LUSELAND - Population from the latest census shows 599, and the arena is showing its age, but there must be something in the water in Luseland as two more female hockey players from the community could be headed for induction in their town’s sports hall of fame. A remarkable 26 hockey players made up of men and women have all called the small town of Luseland home, making for a good percentage of the population seeing success stories in their hockey careers.
Candice Kraft, resident and deputy mayor of Luseland, started the drive to recognize local hockey talent in 2017. A hockey hall of fame was created in the arena and unveiled at the Canada 150 Celebrations in July of that year. Kraft enlisted help from some of the veteran players to confirm details. She also says there may be more inductees in the builder’s category in the near future.
A lobby improvement at the rink, funded by RBC, helped with the start-up of this recognition space in the community’s arena.
This hall of honour includes eight female hockey players and, with the recent announcement of sisters Addison, U18, and Morgan Eurich, U16, being selected for Sask First top 60 camps to compete in April in Regina, Kraft says there could be more additions in the future.
From college hockey to University hockey programs across North America, the current eight females of Erin Hoffman, Hayley Dommett, Kylee Heintz, Kali Jamieson, sisters Cara and Cami Wooster, Teegan Heintz and Jessica Sibley all got their start on the ice at the Luseland rink. Jessica Sibley also experienced a brief stint in the National Women’s Hockey League with the Buffalo Beauts. The Wooster girls are twin sisters, and they both captained the University of Saskatchewan Huskie team in different seasons.
All of these female hockey players began their love of hockey in the Luseland rink. While all would have migrated to other communities throughout their careers to play a higher calibre of female hockey, residents are bursting with pride to acknowledge that their roots began in Luseland.
The ladies that adorn this wall of honour are joined by 18 men whose hockey careers took them through the SJHL, WHL, University and College hockey teams, and semi-pro leagues in the USA. From the ’60s to today, these men also had their humble hockey stories begin at the Luseland rink. They, too, would have had to migrate from the community to play a higher calibre hockey that advanced them to the leagues they are recognized for on this wall. A number of the men returned home at the end of their high-caliber hockey careers to join the hometown Luseland Mallards.
Barry Gibbs, player included on this prestigious wall, was part of the NHL for five seasons after he was the first round, first overall draft pick in the NHL draft in 1996, taken by the Boston Bruins.
Familiar family names are included in both the male and female hockey inductions. Dommett, Fischer, Wooster, Hoffman and Heintz are repeat names included on the wall.
Each player’s picture is displayed along with the teams they played for and the years they were there. Residents take pride in their humble hometown connections every time they stroll through these hallowed halls while visitors can marvel at how small town Saskatchewan continues to produce hockey players that go on to memorable careers throughout leagues across the province and North America.
