The Swift Current Broncos are pleased to announce that the 2010 inductees to the Broncos’ Hall of Fame are: Todd McLellan into the builder’s category and Jason Krywulak into the player’s category.
Todd McLellan was with the Broncos from 1994-2000. From 1994-1996 he was head coach and assistant general manager and in 1996 he was awarded the general manager position. He guided the team to a 250-176-49 record and 2 division pennants and led the team to the playoffs in each of his 6 seasons at the helm of the Broncos. He was named the WHL executive of the year in 1997 and WHL coach of the year in 2000.
McLellan was born in Melville Saskatchewan and played his junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades. In the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, he was drafted by the New York Islanders in the fifth round. He played five games at the NHL level, spending most of two seasons with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Indians. However, recurring shoulder injuries dating back to his junior hockey days ended McLellan's North American playing career after the 1988–89 season. He returned home to study at the University of Saskatchewan for a year, before resuming his playing career for SIJ Utrecht of the Eredivisie in the Netherlands. He started his junior coaching career with the Battleford North Stars of the SJHL in 1993.
Since his time with the Broncos, McLellan has embarked on a stellar professional coaching career. In 2000, McLellan was hired by the expansion Minnesota Wild to coach their minor league affiliate, the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League. After the IHL folded in 2001, McLellan and his staff were transferred to the Wild's new minor league affiliate, the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. As coach of the Aeros, McLellan led Houston to the Calder Cup in 2003. In 2005, Mike Babcock selected McLellan to serve as his assistant with the Detroit Red Wings. McLellan would also achieve his first Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2007–08.
On June 11, 2008, the San Jose Sharks hired McLellan to become their new head coach, replacing Ron Wilson. He would end up the head coach for the Western Conference All-Star team, and lead the Sharks to their first Presidents' Trophy with an NHL-leading 117 points to finish the regular season, and finished third in voting for that season's Jack Adams Award.
Jason Krywulak played for the Broncos from 1991-1993 amassing 264 points in his two seasons in Swift Current.
Krywulak holds the team record for most points in a season with 162 and goals in a season with 81. Both of those records were accomplished in the 1992-93 season where the Broncos were WHL Champions. Krywulak still holds the WHL record for power-play goals in a season with 47 in 1992-93; he also scored 13 game winning goals that season, 3rd best all time. In 1993, Krywulak earned several league awards including the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy for WHL MVP, the Bob Clarke Trophy for leading the WHL in scoring and he was named a CHL second team all star after leading the CHL in scoring as well.
After a four-year WHL career, Krywulak began a three-year stint with the University of Calgary. During this time, he also joined short-lived Roller Hockey International league, where he played for four seasons with the Calgary Radz, San Diego Barracudas, Oakland Skates and Sacramento River Rats.
Krywulak turned pro during the 1997–98 season, playing in 3 games with the San Diego Gulls of the minor professional West Coast Hockey League (WCHL). The following season, he went overseas to play in the now-defunct German 1st league with Timmendorf Strand EC. He led the team in scoring with 116 points in 49 games. He then split the 1999–00 season between Straubing EHC of the German Oberliga and Neuwied EHC of the 2nd Bundesliga before retiring.
This year’s Hall of Fame Banquet will once again be combined with the Wellington West Golf Tournament. The Hall of Fame’s premier sponsors RBC Dominion Securities and Diamond Energy present the banquet on Thursday July 22nd in the Credit Union i-plex Auditorium starting at 6:00PM. The Wellington West golf tournament will be held at the Elmwood Golf and Country Club on Friday July 23rd at 1:00PM.
The cost of the banquet is $60 per person, $50 for season ticket holders and $400 for a table of 8. There will be a silent auction and the dinner is catered by the K-Motel. To book your banquet ticket call The Stable Souvenir Store at 773-1509 Ext. 1, tickets will go on sale June 1st.
The cost of the golf tournament is $125 per player or $625 for a 5-some. Each player will receive a Bronco/Wellington West souvenir. There will be great prizes and a silent auction. To book your entry at the golf tournament contact Wellington West at 778-4770.
2 comments:
Jon,
When are going to induct Joe Sakic to the Hall? He has been by far the best Bronco ever and yet it seems his name is never mentioned.
It's talked about every year by the committee. They just need to figure out Joe's schedule and make it work. It's coming.
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