It was a packed house yesterday, as the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame committee announced the class of 2023. Overall, 12 individuals and one team were called to the ninth induction of the hall, encompassing six different generations of household names.
Individually, Paul Bennett (player/coach), Steve Dolyniuk (official), Leo Ezerins (player), Bob Irving (media), Brent Irwin (coach/builder), Brownie Krochak (player), George Kunyckyj (player/coach/builder), Lorne Lagimodiere (player/coach), Stu Nixon (coach), Dennis Radlinsky (coach), Jennifer Romanoff (coach/builder), Glen Scrivener (player/coach) and the 1984 St. Vital Mustangs Junior Football team earned the distinction.
Nixon – who began his coaching career in 1987 and spent two decades as head coach of the Oak Park Raiders, earning multiple Division 1 championships – spoke on behalf of the class. He acknowledged the quality of inductees and the breadth of experience they provided to the game.
“George Kunyckyj was an icon in Manitoba football in 1986 when I started coaching, and he’s still involved. Glen Scrivener, what he’s done at Dakota and his involvement there, Dennis Radlinsky in the North End, these guys are football in Manitoba. They make it happen,” he said.
“I still can’t believe George is still doing what he’s doing. To be categorized at the level that these guys are at, for me, it validates the sacrifices made in regards to regards to family life. It’s just really special. I value this greatly.”
Those in attendance were also given the chance to speak.
Scrivener – whose roots are traced back to six-man football in River Heights, and later Morehead State (player), Eastern Washington University (player), William Jewell College (player), the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (player), Surrey Rams (coach) Winnipeg Rifles (coach) and Dakota Lancers (coach) – provided an excellent take home message about the power of sport.
“We touched on what football does, the power that football has, the dreams, etcetera, I’m a bi-product of that myself. I was not a school kid. If it wasn’t for football, I’m not standing here. Football kept in me school, football taught me how to be a leader. I’m very, very grateful.
Common connections
A bevvy of inductees had common connections.
Kunyckyj and Lagimodiere were both a part of the Brandon Bobcats university football team, which operated for numerous decades, until 1973.
Kunyckyj played for the Bobcats from 1966-1970. After, he became head coach of the Elmwood Eskimos of the WHSFL. He transferred to Daniel McIntyre school as head coach from 1980 to 1996, winning a championship in 1986. Kunyckyj was inducted into the WHSFL Hall of Fame in 2016 and continues to be involved as PA announcer at games.
Along with Scrivener, Bennett and Ezerins made permanent marks on the CFL as players, as did Bob Irving in the media wing and Steve Dolyniuk as an official.
Bennett was voted the most outstanding Canadian player in 1983 and 1985, and was a Grey Cup champion in 1986. After 11 years in the CFL he started his coaching career with the Winnipeg Hawkeyes and went to the MJL final, winning in 1990. He coached the Oak Park Raiders in the WHSFL for eight years afterwards, focusing on developing fundamental skills and understanding the game of football.
Ezerins suited up for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger Cats in the late 80s, and won a Grey Cup in 1986. This is his second induction into the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame, following a 2022 nod as a player on the 1972 Winnipeg Hawkeyes.
Irving told the story of pro football in Manitoba for five decades, retiring following the 2021 CFL season. He was made a member of the Order of Manitoba, while the Bombers’ media room is named after him. He is also a member of the club’s Ring of Honour.
Dolyniuk had a long and distinguished career in the CFL as an official. He worked five Grey Cups over a period of 20 years and was very active in the local association (MFOA), presenting many clinics to amateur officials. Now retired, Steve continues coaching and mentoring younger officials. This coming football season, he will be the Supervisor of Officials for Winnipeg home games.
Additionally, Krochak played for St. John’s Tech School in 1938, with the team winning the city championship. He played on both offense and defense. In 1939 he became Tech’s number one man on offense, lugging the ball 90 percent of the time. In 1941 to 1944 played with the RCAF Bombers in the Western Service Football League. Brownie ended his career playing with the 1945 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He left the game to take care of his young family.
Meanwhile, Irwin was instrumental in the development of both the Portage Pitbulls and the Portage Trojans Football program. He was the first head coach for both these clubs, coaching for 15 years. As a high school coach, he brought the PCI Trojans to a Division 3 Championship in their second year in the league. His relentless pursuit of integrity, tenacity, and hard work has made a huge impact on the players he coached.
Radlinksy has been coaching for nearly 20 years from grass roots to high performance. During this time, he amassed 116 wins as a head coach. Starting in 2005 he coached the North Winnipeg Nomads Bantam team. His record includes 12 consecutive playoff appearances and 4 championship game appearances. In 2008 and 2009, he won league championships in the Manitoba Major Football League. He was also head coach of the Nomads in the Manitoba Girls Football Association for several years.
Romanoff has been part of the Vanier Cup, CFL’s Eastern final, WHSFL championship games and the Football Canada Cup in her role as an athletic therapist. She played a pivotal role in the delivery of Football Manitoba’s flag football in 2006 and 2007 and her skills in athletic therapy and coaching are far reaching from local to international. She was also a linebacker with the Maples Marauders and the Manitoba Fearless.
The St. Vital Mustangs Junior Football team were crowned the MJFL Provincial Champions, then travelled to Ottawa to represent Manitoba in the Eastern Canadian Championships against the undefeated Ottawa Sooners. Unlike the Sooners who were the only Junior team in Ottawa, the Mustangs was a team of players in Winnipeg that had four Junior teams. The Mustangs lost 33-32 in a very close contest. The Mustangs team was comprised of many players that played for four years with the team, with several moving on to University and pro levels.
The hall of fame induction dinner will take place later this fall.