Over 200 people packed onto the ice surface on Thursday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre to watch former Warriors players Paul Dyck, head coach of the Steinbach Pistons, and Kevin Masters be inducted into the Conexus Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame.
Their friends and family, former players, their play-by-play broadcaster, and dignitaries joined to watch both Dyck and Masters get the call to the hall.
Prior to speeches, a video montage was created for both players that included former teammates, billets, their coach, and the voice of the Warriors at the time Rob Carnie. They told stories, recapped each of their playing careers with the Warriors, and had some laughs.
It was safe to say that emotions were high for many people in attendance.
Paul Dyck went from Steinbach to Moose Jaw and played 144 regular season games in a Warrior uniform.
For Dyck this was a very special night as this was the first time he has been back to the city for quite some time.
“It’s extremely memorable running into some people that I haven’t seen in a number of years, going back to Rob Carnie who was our play-by-play guy and some of the people on the video tribute, along with seeing Kletz,” explains Dyck. “Then going in with Kevin is very special as well, as I thought the world of him.”
Paul Dyck's plague unveiling on Thursday night. In 144 games, Dyck put up 17 goals, 51 assists, and 68 points and was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
After graduating from the WHL he went on to play hockey professionally including 714 games in the IHL followed by five seasons overseas in Germany.
Following his playing career Dyck returned home in 2010 to coach the Steinbach Pistons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), in which he has been very successful.
Dyck notes that his current success with the Pistons stems from his time in Moose Jaw with the Warriors.
“It started with how the coaches treated me, along with the opportunity they gave me, and I thought they were very honest and transparent with me. That is something that I try to do with our players.”
Dyck assumed the role of interim head coach in December 2011. He was named general manager and head coach in 2012. Dyck holds the record for the fastest head coach to win 250 games. On November 5, 2022, he won his 400th game.
“I love the level and the age group,” he says. “I’m in my hometown and we have a great board of directors and ownership, and the community has bought in. It’s been a special run.”
He has led the Pistons to two league championships in 2013 and 2018 and was named the MJHL Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Paul, his wife Candice and children, Annikah, Nate, and Lucas reside in Steinbach.
Dyck concluded by saying that it is an honour to join the hall of fame alongside names like Theo Fleury and Mike Keane.
“It’s pretty surreal. On Wednesday, I took in the U18 AAA game, and I was walking around the rink and admired the building. I sat there and felt humbled by it.”
Dyck and Masters were also honoured by the hometown fans prior to Friday night’s game between the Warriors and the Winnipeg ICE.
The Conexus Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame is located on the north side of the concourse at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
(Images below courtesy of Russ Dyck)
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