“Proud Past, Bright Future” That has been the team’s slogan this season. On Saturday, a significant part of the organization’s history will be honored as the Yorkton Terriers retire Ed Zawatsky’s #14 at Westland Insurance Arena, with the La Ronge Ice Wolves in town for the occasion.
When asked about finding out about the ceremony, Zawatsky expressed his surprise and gratitude.
“I am truly grateful to have my number retired alongside the other greats who have received this honor,” said Zawatsky. “I am a lifelong friend of Barry Marianchuk and have so much respect for him. I also watched Darrell Spelay dominate the SJHL—it would have been great to play alongside those two legends, so it’s pretty cool to have my jersey hang beside theirs.”
Zawatsky also highlighted the importance of his family in this special moment.
“It will be special for me to have my parents in attendance and share this honor with them. My mom Cathy and dad Clarie rarely missed a game when I was playing or coaching. They always watched my son Alec play for the Terriers, and now they watch my nephew Jye. This will be an honor shared by my entire family,” he added.
Zawatsky has left an indelible mark on the Yorkton Terriers’ record books. He holds the single-season points record with an astounding 158 points during the 1986-87 season, a year in which he scored 68 goals. His 158-point campaign ranks ninth in SJHL history.
In total, he amassed 108 goals and 133 assists, tallying 241 points over 122 games in a Terriers uniform, placing him sixth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
When asked about his fondest memories as a Terrier, his answer was simple: “It was fun.”
“I had great billets, the school was awesome, and all my teammates were great guys. It was fun to come to the rink every day. Playing junior hockey in Yorkton and in the SJHL was an incredible experience for me. Playing for the Terriers was something I had dreamed about from a young age. There were a couple of older guys from Langenburg who played for Estevan, and I would jump in a car and watch them play. They were the guys I looked up to. There was nothing better than skating onto the ice at the Agriplex while ‘Bad to the Bone’ played—I loved it,” Zawatsky reminisced.
After his time in Yorkton, Zawatsky took his talents south to play NCAA Division I hockey at Colorado College before turning pro. He had stints in the ECHL and AHL before heading overseas to Germany, where he played for nine seasons and recorded four 100-point campaigns.
Following his final year overseas, Zawatsky returned to Yorkton, stepping behind the bench as an assistant coach for two seasons before taking over as head coach in 2005-06. He guided the team to two league titles and led them to the 2006 RBC Cup Final.
Zawatsky hopes that many of the players he coached, as well as his fellow coaches, trainers, and executives he worked with, will be in attendance for the special night.
“It’s very humbling, and it wouldn’t have happened without everyone involved. I was fortunate enough to be the coach at the right time, and we were able to put together some championship seasons,” he said.
The pregame festivities will begin before puck drop, which is set for 7:00 PM.
