Adam Deadmarsh

Adam Deadmarsh was born in Trail on May 10, 1975, and played his minor hockey in Beaver Valley. Following a stellar rookie season with the Beaver Valley Nighthawks of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, he was signed by the Western Hockey League's Portland Winter Hawks in 1991. Two years later he was the second choice of the Quebec Nordiques (14th overall) in the National Hockey League entry draft.

Deadmarsh enjoyed tremendous success at Portland, scoring 134 goals and 276 points in 222 games. Due to the fact that his mother was born in the U.S., he was eligible to play for the American national junior team, and twice competed in the world junior championships.

When the Nordiques moved to Denver, Colorado, prior to the 1995-96 season, Deadmarsh went with them. He was a key member of the Avalanche Stanley Cup championship team that season, and in the fall of 1996 was a member of the gold medal champion Team USA in the World Cup. He led the Avalanche in goals with 33 in 1996-97 and was selected to play for Team USA at the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, where Team USA took home the silver medal.  Adam was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2001 and due to injury, announced his retirement from the NHL in 2005.

Barret Jackman

Barret was born in Trail and raised in Fruitvale, where he played his Minor Hockey. He played 4 seasons of Major Junior Hockey for the Regina Pats from 1997-2001.
Barret, a defenseman, won the Pats' Rookie of the Year Award and Scholastic Player of the Year in the 1997/98 season, and was the team's MVP in the 1999-2000 season. That year, he Captained Canada's Under 18 Team to a Gold Medal in the Under 18 World Tournament in Slovakia. In 2000 and 2001, Barret was a member of Canada's World Junior Team.

Barret was the St. Louis Blues' first choice, 17th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Blues for the 2002/03 season and was voted the NHL's Rookie of the Year.

Beaver Valley Jr. B Hockey Team (2013-2014)

The Beaver Valley Jr. B hockey team has won seven KIJHL league championships in the last fourteen years and five Cyclone Taylor Cups (BC Provincial Championship).  In 2014, the team won the Cyclone Taylor Cup and went on to win the Keystone Cup beating teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Ontario.  The Keystone Cup is recognized as Canada’s Jr. B National Championship.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks 2013-14 team are:

Sam Swanson, Jake Yuris, Keanan Patershuk, Sheldon Hubbard, Lyle Frank, Blake Sidoni, Riley Brandt, Ryan Edwards, Walker Sidoni, Jeremy Lucchini, Mitch Titus, Dan Holland, Dallas Calvin, Kyle Hope, Brett Clark, Fraser Stang, Jacob Boyczuk, Archie McKinnon, Russell Mortlock, Braden Fuller, Mitch Foyle, Taylor Stafford, Carson Schamerhorn.

Kevin Limbert - Assistant Coach

Jamie Cominotto - Assistant Coach

Terry Jones - Head Coach/General Manager

Tom Meakes - Trainer

Dave Pasin - Video Coach

Kevin Hendricks - Trainer

Bobby Kromm

Bobby Kromm has excelled as a player and a coach in four hockey leagues for over 30 years. In 1948, Bobby joined the Kimberley Dynamiters of the Western International Hockey League, and the following year moved to Trail, where he married and remained until 1963. From 1963 to 1965, he was player coach in Nelson. Bobby played 475 games in the WIHL (Western International Hockey League), the second most in the league history. He is all-time league leader in points, with 783 and all-time league leader in assists with 524. Bobby led the Trail Smoke Eaters in scoring in 1954-55, and 1958-59.
From 1959 to 1963, Bobby was playing coach of the Trail Smoke Eaters, where he led the team to the finals in the 1960 Allan Cup and coached the team to the historic 1961 World Hockey Championship, against all odds. Under his tenure, the Smoke Eaters were also winners of the 1962 Allan Cup, and represented Canada in the 1963 World Hockey Championship.

While player coach of the Nelson Maple Leafs, Nelson reached the finals of the Allan Cup Championship.

From 1967 to 1975, Bobby was coach of the Dallas Black Hawks in the Central Hockey League. In 1972, he was Coach of the Year in that League. Under his leadership, the Dallas Black Hawks finished first in league standings in the 1971-1972, 1973-74, and 1974-75 seasons, and won the League Championships in the 1968-69, 1971-72 and 1973-74 seasons. From 1971 to 1975, he also managed the Dallas Arena, as well as being Coach and General Manager of the Black Hawks.

In 1975, Bobby moved to coach the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association. He was Coach of the Year of the World Hockey Association in 1976 and won the WHA Championship with Winnipeg in the 1975-76 season, and lost in the WHA Finals in 1976-77. Bobby coached 161 games in the WHA.

