Alberta Sports Hall of Fame facts for kids
| Established | 1957 |
|---|---|
| Location | Red Deer, Alberta, Canada |
| Type | Sports Hall of Fame |
The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is a special museum and hall of fame located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. It's all about keeping the history of sports in Alberta alive. This place celebrates the amazing athletes, teams, and people who have helped sports grow in the province.
The Hall of Fame started in 1957. It was first created by a group called the Alberta Amateur Athletic Union (AAAU). Later, in 1973, another group called Sport Alberta took over. Since 1997, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Society has been in charge. The museum moved around a bit between Edmonton and Calgary before finding its permanent home in Red Deer in 1999.
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How Athletes Join the Hall of Fame
Joining the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is a big honor. It means you've done something truly special in sports. When the Hall first started, only amateur athletes (people who didn't get paid to play) could join. But in 1979, professional athletes were also allowed to be inducted.
In the early days, if an athlete won a major international competition, they would automatically join the Hall. However, this rule changed by 1981. The rules became stricter, and now a special committee chooses who gets in. Each year, a maximum of seven athletes or teams can be inducted. People are chosen in different groups, like athletes, teams, "builders" (people who helped create or improve sports), and "pioneers" (people who were first in their sport). Sports journalists in the province can also receive a special award called the Bell Memorial Award.
The very first people to join the Hall of Fame in 1958 were boxers Charles Cheesman, Wilf Greaves, and Hugh Sloan. Track athlete George Sutherland was also among the first.
Amazing Athletes and Teams Honored
Many incredible individuals and teams have been inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. Here are a few examples of the talented people and groups who have been recognized for their achievements.
Individual Sports Stars
| Year | Inductee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Keely Brown | A fantastic ringette goalie and coach for the Canada national ringette team. She also played ice hockey and inline hockey. |
| 2007 | Don Barry | A Canadian football player for the Edmonton Eskimos who won the Grey Cup three times. |
| 2013 | Earl W. Bascom | An American-Canadian cowboy and rodeo performer. He is known as the "Father of Modern Rodeo." |
| 1980 | Johnny Bright | A famous Canadian Football League player. He is a member of several football halls of fame. |
| 1980 | Michelle Calkins | A synchronized swimmer who won a gold medal at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships. |
| 2000 | Ed Chynoweth | A leader in junior hockey, serving as President of the Canadian Hockey League and Western Hockey League. |
| 1995 | Willie deWit | A Canadian Olympic boxer who later became a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta. |
| 2005 | Red Dutton | A professional ice hockey player and coach. He also served as President of the National Hockey League. |
| 1980 | Stu Hart | A professional wrestler and athlete in many sports. He was the head of the famous Hart wrestling family. |
| 2008 | Yoshio Katsuta | A Japanese-Canadian judoka and the first president of the Alberta Black Belt Association. |
| 1980 | Pete Knight | A Canadian and World Champion rodeo bronc rider. |
| 1996 | Ron MacLean | A well-known Canadian sportscaster. He is famous for hosting Hockey Night in Canada. |
| 1993 | Lanny McDonald | A professional ice hockey player and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. |
| 2015 | Joey Moss | A long-time locker room attendant for the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos. He was a beloved figure. |
| 1958 | George Sutherland | An athlete who competed in track and field events at the British Empire Games. |
| 2010 | Mike Vernon | A professional ice hockey goaltender. |
Champion Sports Teams
| Year | Group name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1950 Edmonton Mercurys | This ice hockey team won gold medals at the 1950 Ice Hockey World Championships. |
| 1974 | 1951 Lethbridge Maple Leafs | This team also won gold medals at the 1951 Ice Hockey World Championships. |
| 1968 | 1952 Edmonton Mercurys | This hockey team won gold medals in ice hockey at the 1952 Winter Olympics. |
| 1994 | 1990 and 1992 Canada West teams (Canada national ringette team) | These ringette teams were champions at the 1990 World Ringette Championships and the 1992 World Ringette Championships. |
| 2011 | 1963 Edmonton Oil Kings | This junior hockey team won the 1963 Memorial Cup. |
| 2011 | 1966 Edmonton Oil Kings | This was another junior hockey team that won the 1966 Memorial Cup. |
