Wendel Clark, former Toronto Maple Leaf player, was honoured with a special day that featured the raising of his banner at the Kelvington Recreation Arena on October 21.
The celebration saw Clark's retirement and return of his banner to his hometown where he grew up and started his career.
Danielle Emanuelle, Toronto Maple Leafs' representative, explained at the ceremony that new banners are replacing the old ones at Air Canada Centre, the home of the Leafs.
The banners of the retired players are being returned to the players’ hometowns, said a press release.
The originally banner-raising ceremony was to held at the Viterra elevator but inclement weather forced the ceremony into the rink's foyer. The ceremony kicked off with a procession led by Candace Patrick, who played the bagpipes. Cst. Lucas Jakubec of the Wadena and Kelvington RCMP detachment carried the Canadian flag and Hugh Nerlien, MLA for the Kelvington-Wadena Constituency, carried in the Saskatchewan flag.
Dignitaries who followed the flags included Mayor Tracy Sauer and councillors; members of the Wendel Clark Day committee; Rylan By, representative for the Kelvington Recreation Arena, some members of the Kelvington Wheat Kings hockey teams, and Wendel Clark and his wife Denise, the last to enter the rink.
Clark was very emotional as he addressed the crowd, saying that Kelvington was his hometown where he played as a kid and Toronto was were he ended his career.
Mayor Tracy Sauer had the privilege and honour to announce the renaming of Railway Avenue in Kelvington to Wendel Clark Way. At the conclusion of the raising of the banner ceremony there was an opportunity for avid hockey fans to get an autograph and photograph taken with Clark.
The Ryan Prouse family including wife Tammy Pantiuk and daughter Lexi Prouse, of Preeceville had their photograph taken with Clark. The photograph had a special meaning as the family are cousins related to Clark. Ryan Prouse’s grandfather Bill Clark was the brother of Wendel Clark's grandfather, Bud Clark.
The evening program featured a catered supper followed by a program that introduced dignitaries, Toronto Maple Leafs representatives and the Clark family.
Lorelle Holowaty-Halderman, Wendel Clark Day chairperson, gave an address welcoming everyone. It was followed by a video presentation and a fun hot stove interview that was undertaken by Danielle Emanuelle, mistress of ceremonies and Toronto Maple Leaf representative. The hot stove interview portion was a fun way for Clark and three of the special dignitaries to reminisce and poke fun at each other.
Dignitaries that were interviewed were: Tiger Williams, a previous Maple Leaf player; Daryl Lubiniecki, who was born in Sturgis and was a Saskatoon Blades coach at the time that Clark was a player, and Terry Simpson, former NHL hockey player, coach and friend.
Wendel Clark gave a brief address that was followed by a dance and live auction.
"The entire day was great way that paid tribute to Wendel and all his accomplishments," said Tammy Pantiuk. "The hot stove portion of the program was an awesome way to end the day.
“They all reminisced with many hours of fond memories shared by old friends," she said.
Wendel Clark was born in Kelvington and started his career at a young age. Clark was drafted to the Toronto Maple Leafs as defenseman pick in 1985, stated the information on the program.
Prior to playing for the Leafs he had played for the Saskatoon Blades. Clark would go on to play left wing for the team where in his first season set a Leafs’ record for goals by a rookie with 34 goals and was runner-up for the Calder Trophy.
In Clark's seventh season of playing for the Leafs he was named captain and the following year he would lead the Leafs on a memorable playoff run. The following season, Clark led the Leafs into the conference final where he achieved a record for scoring the most multiple goal games in NHL history.
Clark would return to the club in 1996 and in 2000, and in total served three tours of duty with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After 13 seasons with Toronto he retired at the age of 33.
