club is represented by 13 members at a national tournament in Edmonton.

The Sandy Bowman crew brings home nine gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

•Spruce Valley Ski Hill renamed to Vista Ridge Ski Hill.

•Chris Phillips is selected first in the NHL draft by the Ottawa Senators. He just recently (2012) played his 1,000th game with the Senators.

•June 28 is declared “Chris Phillips Day” in the city.

1997

•Little League Baseball Park, adjacent to the YMCA of Wood Buffalo, is renamed Ron Morgan Little League Baseball Park.

It honours Ron Morgan, the longest serving  councillor of the new town of Fort McMurray, the City of Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and a great athlete and promoter of local sports.

•Oil Barons win the 1996-1997 AJHL championship.

The best is yet to come!

1998

•The Apollo World Curling Championships are held at MacDonald Island from March 25-29.

•Swimmer Mark Versfeld competes in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. He wins two gold medals, breaking Commonwealth records. He is also part of Canada’s bronze medal medley relay.

•The skate board/in-line skate facility at Borealis Park is named “Casselman-Lush Memorial Skate Park” in memory of John Casselman and Michael Lush.

•Tiffany Booth, a member of local soccer ranks is selected for the Canada’s Women’s National Team program.

1999

•Bobby Stewart, team captain of the Maine Black Bears hockey team, wins a National Collegiate Athletic Association championship.

2000

•The Alberta Francophone Games are held in Fort McMurray from May 19-22.

•Canadian Big League Baseball Championship is held in Fort McMurray. Batter up.

•The Fort McMurray Oil Barons host and win the Royal Bank Cup, symbolic of Junior hockey supremacy in Canada. They also set an AJHL record with 52 regular season wins. Like many, tears of joy stream down my face when the boys celebrate at centre ice.

2001

•The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Provincial Hockey Tournament is held in Fort McMurray.

•Scottie Upshall is named Canadian Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year playing for the Kamloops Blazers.

Catch you on the rebound.