Come to this page for updates on events and inductee announcements from the Wood Buffalo Sport Hall of Fame!
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Below you'll find weekly announcements of the four inductees for the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame induction 2024 scheduled for October 5 2024! Congratulations to all inductees!
The Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the first-of-four inductees into the WBSHF Class of 2024 - Trish Leibel (Athlete)
Born 1977 in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Trish Leibel had a late start in her chosen sport of wrestling.
St. Gabriel School phys-ed teacher Jeff Collins saw the potential when he introduced Leible to the sport when she was a Grade 11 at Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School.
In her first year, she was the only female on a 12-wrestler roster, but only wrestled in exhibitions.
For Grade 12 she moved to Calgary to train with the University of Calgary Wrestling Club where she won the 1995 Alberta Schools Athletic Association banner in the 61 kilogram (k) class.
That same year she captured the first of three consecutive Canadian Cadet and two National Junior wrestling belts.
For post-secondary education, she attended the University of Calgary as a student/athlete for the Dinos.
From 1995 – 2000 she would wrestle to three U Sports gold in her respective weight classes. In back-to-back years her opponent in the final was Laura Jones of Brock University.
Leibel would earn another U Sports gold in 2000-2001 as an athlete/coach for the Lakehead College squad, beating Pam Wilson of the Dinos in the 77k class.
Voted “Outstanding Junior Female Wrestler” by the Alberta Wrestling Association from 1996 – 1998, Leibel also represented Canada in various international events.
A gold medal at the 1998 Pan American Wrestling Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba where she beat Unlilse Hultado of Venezuela was one of the highlights.
A bronze medal match that same year at the World Wrestling Championships held in Poznań, Poland where Leibel lost 3-1 to Nataloia Vinogradova of Russia in the 62k class.
She would represent our nation in three additional World Wrestling Championships.
Six-time World Champion and two-time Pan American gold medal winner Christine Nordhagen was a major influence in her career.
In 2000 Leibel was honoured with Outstanding Canadian Female Wrestler at the Canada Cup and in 2001 another national wrestling gold while representing Thunder Bay’s Thunderwolves Club.
For more information contact: Curtis J. Phillips WBSHF Historian/Founding Father 780-370-5675 cjphillips@shaw.ca
The Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame is please to announce the second-of-four inductees into the WBSHF Class of 2024 - Danny Lindstrom (Athlete)
Born 1960, Danny Lindstrom began training at the age of 10 and quickly made a name for himself in the amateur boxing circuit, earning a record of 76 wins and 4 losses while fighting out of the Clearwater Boxing Club.
As an amateur, Lindstrom, a Metis, won numerous titles, including three-time Canadian champion, three-time Alberta Golden Gloves champion, and three-time provincial champion. He was also ranked as high as No. 6 in the world in the light heavyweight division
Lindstrom's amateur career culminated in his selection to represent Canada at the 1983 Pan-American Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. However, he dropped out of the Olympics turning professional to support his family.
As a professional, Lindstrom held both the Canadian light heavyweight and heavyweight titles, making him the only man to achieve this feat. He fought across Canada, the United States, and Argentina, earning a record of 13 wins, 11 losses, and three draws.
One of Lindstrom's most notable fights was the "Rumble Under the Dome" against World Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion Michael Moorer in 1990. Although he lost by technical knockout in the eighth round, Lindstrom made history by being the first Indigenous person- and Albertan - to fight for a heavyweight world title. He fought this fight under the name Danny Stonewalker.
He was a trailblazer for Indigenous boxers and a source of inspiration for many young athletes
His later life was marked by challenges and setbacks.
He died in 2018 at the age of 57
Despite his passing, Lindstrom's legacy lives on through his contributions to the sport of boxing and his impact on the Indigenous community. His story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and passion.
For more information contact: Curtis J. Phillips WBSHF Historian/Founding Father 780-370-5675 cjphillips@shaw.ca
The Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame is please to announce the third-of-four inductees into the WBSHF Class of 2024 - Bobby Stewart (Athlete)
Bobby Stewart’s remarkable hockey career began in his hometown of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Born in 1974, he quickly showcased his talent during his Junior A hockey days with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, earning the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Rookie of the Year title in the 1992-1993 season. With an impressive performance of 40 goals and 47 assists in just 50 games, his skills as a left winger were evident from an early age.
