On Wednesday, the Swift Current Broncos hockey organization announced one of their top players of all time Sheldon Kennedy was to be celebrated and inducted into the team's Hall of Fame with a ceremony in May.

The former Broncos captain last came to Swift Current in January for what he says is "one of the most powerful weekends" he has had in memory.

Rogers Hometown Hockey was in town, with a major portion of the weekend surrounding Kennedy's Alumni Achievement Award from the Western Hockey League for his humanitarian efforts. The award was presented during a Swift Current Broncos hockey game televised live on Sportsnet. 

Prior to receiving the award, a premiere screening event of Kennedy's film 'Swift Current' was held the night before to kick off an emotional weekend of healing for the City. (Full story: http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/33292-thank-you-sheldon-kennedy-local-viewers-react-following-swift-current-screening)

"It is different when watching [the film] with others, and leading up to that with the decision by Mayor Schafer and City of Swift Current to take a leadership role including the article in the Globe and Mail, I think it was powerful. I think it was hugely needed for the City and one of those moments where we're not going to forget and make sure it won't happen to others."

Mayor Jerrod Schafer and Sheldon Kennedy sharing a laugh on stage following the screening for a question and answer period. 

Swift Current Mayor Schafer wrote an editorial published in the Globe and Mail newspaper to express "sincere and absolute sorrow" to all victims of Graham James and their families and promote the Safe Places Youth Certified initiative. (Full story: http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/33215-swift-current-mayor-aspires-to-lift-dark-lingering-shadow-with-apology)

The Swift Current Broncos have won one Memorial Cup in franchise history, that came in 1989 to a team that dominated the Western Hockey League in the regular season, and went undefeated in the post season to a perfect 12-0 WHL title.

Despite incredible success on the ice, which included 55 regular season wins, the road to the Cup had tragedy as well.

December 30th is a day for many in the southwest of Saskatchewan that is unforgettable, a day reminding locals of terrible tragedy that occured nearly 30 years ago that claimed the lives of Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff, who were all sitting at the back of the bus with the team traveling to Regina for a game before crashing 4km out of Swift Current. (http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/33177-i-remember-the-silence-sheldon-kennedy-recalls-1986-bronco-bus-crash)

Recalling the 1989 Memorial Cup game itself, Kennedy says they had some higher power they were playing for.

"I remember the excitement! The goal going in, Kimbi Daniels flying up the wing and giving him the puck and when he scored that goal.. it was great. The biggest thing for me, and when we look at the team and what we were playing for, we were playing for the guys on the bus."

The right winger posted 24 points in 12 playoff games as the Broncos claimed their first WHL championship that season. He scored 106 combined points on the season.

"If you look at the team and group of guys we had, we had a great group. Talk about skilled players. Darren Kruger, Trevor Kruger, Bob Wilkie, Soberlak, Tim Tisdale, Peter Kasowski, Brian Sakic, those were some skilled guys, but not standouts. A group of guys who knew how to play together and win. We weren't scared of making mistakes and that's how we played. When we won, it was huge. Two Saskatchewan teams in the final of the Memorial Cup? That's huge."

1989 Memorial Cup Team. Photo courtesy: swiftcurrent.ca

The final was between the Broncos and Saskatoon Blades, with neither team holding a Memorial Cup win in franchise records. The stakes couldn't have been higher.

Kennedy says throughout the tournament, the team wasn't playing with their best effort.

The Broncos began the tournament against the Petersborough Petes on May 6, 1989 with a 6-4 win, and took down the Quebec champions from Laval 6-5 the following night. The Blades handed the Broncos their first loss on May 10th 5-4, forcing a Peterborough tiebreaker. They won 6-2.

"We weren't playing our best hockey in the Memorial Cup. We swept the Western Hockey League playoffs, got to the Cup and had to grind out those wins. That's the sign of a very good team, a good team can win at 75% and find a way to win. At 100% you're blowing through teams but they find ways to win when you're not at your best. I don't think we were at our best during the Memorial Cup," says Kennedy.

The Broncos led the Blades 2-0 before giving up three consecutive goals in the second period, and tied it up in the third to head to overtime.

The team had the moment they had worked so hard for when Tim Tisdale got one past Mike Greenlay in net for the Blades.

"You don't win Championships unless you have a certain chemistry within the players on that team, and that was something we had," says Kennedy. "Great people in there."

The Hall of Fame ceremony falls May 27th, an event Kennedy is eager and excited to attend.