The Regina Sports Hall of Fame unveiled their newest inductees on Tuesday with the introduction of the class of 2022.
Joining the Regina Sports Hall of Fame this year are Gary Brotzel and Bernie Eiswirth (Builders: baseball) , Budram Singh and Richard Singh (Patrons:cricket) , Jim Hopson (Builders/Athletes :football ) , Chelsea Stone (Athlete: taekwon-do) , Dick Wiest (Builders:hockey) and Brad Hornung (Builders:hockey) who will be honoured posthumously.
Brotzel and Eiswirth will enter the Regina Hall of Fame after founding the Regina Red Sox as a new franchise in the Western Major League Baseball (WMBL) in 2005 with Brotzel as President and Eiswirth as General Manager. Since that time the Red Sox have claimed championships in 2011 & 2012 while establishing partnerships with local youth baseball programs.
Budram and Richard Singh join the Hall of Fame after more than of four years involved with Cricket in Saskatchewan. Budram served as the President of the Saskatchewan Cricket Association from 1977-90 while Richard was involved as an athlete for 40 years including representing national junior and senior teams.
Chelsea Stone was a member the Canadian Taekwan-do team from 2000-17 winning 19 national sparring titles. In a variety of events and divisions up to black belt and heavyweight, won 27 gold
medals in SaskCup events, 22 in Saskatchewan championships, 31 in Western Canadian championships, 26 in Canadian championships and 18 in other international competitions. She was named Named SaskSport’s junior female athlete-of-the-year in 2002.
Dick Weist was instrumental in the beginning of the University of Regina’s Women’s Hockey team in 1997-98 as he helped organized and coached the squad. A long-time teacher and hockey player, he also served on Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association and Queen City Minor Hockey Association executives, overseeing female hockey, Weist coached Miller football team to city and provincial high school championships in 1970 and 1971.
Hornung played with Regina Pat Canadians, chosen captain of Team West in 1985-86 Esso Cup and represented Canada internationally before joining home-town Regina Pats, who have retired his number 8. WHL annually presents Brad Hornung Trophy to the league’s most sportsmanlike player. Worked with faculty, staff and students to use experimental voice-recognition
technology for notes, assignments and exams required to complete a bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Regina after being paralyzed during a 1987 Western Hockey League game.
Hopson was the first fulltime President and CEO for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2005-14 leading the team to four Grey Cup appearances including to a pair of victories. Hopson Played offensive line for Thom Trojans and Regina Rams, winning back-to-back national junior championships (1970-71) and being named the league’s top lineman, before a four-year pro career that ended after the Riders lost the 1976 Grey Cup. He was inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Roughriders Plaza of Honour, awarded University of Regina Lifetime Achievement Medal, CFL’s Distinguished Leadership Award, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.
The Regina Sports Hall of Fame began in 2003 inducting athletes, builders, teams and patrons on an annual basis for their contributions to sport in Regina. Inductions took a one year hiatus in 2020 but resumed in 2021.
Including this year’s class, the Hall of Fame now has 114 members, (49 builders, 46 athletes, 13 teams and six patrons) plus 150 honourary members who had earlier been recognized by the Sask Sport Hall of Fame and Museum.
The induction ceremony for the Class 0f 2022 will take place on Thursday, October 6 at the Queensbury Centre in the REAL District.
Tickets can be purchased online through reginasportshalloffame.com, from board members or at Security Key & Lock (306-525-5651), 2512 Dewdney Ave. Cost is $40 ($20 for 12 & under).
