High School Football League Unveils Hall of Fame Names

October 9, 2008 - Winnipeg Free Press
By: Allan Besson

THE Winnipeg High School Football League celebrates its 75th anniversary Saturday at 7 p.m. when 47 names will be inducted into the inaugural WHSFL Hall of Fame at the Winnipeg Sun Centre, Canad Inns Stadium.

Inductee Frank Bryan, a coach with the Sisler Spartans in the 1960s and '70s, was known in part for building tough, hard-hitting championship teams and is credited with inventing "the circle of terror."

"I thought that up," recalled Bryan, who coached five of Sisler's eight league championship teams (1963, '65, '70, '71, '79). "We used to wait until the other team was doing its calisthenics. Then I would send my guys out and they'd run right by the other team, and I'd tell them, 'Listen boys, run heavy.'"

Then, dressed in black from head to toe, the team formed a circle and took turns running at each other. "The hits could be heard all over the field," he said. "It really worked. My boys were ready; they were frothing."

Bryan has a hard time singling out one of his teams as the best. "I couldn't pick one, but it sure was fun winning that first championship in 1963."

Players entering the hall: Kyle Koch, Beaver Brae; Bart Evans, Churchill; Dave Donaldson, Daniel McIntyre; Stan Mikowas, Ray Ash, and Bob Wilkes (player/coach), Gordon Bell; Gord Patterson and Dennis Hrycaiko, Grant Park; Harry Hood and Scott Coe, Kelvin; Brandon Jordan, Miles Macdonell; Cory Huclack, Oak Park; Chuck Michalski and Bob Keating, Sisler; Chris Walby, St. John's; Ron Latourelle, St. Paul's; Wade Miller, Sturgeon Height; Jerry Novak, David Shoup and Chris Bochen, Tec Voc; Bob Whitlaw, Winnipeg School Division.

Joining Bryan in the coaching category are: Pete Fair, Beaver Brae; John Puchniak and Brian Dobie, Churchill; Andie Currie and John Potter, Daniel McIntyre; Ward Cockriell, Dryden; Lou Mainilla and George Kunyckyj, Elmwood; Jim Foubister and Bob Wilkes (player/coach), Gordon Bell; Paul Normandeau, Kelvin; Hannes Boundy, Maples; Gord Puttaert, River East; Graham Kinley, St. John's; Laurent Desjardins, St. Paul's; Jim Morgan, Sturgeon Heights; Arnie Taylor, Winnipeg School Division.

Builders: Gerry Kissack, Daniel McIntyre; Harry McMaster, Dryden; Terry Hopkinson, Elmwood; Jeffery Larson, Garden City; Doug and Walter Krochak, Maples; Father Barry Connolly SJ, St. Paul's; John Proudfoot, Sturgeon Heights.
Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased at league member schools.