Friday night the Moose Jaw Warriors and their fans welcomed three new members into the Conexus Credit Union Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame.  Donovan Nunweiler and Jerome Bechard were inducted in the player’s category, while Rose Mary Hartney was the latest person to go into the builder’s category.

Bechard played with the Tribe from 1985 to 1990, in that time he suited up in 284 games scored 100 goals and finished with 238 points and 880 penalty minutes.  In 1989 he was drafted by Hartford in the sixth round of the NHL Entry Draft, after his time in Moose Jaw was done he left for what turned out to be a lengthy professional career.

Bechard played the next 17 years in pro hockey, spending time in the AHL, IHL, ECHL, CHL, and SPHL.  In 1996-97 he landed with the Columbus Cottonmouths, in 2004-05 as a player/coach he would lead the team to a championship, earning coach of the year honors along the way.  In 2006-07 he hung up the skates but remained with Columbus as Head Coach/General Manager, last season he led the Cottonmouths to their second league title.

Donovan Nunweiler took the long road to Moose Jaw; he made his WHL debut with Medicine Hat in 1993-94, over the next two years he would travel around western Canada.  He spent time with the Tigers, Swift Current, Kamloops, and Lethbridge before going to the SJHL, in 1996 he was invited to Warriors camp and the rest is history.

In his first season in the Friendly City he posted a 27-18-3 record, which included a franchise record six shutouts, and he would eventually win the WHL’s Rookie of the Year Award.  After graduating from the Warriors he went on to Acadia University for the next two years, going into his third year with the Axeman Nunweiler decided to hang up the pads to focus on his education.  He left Acadia after four years and was accepted to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta and completed his MD.  He now owns a medical clinic in Medicine Hat where he is a family physician.

Rose Mary Hartney is the teams long time Education Advisor; she has taught countless Warriors over the years and has played a major role in helping young men graduate high school.  Her passion and commitment to her students is reflected in the countless study halls, tutoring classes, and tireless hours to maximize the potential of all the WHL players attending school. 

Last season Ms. Hartney received the WHL’s Distinguished Service Award; this is presented to an individual associated with a WHL team who has made extraordinary contributions over an extended period of time.  Rose Mary is the only person associated with Moose Jaw Warriors to be honoured with this award.

AS well, the Conexus Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame has found a permanent home, the Hall will be on display on the north concourse wall of Mosaic Place and will be available for everyone to see starting September 21^st against the Swift Current Broncos.