Today we go back to the 90s and check in with Robby Bear who joined the Terriers for his 20-year-old season of junior hockey. Robby, from Whitewood Saskatchewan, came to the Terriers and brought a physical presence to the Terriers lineup. Robby was relied on to wear out the other team’s top players and defenceman every night. Robby was a player that always stuck up for his teammates which is one of the reasons he was a popular player among the team.
In Robby’s only season with the Terriers, Robby dressed in 55 games, scoring 5 goals, adding 12 assists for 17 points. Robby piled up 238 penalty minutes in the year. Dennis Polonich was the coach for the Terriers in what would be his last season as the head coach for the Terriers. After junior hockey, Robby continued on playing having a short stint with the Wichita Thunder in the Central Hockey league in 1996-97. Recently his playing days have seen him play a bit of senior hockey with the Esterhazy Flyers and the Ochapowace Thunder.
Robby currently resides in Yorkton, working at Remax Blue Chip Realty, helping people find the home of their dreams.
Q and A with Robby Bear:
1)Name and years played with the Terriers?
- 1991-1992
- Played my final year as a 20 year old with the Yorkton Terriers
- Dennis Polonich was the coach that year, which was also his last year as coach of the Yorkton Terriers.
2) Favourite memory during your time with the Terriers?
- Taking pictures and signing autographs for the kids.
- I still to this day keep a picture wearing my Jersey and my 7 year old niece sitting on my lap. She was so proud and had a beautiful smile………precious.
3) Toughest SJHL opponent and hardest rink to play in?
- The old barn at Melville was pretty fun due to the rivalry, but the Flin Flon Bomber Rink was pretty load and crazy.
4) How did your time with the Terriers help get you to where you are today?
- The community of Yorkton has been a huge support to the Yorkton Terriers, with many fans and associates becoming life long friends. The community always made the players feel at home, and when work allowed me to relocate to Yorkton, I considered it a move home.
5) Favourite TV show or movie?
- My wife gets frustrated with the amount of times I watch Braveheart. Slapshot was also a favorite during the many road trips.
6) What are you up to these days?
- Over the past 25 years, I have called Yorkton home.
- I was in a management position with the Painted Hand Casino for much of this 25 years, but have recently made a career move into Commercial/Residential Real Estate with REMAX Blue Chip Realty Yorkton.
7) What are your plans for the next 3-5 years?
- Continuing to reside and work in Real Estate in Yorkton and area. Buying and selling homes are huge commitments and helping people achieve their dreams is very rewarding.
- Support local/community events to strengthen and revive sports in the community.
8) Favourite athlete of all time?
- My favorite athlete of all time would be Mario Lemieux. Mario had a life threatening disease that kept him off the ice and from playing hockey for a number of years. He took on the challenge and fought the odds to play again in the NHL. I recently had my own battle with prostate cancer and have used Mario as a roll model to fight the odds and never give up.
9) Favourite Meal/Food?
- My dad was 100% Hungarian and he showed me his homeland recipe for Home Made Chicken Soup……….. Don’t forget the paprika and parsnip
10) Favourite Music/Musician?
- George Strait. When my wife and I finally got to see him in live in concert in Las Vegas, we could only get nose bleed tickets. Well, this turned out great, because just prior to the show, a security came to our row (top row) and took us to the 20th Wow what an experience.
11) What are some of your hobbies?
- Still like to play recreation hockey with the old boys, but my gear seems to be shrinking. Also love playing golf and taking walks with the wife, family and dog (Kobie).
12)Favourite sport other than hockey?
- My dad always had either the Blue Jays game on, Curling, or hockey. This kinda grew on me so I enjoy them all.