Hockey hall honours vets’ class of 2025

On Dec. 17, the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame held its second veterans luncheon – an event devoted exclusively to individuals and teams that excelled in the sport at least 50 years ago. Four players, one builder, and one team were inducted into the HOF at a ceremony held in the Hockey for All Centre, where there is a gallery of previous inductees.

In 1985, the hall of fame’s inaugural class consisted of 70 players, 11 builders and 32 championship teams. Since then, and usually on a biennial basis, the hall has continued to induct worthy candidates. In the early years, research on inductees relied on word-of-mouth, oral histories, and laborious searches of newspaper archives. The internet changed that process, and it became apparent that many deserving candidates had been overlooked.

In 2015, a veterans research committee was established and since then a veteran or two has been recognized at the induction dinner. In 2023, when the HOF hosted its first luncheon dedicated solely to inductees put forth by the veterans committee, headed by board member John Jameson, players Paul Meger, Sonny Rost and Charles Tobin, and builder George Tackaberry were honoured. The 1956-57 Western Hockey League champion Brandon Regals and the 1959-60 to 1963-64 Brandon Wheat Kings juniors were added to the Wall of Champions.

The 2025 class of veterans is made up of players Harry Bueckert, Helge Bostrom, Ron Matthews, and Al Millar, builder J.D. Pratt, and the Winnipeg Olympics women’s team.

The Olympics entered the Winnipeg Ladies Senior Hockey League in 1933. Between 1936 and 1939, their teams dominated locally and regionally and represented the West in national championships. The 1939 outbreak of the Second World War halted the championships.

Team members included Bertha Clarke, Winnie Fullerton, Dora and Maureen Gault, Marguerite Hoban, Edith Jacques, M. James, Beth Jamieson, Yvette Lambert, Margaret Lumsden, May Manson, Dolores Miller, M. Mozel, Emily Pearce, Ann Shibicky, Pauline Sween, Margaret Topp, and coaches Sam McCallum and Charles Topp. Jameson said the hall tried to find family members of the players and coaches with no success, so would welcome any information from the public.

Bueckert is the only living inductee of the 2025 class of veterans. The right winger played junior for the Winnipeg Rangers and was a MJHL second-team all-star in 1960-61 when the Rangers reached the Western junior final. He then played at various times with the Altona Maroons of the South East Manitoba League, the intermediate Warroad Lakers, and the senior St. Boniface Mohawks. Nicknamed the ‘Gretna Garbageman’ for his ability to score from around the goal crease, he was the Maroons’ and Lakers’ top scorer in many seasons.

In 1966, Bueckert was a southern Manitoba addition to the primarily local Flin Flon Warriors, who won the Western intermediate crown.

In 1973, his Mohawks team beat the Spokane Jets in the Western Canada senior final, but lost the Allan Cup to the Eastern champion Orillia Terriers. The following season, he won the Canadian intermediate championship with Warroad. The Lakers were inducted into the HOF in 2011 and the Mohawks and the Warriors in 2019.

Bostrom and Matthews were both defencemen born in Winnipeg. Bostrom helped Edmonton win a Western title in 1923 and made his NHL debut at age 36 in 1930 with the Chicago Black Hawks, where he became team captain. He died in 1977. Matthews turned pro in 1957 and played for 19 seasons primarily in the Pacific Coast and Western leagues. He earned four WHL all-star selections. Matthews died in 2014 at age 87.

Millar, a goalie who got his start with the Winnipeg Canadians, had a nomadic career, playing for 21 teams in 11 leagues over a 20-year period. A highlight was playing briefly in the NHL in 1957 with the Boston Bruins. His best seasons in the WHL were with the Seattle Totems, Denver Invaders, and Victoria Maple Leafs. Millar, who was born in Winnipeg in 1929, died in Florida in 1987.

In his book Manitoba Hockey: A History, Vince Leah wrote that an amateur athletic association was formed in Winnipeg in 1907, and J.D. Pratt was nominated to lead the reorganization of local amateur hockey. In 1914, Pratt co-founded the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association. He was also involved with the creation of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. His leadership laid the foundation of standardized rules and fair competition bridging regional divides across Canada.

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Happy holidays to the readers of Memories of Sport – may 2026 be a great year for the sports community.