For both Paul Dyck and Kevin Masters, one of the biggest moments in their time as part of the Moose Jaw Warriors franchise began with a simple text -- former Warriors captain Derek Kletzel sent them a message in mid-December asking if they could call him.
Shortly after, they were processing the news: the duo were to be the latest inductees into the Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, it was all made official, as for the first time in three years, a pair of new names were enshrined on the Wall of Fame on the north wall of the arena concourse.
“The first thing I did was tell my wife about the call I received, and I was excited and humbled,” Dyck said shortly after the duo accepted their nominations with heartfelt speeches. “I probably had a big smile on my face for a while, and then you start diving into the history and the time here, recalling some memories and going back and trying to find some pictures… it really triggered some memories that I didn’t have at the top of my mind, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
As one might expect, Masters felt much the same way, especially given the number of luminaries that already can be found with their names forever enshrined on the bronze plaques.
“I think a lot of guys find it surreal, and you think you’re lucky but it doesn’t seem quite right knowing the guys who have won it in the past,” he said. “So with that in mind you have to take a moment and self-reflect and look at your career and realize maybe you had a good career and give yourself a bit of the pat you deserve.’
Masters, a Calgary native, played for the team from 1988-92 and is one of the highest-scoring defencemen in team history, sitting at sixth overall with 38 goals and 146 points in 246 games.
Carrying a focus on fitness unseen in those days, Masters was a rock on the blueline, missing only two games over three seasons and would play all 72 contests in both 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Masters played his final WHL season in Red Deer before putting the WHL scholarship program to use and joining the University of Calgary Dinos, where he played two seasons and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology. He’s currently a strength and conditioning coach in Edmonton.
Kevin and his wife Katherine have two sons, Kyle and Lucas, with Kyle a member of the Kamloops Blazers and a fourth-round pick by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Lukas is currently an assistant captain with OHA Edmonton in the U18 Prep division of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
Knowing that any time he returns to the Moose Jaw Events Centre he’ll find his plaque alongside so many Warrior greats is naturally something he feels is an honour.
“I picture that as guys that everybody talks about, so in that regard it’s kind of cool,” Masters said. “I’ll probably have to get back here for a game and see it up and then maybe it’ll be ‘wow, it’s real’. But ultimately it’s very special and it’s something I’ll absorb over time.”
Dyck suited up with the Warriors from 1989-91 campaign and like teammate Masters was a consistent rock on the blueline. Playing all 72 games both seasons in Moose Jaw, Dyck had 17 goals and 68 points in 144 games, but a brilliant ability to connect on his first pass out the zone led to then-Pittsburgh scout Pierre Maguire recommending his selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
That resulted in Dyck being drafted in the 11th round by the Penguins, which turned into a decade-long career in the IHL followed by five seasons in the German Elite League.
Even with all that, Dyck is much better known for what he’s accomplished in the coaching ranks.
Dyck joined the Steinbach Pistons of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 2010 and has become one of the most revered coaches in the Junior A league. He holds the record for the fastest MJHL coach to 250 wins and this past November won his 400th game. On top of it all, he won MJHL championships in 2013 and 2018, with Dyck being named the MJHL coach of the year in both 2017 and 2018.
Paul and his wife Candice have three children, Annikah, Nate and Lucas.
Like Masters, knowing that he’ll be alongside his fellow Warriors and Legends for all time is a true honour.
“That’s pretty surreal,” Dyck said. “Last night I was at the (Winmar Warriors) game and admiring the building and took a few minutes to take in that wall and see some of the former teammates up there and guys like Mike Keane and Theo… what an honour. You see that up there and you feel humbled by it and it’s such a great honour.”
The night included a live auction featuring a wooden framed Warriors jersey along with signed and framed Ryan Smyth and Brayden Point jerseys, all of which drew thousands of dollars in bids.
Be sure to check back for full features on both 2023 Moose Jaw Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame inductees in the coming days.
