Two local products announced as 2015 Inductess into Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame has announced the seven (7) inductees who will become the newest members to be enshrined as part of the Class of 2015. The inductees, including three in the athlete category, two in the category of builder and two in the team category will be officially inducted at the 49th Annual Induction Ceremony to be held at the Conexus Arts Centre on Saturday, June 13, 2015.

The 2015 inductees are:

IN THE ATHLETE CATEGORY:

Cliff Koroll (Canora) – Hockey

Milos Kostic (Milanovac, Serbia) – Triathlon

Jason Parker (Yorkton) – Speed Skating

IN THE BUILDER CATEGORY:

Sharon Tkachuk (Prince Albert) – Athletics

Richard “Dick” White (Regina) – Multi Sport

IN THE TEAM CATEGORY:

1985 Moose Jaw Generals AA Senior Men’s Hockey Team – Hardy Cup Champions

2009 Eugene Hritzuk Senior Men’s Curling Team – 2009 World Senior Men’s Curling Champions

“2015 has been declared “The Year of Sport in Canada” by the Right Honourable, David Johnson, Governor General of Canada,” said Linda Burnham, Chair of the Induction Celebrations. “The declaration from the Governor General celebrates the role that sport plays in our Canadian identity and its vital connection to the cultural fabric of our nation.   Here at the Saskatchewan Sport Hall of Fame we certainly echo that sentiment which is truly embodied in our Class of 2015.  We look forward to enshrining them during our Induction celebrations in June.  Their accomplishments will also be featured in our Dedication to Sport exhibit as we share with the people of Saskatchewan the great sport history of our province."

Tickets to the 49th Annual Induction Dinner & Ceremony are $100/person and are available directly from the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

Jason Parker
Born: Yorkton, SK
Athlete:  Speed Skating

Was involved in the sport of Speed Skating for over 20 years and spent 12 of those on the National Team

During the course of his career Jason competed in 75 World Cups and 10 World Championships - over 130 International races on both Sprint and All-Round Teams

• 49 times he was in the top 10
• 99 times he was in the top 20

From 1987-1993 was Saskatchewan Athlete of the Month 8 times

1998 & 1999 World Cup Bronze Medalist

1998 World Championship Bronze Medalist

1998-99 Established Provincial Records in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m races

From 1998-2002 Canadian record holder in the 1500m

Olympic Games participation:

• 1998 in Nagano, Japan
• 2002 in Salt Lake City, UT
• 2006 in Torino, Italy

Silver Medalist, 2006 Olympic Long Track Team Pursuit, Torino, Italy

1996 won the Roland Michener Canada Games Award for his leadership skills and ongoing commitment to scholastic and athletic excellence

1997 & 1999 was Saskatchewan Male Athlete of the Year

2005 Recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal from the Lieutenant Governor

2006 Inducted into the Canadian Speed Skating Hall of Fame

2006 Inducted into the Olympian Athletes Association

2007 Inducted into the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame

I had chance to catch up with Parker below:

 

Cliff Koroll

Born:  Canora, SK

Athlete:  Hockey

• 1961/62 Saskatoon Wesleys won the Midget “A” Provincials
• 1963/64 Saskatoon Wesleys were the Juvenile “A” Provincial Champions
• 1964 Bedford Road High School Athlete of the year
• 1967/68 University of Denver hockey team NCAA National Champions. Cliff was the team Captain
• 1967/68 Cliff was a NCAA All American candidate
• 1968 awarded a pro tryout with the Minnesota Twins and was offered a contract.  
• 1968/69 joined the Dallas Blackhawks of the Central Hockey League (CHL).  He only played one year before joining the ranks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
• 1969-1980 Cliff played for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. 
• After his playing career, Cliff remained with the Blackhawks as an assistant coach for 7 years and 2 years as the Public Relations Director; a total of 21 years with the team!
• 1971 & 1973 Chicago Blackhawks were Stanley Cup Finalists
• Cliff holds the following distinctions with the Chicago Blackhawks:
• 20^th All Time Blackhawk scorer
• 11^th in games played
• 3^rd in game winning goals
• 1986 instrumental in establishing the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association along with his good friend Keith Magnusson.  Currently serves as President of the Association.
• Inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Denver Hall of Fame, and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois Hall of Fame.