Stewart took his talents to the University of Maine, where he played for the Black Bears. His collegiate career culminated in a significant achievement when the team clinched the NCAA Division I hockey championship in the 1998-1999 season, defeating the University of New Hampshire Wildcats in a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory.
Following graduation, Stewart continued to hone his skills and further established his reputation in the semi-professional hockey circuit for five years.
Notable highlights include being selected as an ECHL All-Star with the Mobile Mysticks (1999-2000) and leading the Idaho Steelheads as a West Coast Hockey League All-Star (2001-2002), where he scored a remarkable nine goals during the playoffs.
His tenure with the Fort Wayne Komets was particularly successful, culminating in a Colonial Cup championship (2002-2003). Stewart led the playoffs with 10 goals.
Stewart’s hockey journey continued in senior hockey, where he played for the Brantford Blast, achieving another milestone by winning the Allan Cup in the 2007-2008 season. That same year, he was inducted into the Brantford Sports Hall of Fame.
He also had one year of senior hockey with the Dundas Real McCoys.
He finished his career with 330 goals and 344 assists.
After retiring, Stewart transitioned into hockey management and has served as the Director of Player Personnel for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the British Columbia Hockey League since 2018.
Stewart will also be inducted into the Maine Black Bears Sports Hall of Fame.
For more information contact: Curtis J. Phillips WBSHF Historian/Founding Father 780-370-5675 cjphillips@shaw.ca
The Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame is please to announce the third-of-four inductees into the WBSHF Class of 2024 - Danny Stewart (Athlete)
Born 1979, Danny’s career on the international scene is noteworthy to say the least.
He played two years of junior hockey before enrolling as a student-athlete at Miami University of Ohio.
After college, he played three seasons with the Fort Wayne Komets and Danbury Trashers in the United Hockey League (2003-2006).
In 2006, he moved to England to play in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) with the Coventry Blaze.
Danny played four seasons with the Blaze from 2006-2010 and then had a one-year stint with the Newcastle Vipers in 2010-11 as Player/Head coach.
He was part of back-to-back EIHL titles in 2006-2008 and again in 2009-2010.
In 2011, Danny joined the Fife Flyers, where he played five more seasons until 2016.
During his time with the Flyers, he also served as a Player/Associate coach from 2012-2016
After leaving the Fife Flyers, Danny returned to Coventry Blaze as head coach, taking on various roles including director of hockey operations in 2018 until his final season in 2023-24
In 2024, Danny was named the head coach of the Nottingham Panthers.
Danny finished his pro career with a total of 802 GP 161 goals 293 assists 454 pts and 1596 PIMS. He holds the record for most games played by an imported player in the EIHL.
He is a hockey legend in the United Kingdom.
For more information contact: Curtis J. Phillips WBSHF Historian/Founding Father 780-370-5675 cjphillips@shaw.ca
The Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame is please to announce the third-of-four inductees into the WBSHF Class of 2024 - Jay Stewart (Athlete)
Jay, born in 1977, had a notable hockey career that began in his junior years and extended into collegiate play.
He played Junior A hockey with the Oakville Blades in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League from 1995 to 1998, where he served as team captain in his final season.
During his tenure with the Blades, Jay recorded impressive statistics, totaling 48 goals and 58 assists over 138 regular season games.
Before his time with the Blades, Jay had a brief stint with his hometown team, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, where he played two games in the 1994-1995 season.
After completing his junior hockey career, he moved on to the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
While playing for the Yellowjackets, Jay stood out in his sophomore year (1999-2000), leading the team with 16 goals and receiving an honourable mention for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) All Conference Team.
His time at the university was marked by success, as the Yellowjackets won the NCAA Division III hockey championship during the 2001-2002 season, defeating Norwich 3-2 in overtime. Notably, throughout Jay's four years at Wisconsin-Superior, the Yellowjackets reached the NCAA Division III Frozen Four championships each season.
