When I drove into North Battleford for the first time back in July 2016, I was at a bit of a professional crossroads.
With a number of changes taking place behind the scenes at the now defunct Moose Jaw Times-Herald, I decided to get out of dodge as soon as possible and take the job here as the sports reporter for the Battlefords News-Optimist.
However, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next for me as I just left a job where I got to cover the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors.
As it turned out, the next two years here in the Battlefords have turned out to be the most enjoyable of my career to date, as I’ve had the chance to cover and see many interesting sporting events that I may not have if I hadn’t come here.
This column is my unofficial farewell to the region, as in a little over a week’s time I’ll be moving on to take over the sports reporter job at the Prince Albert Daily Herald, following in the footsteps of the long-departed Brett Smith.
While I’m looking forward to heading back into a daily market, along with covering the WHL again as a beat reporter for the Prince Albert Raiders, I’ve really enjoyed my time here in the Battlefords and will miss everyone I’ve met.
After all, it’s not often that you get to host your own television show, do colour commentary on the radio and be the public address announcer for hockey games all in one location.
As I made my way back from Prince Albert Saturday afternoon, where I was covering my last major event for the paper at the 2018 Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association track and field meet, I began to think about everything that I’ve had the chance to report on over the last 24 months.
Naturally, the Battlefords North Stars run last spring to their first Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League title since 2000 is high on the memory list, especially since they went a perfect 12-0 in the playoffs to become the first team to do that since the Raiders accomplished that feat in 1982.
The series clincher at the Whitney Forum in Flin Flon was one of the wildest games I’ve ever seen, as the North Stars fell behind 4-2 to the Bombers but clawed their way back to wrap up the title in a 6-5 thriller.
Although this year’s title defence didn’t go as planned for the North Stars, the performance of Layne Young all season long was incredible as he put together one of the best campaigns the SJHL has seen in the past decade.
I should also give some love to the other two teams I cover on a regular basis in the Battlefords Stars of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League and the Battlefords Sharks of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League.
Although they didn’t have the strong seasons that they would have liked the last two years, both teams have had great performances along the way and the level of hockey has been fantastic.
Plus, I got to see Stars forward Adam Beckman pull off the Michigan lacrosse move during a game this season, which is just behind John Quenneville’s between the legs breakaway move at the 2016 Memorial Cup as the best goal I’ve ever seen in person.
Staying inside the rinks, senior hockey hasn’t really been on my radar for quite some time, but I really got to see how big of a deal it is in the region with the Saskatchewan Prairie and Saskatchewan West Hockey Leagues.
Seeing the Edam Three Stars and Meota Combines capture the SPHL titles in exciting playoff battles was a thrill, along with the Wilkie Outlaws’ annual rampage through the SWHL and the provincial runs that teams in the region go on.
The level of hockey is pretty darn good and it’s well worth checking out if you haven’t had the chance to do so.
Moving away from hockey, high school sports are a big part of the community here with the John Paul II Collegiate Crusaders and the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings leading the charge, in addition to other schools around the area.
Out of all of the events I’ve covered involving the schools, the Vikings senior football team winning their first provincial title since 1995 is the big highlight.
Although I missed out on the provincial final at Beaver Lions Stadium against the Yorkton Raiders due to a previously planned trip, I certainly won’t forget watching the Vikings capture the Saskatoon city title in the middle of a snow storm over the Tommy Douglas Tigers.
I’ve had the chance to cover all sorts of events along the way here, ranging from the Saskatchewan Winter Games to demolition derbies.
As a curling junkie, however, seeing the Civic Centre filled to the brim for every single draw of the Grand Slam of Curling’s Meridian Canadian Open in 2017 was amazing to see.
I’m disappointed to be missing out on the return engagement of the event next January, but I’m sure I’ll try to make a cameo in the stands for it, especially if Eve Muirhead shows up.
I could go on and on about a lot of the cool things I’ve covered here, such as chatting with Blake Young just days after the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs won the Frozen Four title or when I interviewed Andrew Albers over the phone after pulling over in the middle of nowhere on a Saskatchewan highway, but I’ll probably run of room on this page.
A huge thank you goes to everyone here at the Battlefords News-Optimist for allowing me to cover sports here for the last two years, along with all of the players, coaches and organizers I’ve chatted with in the various activities in the area that I’ve reported on.
Also, I have to give a shout-out to former North Stars play-by-play man Nathan Kanter and my partner-in-crime from Wilkie Phil Heilman, who’ve put up with my shenanigans outside of the office on a regular basis.
Finally, I have to give my regards to the readers of the paper and all the kind words you’ve sent along during the last two years. I think I only had one angry phone call during my time here, so I must have done something right.
At any rate, I better get back to packing up my belongings and gearing up for a trip to a World of Outlaws sprint car race in Grand Forks, N.D. before I move to Prince Albert, so I’ll bid you a fond farewell for now.
