Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Melville Millionaires 100 Years of Memories

RON HEXTALL
Hextall played for the Mils in the 1980-81 season, won the Vezina and Conn Smythe trophies in his rookie NHL season with Philadelphia, and is now the Assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings, and the General Manager of the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' AHL affiliate.

WALLY BECKMAN
Wally was one of the elders at the Mils' Alumni Weekend. At age 79, he's one of just a handful of Alumni from the 1950-51 Senior Mils team that went to the Allan Cup against Lethbridge.

BRETT CLARK
A defenseman, Clark put up an impressive 51 points in 62 games in his lone season as a Millioniare in 1994-95, before going to the University of Maine, and eventually getting drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Clark now makes his home on the blueline for the Colorado Avalanche.



NEIL LAMBERTY
The current Assistant Coach of the Mils, Neil Lamberty played four seasons in Melville from 1978-79 to 1981-82. Neil joined us live in the broadcast booth of the October 28th game in Nipawin.



BRIAN PROPP
From nearby Neudorf, SK, Propp lit up the SJHL as a 15-year-old with the Mils before leaving for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, and eventually put up 498 goals and 1003 points in the NHL, mostly with the Philadelphia Flyers. Propp's now the Colour Commentator on Flyers' radio broadcasts.



DON CHESNEY
The always colourful Don Chesney is both a former player and former coach with the Mevlille Millionaires. "Chez" talked about his playing and coaching days, and also coaching, and trading, his son Derek. He also recalled his first goal as a Millionaire. It was a "masterpiece."



DON HAMILTON
Don Hamilton was the first ever goaltender for the Melville Jr Millionaires in the 1955-56 seaosn.



JIM HILLER
The first and only Head Coach of the recently formed Chilliwack Bruins (2006) of the Western Hockey League, Jim Hiller suited up for the Millionaires in the late '80s. From Melville, Hiller went on to play at the University of Northern Michigan (NCAA), Canada's National Team, the NHL (Det/L.A./NYR), and minor pro ranks both in North America, and across the pond in Europe.



LEN WASSILL
Len Wassill donned the Blue & White in the mid-1970's, and registered a point in his first game as a 15-year-old. Len still lives in Melville, and works in Yorkton as the owner/broker at Century 21. He also had a big part in organizing this past summer's Millionaires' 100th Anniversary Alumni weekend.



KEN KARIUS
Pictured is Ken's son, Craig Karius, who's now a rookie defenseman for the Millionaires. Ken played for the Mils himself from 1981-85, and coached from the late '80s into the early '90s.



MARK RIEGER
Rieger played 3 seasons with the Mils in the late '70s and early '80s. He's from Melville originally and still works there with SaskPower.



SCOTT BEATTIE
After 3 successful seasons in Melville, Scott Beattie went on to play at the University of Northern Michigan (NCAA), before a lenghty professional career overseas with stops in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. He's now living in Cranbrook, B.C. and is an Assistant Coach with the Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice.



LIONEL DANIELSON
Lionel Danielson suited up for the Millionaires from 1975-79, and now lives on a farm outside Norquay with a seed-cleaning business.



DION CAMPBELL
Campbell's by far the most recent Alumni member featured, having just played for the Mils last season (07-08). Last season he led Melville with 30-goals and 61-points in 55-games. He's now playing for the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds of the CIS.



GERRY JAMES
James coached both sides of the Highway 10 rivalry, the Melville Millionaires as well as the Yorkton Terriers. He was a multi-sport athlete himself, amazingly playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs... AND the Winnipeg Blue Bombers... at the same time!

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