Some members of the 1989 Memorial Cup Champion Swift Current Broncos came back together for their induction into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame on Saturday.
They were the last Saskatchewan based team to win the Memorial Cup.
"I think you set out to play the game because you love the game," said former Bronco Sheldon Kennedy. "Sometimes you wake up one day and realize maybe I made it to a place that a lot of others haven't... I was able to actually really accomplish something... it's one of those ones where you just one to soak it up."
Another member of that team, Dan Lambert has come to realize how hard it was to do what they did.
"Just to be able to assemble the team that we did," Lambert said. "What we went through with the bus accident makes it even more special I think. I didn't realize the Broncos were the last team (from Saskatchewan) to win it. That does make it more special."
Both Darren and Trevor Kruger made it back to their home town for the banquet.
"It's something you remember for the rest of your life," Trevor Kruger said. "My kids can look back at this and say what an accomplishment. It's just something that will never leaver you."
The 89 Broncos played a unique, high flying style of game. They won a WHL record 33 of 36 home games and scored a record 180 power-play goals in a season.
"Run and gun right?" said Kennedy. "I don't think we even had a style. It was 'Trevor (Kruger) get us the puck up here, we're not coming back past the red line!' If we didn't have a Trevor Kruger in net we probably wouldn't have scored as many goals because he was our break out. It was all 'we'll just score more than you' that was our mindset."
Kruger remembered things the same way.
"I'll be honest I spent just as much time out of my net as in it," Kruger added. "That's just one thing that we gambled on. Why take punishment when your goalie can move the puck like I did?"
The members of the 89 team golfed together before the ceremony. It was their first chance to re-unite as a group since being inducted into the Swift Current Broncos Hall of Fame.
"We were golfing out there today and it was as if we're still playing together," Lambert said. "It means a lot to us and to the team. I think as you get older you really appreciate what we did, the times we had, the friendships you made, and that's what it's all about."
Other local products honoured with Bryan Trottier of Val Marie and Swift Current's Bill Ford in the grassroots category.
Interview with former Bronco Sheldon Kennedy:
Interview with former Bronco Trevor Kruger:
Interview with former Bronco Dan Lambert:
Interview with former Bronco Trainer Gord Hahn:
Click here for the full list of inductees and mini-bios
Click here for a story on the future of the hall
Click here for a story with Bryan Trottier and Glenn Hall
Fri, Apr 26, 10:00 AM
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