The Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame welcomed five new members to its hallowed halls on Saturday evening at the Coast Hotel in Canmore.
Lanny McDonald, Al Hamilton, Ken Babey, George Kallay, and the 1979-80 Red Deer Rustlers were honoured as the 2015 induction class.
During their acceptance speeches, all of the inductees talked about the importance of being able to be joined by the people who have been integral to their hockey successes over the years – their family, from spouses and parents, right down to grandchildren.
McDonald and Hamilton were inducted for their success as players, largely with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, respectively. Ken Babey is one of the most successful coaches in hockey history, at SAIT. Kallay has been a volunteer in various capacities with Hockey Alberta for several decades. And the Rustlers won the Centennial Cup.
The evening finished with a “hot stove lounge” round-table discussion of hockey and memories, featuring stories from some of the new honoured members.
Thanks to a number of generous sponsors and donors, a grand total of $13,360 was raised at the event through live and silent auctions, as well as a newly added “wine pull”. All funds raised support the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program.
The AHHF Selection Committee added a new award to this year’s program, named the Founders Award. This prestigious award was created in honour of the longest standing and founding four members of the AHHF Selection Committee. It is through their dedication, commitment and passion to the sport of hockey in Alberta that has helped evolve the vision, stature and prestige of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame. As a way to annually showcase this legacy, the Founders Award will continue in future years to recognize individuals who display the same leadership and pioneering spirit as the founding members. Pictured above from left to right is AHHF Selection Committee Chairman, Bob Clark presenting the first ever Founders Awards to Ernie Boruk, Vern Paul, Howard Wurban, and Mac MacLeod.