In total, Jay amassed 40 goals and 32 assists in 108 regular season games during his college career.
He has been part of several inductions into the University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics Hall of Fame.
For more information contact: Curtis J. Phillips WBSHF Historian/Founding Father 780-370-5675 cjphillips@shaw.ca
The Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame is please to announce the fourth and final inductee into the WBSHF Class of 2024 - Fort McMurray Midget Barons (Team)
Fort McMurray Midget Barons: A Cinderella Story (1988-1989)
“Always keep your composure. You can’t score from the penalty box; and to win, you have to score.” – Bobby Hull
Dave Tease embraced this wisdom when he took the helm of the Fort McMurray Midget Barons for the 1988-1989 Central Alberta Midget AA Hockey League season. Coming off a challenging previous year, where the Barons won only three of their 18 games and averaged an alarming 39 penalty minutes per game, Coach Tease recognized that discipline would be crucial to success.
“Our objective is to keep players out of the penalty box this year,” emphasized Tease in a preseason newspaper interview, signaling a shift in team philosophy.
Turning Point in the Season
Despite a rocky start to the 30-game season, the Barons experienced a pivotal moment during an away game, delivering an impressive 15-5 victory against the Grande Prairie Storm. This match was described by Tease as a turning point, igniting a newfound determination within the team. “Since then we have taken no for an answer,” he declared confidently.
In that game, standouts Tom Keca and Kerry Belton each netted four goals, setting the stage for what would be a remarkable season.
Individual Brilliance and Team Success
Keca emerged as a standout throughout the regular season, finishing as the Central Alberta Midget AA Hockey League's scoring champion with an impressive 47 goals and 44 assists. His line mates, Eric Marchand and Greg Scott, significantly contributed as well, scoring 78 and 57 points respectively, amplifying the team's offensive firepower.
The Barons clinched a postseason berth with a 7-3 triumph against the Montgomery Legion of Edmonton in their final regular-season game, ending the season with a record of 13-13-4 and securing a seventh-place finish.
Playoff Heroics
In the quarterfinals, the Barons faced the formidable second-place Sandy's Oilers of Sherwood Park in a best-of-three series. In a stunning display, the Barons swept the Oilers, winning 11-5 and 7-4. Key performances included Ryan Pruden's hat trick in the opener and Pablo Parra’s two goals in the decisive game.
The semi-finals pitted the Barons against the top-seeded Lloydminster team. Continuing their remarkable run, the Barons triumphed in just two games, winning 5-1 (with Eric Marchand scoring twice) and 4-3, thanks to Blake Spence’s clutch winning goal.
Championship Showdown
Cinderella continued to defy the odds as the Midget Barons reached the championship final against St. Albert. Once again, the Barons needed only two games to secure victory, starting with a dominant 12-6 win at Beacon Hill Arena (now known as Frank Lacroix Minor Hockey Arena), where Dale Unruh recorded an astounding four goals and two assists.
In the championship decider, the Barons completed their fairy-tale season with an 8-3 win, highlighted by two goals each from Keca, Marchand, and Brett McCumber.
Team Legacy and Recognition
The success of the 1988-1989 Fort McMurray Midget Barons is a testament to teamwork, resilience, and strategic coaching. Their journey from a struggling team to league champions serves as an inspiring story within the community, proving that with discipline and determination, anything is possible in sport.
Team Roster
- Players: Murray Anhorn, Kerry Belton, Conrad Brown, Colin Cartwright, Tom Coulthard, Peter Jurak, Tom Keca, Tyler Kuhn, Eric Marchand, Brett McCumber, Greg Noble, Pablo Parra, Craig Piercey, Ryan Pruden, Marc Rogers, Greg Scott, Blake Spence, Marc Taplin, Dale Unruh
- Staff: Head Coach: Dave Tease; Assistant Coaches: Don Brown, Robert Lacroix; General Manager: Marv Behiel
For more information contact: Curtis J. Phillips WBSHF Historian/Founding Father 780-370-5675 cjphillips@shaw.ca