MOOSE JAW — A former Moose Jaw resident and native to the Friendly City, Gerald (Jerry) Serviss, has now been inducted into the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame (WECSHOF) for the class of 2024 in recognition of his outstanding hockey career.
The 42nd WECSHOF induction ceremony took place on Oct. 5 at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor, Ont., which is where Serviss spent much of his career and is the place he now calls home.
“You know, it’s pretty special seeing that he helped win a national championship with the senior team in the Allan Cup. And then, to follow up on that, he won a national championship at the college level which was a big part of the hockey community here in Windsor,” said Jerry’s son and former Ontario Hockey League (OHL) player Robb Serviss.
“Being recognized as a Hall of Famer is pretty special.”
Serviss began his hockey career in the 1956 — 57 season with the Humboldt-Melfort Indians in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leage (SJHL). His career would go on to span seven leagues including the Western Hockey League (WHL) and he played for nine teams including the Estevan Bruins and the Windsor Bulldogs.
In 1975 he arrived in Windsor, Ont. where he began coaching the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men’s league at St. Clair College.
In his first year as head coach, the Windsor St. Clair Saints topped off a perfect regular season (20 — 0) and won their second consecutive OCAA championship. At nationals that same year, the Saints took home the OCAA’s first-ever Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship gold medal.
In his second season, Serviss led the team to their third consecutive OCAA gold medal.
The next five years under Serviss brought the Saints one additional gold medal and two silvers. Over the course of his career, Serviss produced an outstanding 100 — 24 regular season record. This led to his recognition in 1975 — 76 as CCAA Coach of the Year.
“I would say, with my dad, he had a great understanding of the game and I think that probably came from him (playing as) a defenseman in the SJHL,” Robb said.
“He had a good understanding of both forward and defense, and he was a real, I’d say, educator. He really knew how to teach kids the game of hockey,” Robb continued. “He just loved sharing his knowledge of the game. I’d say, along with that, he could get people excited. That was probably the biggest thing.”
When Serviss learned about his induction earlier this year he was honoured. “How can anyone ask for anything better than that,” he said in an earlier statement.
Much to his surprise — and demonstrating the lasting bond created by winning a national championship together — eight of his former college players showed up to support him.
Serviss’ legacy will be remembered by a successful 25-year career in Windsor and for the impact he’s had on the game and the community.
“He truly put St. Clair (College) on the national map by winning a national championship, and that team actually went undefeated,” Robb said. “They are, I think, one of the only — if not only — programs to ever go undefeated in college hockey.
“I’d say, as his son, that I had a pretty special upbringing in Windsor because so many people knew my dad and knew what a positive impact he had… both as a player and a coach,” Robb added.
Serviss remains connected to Moose Jaw and is part of its hockey legacy that includes names like Banting and Swarbrick.
“He’s got his sister (Bona Smith) still there (in Moose Jaw) and a few friends,” Robb said. “He’s 87, but I drove him out there two years ago… so he was back and got to see old family and friends.”
His younger brothers Tom Serviss — who played for the Moose Jaw Canucks in 1964 — 65 — and Bob Serviss — who played for the Moose Jaw Canucks in 1954 — 55 and the Moose Jaw Pla-Mors for three seasons are also proudly connected to the community.
“He’s very proud to be from Moose Jaw. He grew up there and left at 20 years of age to pursue a hockey career,” Robb said. “That hockey career brought him eventually to Windsor, and that’s where he got married. Actually, my mom is also from Moose Jaw.
“(Moose Jaw has) always been kind of our second home. (We live in) Windsor, but all our family is in Moose Jaw,” he said. “It’s a nice little town, and for me, it’s my family roots.”
For more information about the 2024 Hall of Fame induction visit .