In 1977, Bobby moved on again to coach the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League. Bobby was Coach of the Year in the National Hockey League in 1978 and coached the Red Wings in 231 games in the NHL.

Since leaving the hockey scene, Bobby worked in the automotive industry in Livonia, Michigan.  He passed away in July 2010.

Brandon Gawryletz

Born in Trail in 1983, Brandon’s childhood was not unlike most youth in our area. He played minor hockey in the Greater Trail Minor Hockey system, supporting several teams to league wins and three provincial championships in Pee Wee AA and Bantam AA.

In 1997, Brandon played in the BC Games in Osoyoos. The following year, he joined the Beaver Valley Nighthawks for a season, followed by two seasons with the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters, another two with the Langley Hornets, then returning to Trail for the 2003-04 season.

During that time, he was selected for Team Pacific, with whom he played in the 2000 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Timmins, Ontario.

His post-secondary career brought him to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, part of NCAA Division 1, from 2004 to 2008.

He began officiating professionally in the East Coast Hockey League and the Central League for the 2013-14 season. The following year, Brandon officiated his first NHL game on October 14, 2015. He has officiated over 600 games, including many playoff games.

Brandon lives in Colorado with his wife, Dr. Chelsea Gawryletz, and children Audrey and Gracie.

With brother Travis, the Gawryletz brothers are the first professional sports officials to be inducted to the Home of Champions. The brothers now join the ranks of esteemed Trail siblings like the Stones, the Haleys, the Kobluks, and the Bays. They were inducted in 2025.

Butch Deadmarsh

Butch played all his Minor Hockey in Trail before joining the Kelowna Buckaroos of the BC Hockey League, where he was Rookie of the Year in the 1966/67 season. In 1968, he joined the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Butch was drafted 15th overall by the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL in the 1970 Expansion Draft. He played 137 games in the NHL with Buffalo, the Atlanta Flames, and the Knsas City Scouts before joining the Vancouver Blazers of the WHA in 1974. Between 1974 and 1978, Butch played 255 games in the WHA with Calgary, Minnesota, Edmonton and Cincinatii. He retired from professional hockey at the end of the 1977/78 season.

Butch currently resides in Calgary.

Cesare Maniago

Cesare Maniago was born and raised in Trail, where he played minor hockey.

Cesare played seven games for the 1960-61 Toronto Maple Leafs and fourteen games for the 1962-63 Montreal Canadiens. He played the 1965-66 season with the New York Rangers.

He was claimed by the Minnesota North Stars in the NHL Expansion Draft in 1967 and played for them until 1976 when he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

Cesare's best goals-against average for the North Stars was 2.65 in 1971-72. He won the team MVP award three times. He retired in 1978.

Charlie MacLean

Charlie played an important role in Canadian minor sports.

It was Charlie who, in 1953, originated the idea for Minor Hockey Week in Canada.

He drafted a proposal which was accepted unanimously in 1953 at the local level (Trail Minor Hockey Association), in 1954, at the provincial level (British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association) and in 1956, at the national level (Canadian Amateur Hockey Association).

Minor Hockey Week in Canada turned out to be a huge success. The idea was to celebrate the people who make our national game available to our children and reinforce the idea that minor hockey is a community asset to be cherished.

Born in Nelson, B.C. on February 1, 1911, Charles MacLean recieved his education in Nelson. Charlie spent most of his 57 years around Trail and Nelson, pursuing hockey, the sport he loved best.

Charlie served for 29 years with the Trail Hocket Association. He was also a president, treasurer and secretary-treasurer of the Trail Boys' Booster Club. Charlie was also president of the West Kootenay Minor Hockey Association, the West Kootenay Junior Hockey League and a director and Referee-in-Chief with the Western International Hockey League.

Charlie also served as president of the Trail Junior Lacrosse Association and was a director with the Trail Athletic Association.

Dallas Drake

Dallas Drake, a native of Rossland, B.C., was born February 4, 1969. He started his hockey career at the age of four under the Minor Hockey League Association. Dallas moved his way up through Pee-Wee and Bantam divisions.

He played for the Rossland Junior Warriors for three years from 1984-87. In his first year playing for the Warriors, (KIJHL) he was named Rookie of the Year. In the Kootenay International Hockey League, he was the top scorer for the Rossland Junior Warriors in 1986-87 and the KIJHL's Most Valuable Player. Dallas was also Most Valuable Player for the KIJHL in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

Dallas was also a member of Team BC for the Canada Winter Games held in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Dallas then moved up to the BCJHL (British Columbia Junior Hockey League) and played Junior A Hockey for the Vernon Lakers. There, he was MVP in 1987-88, scoring 39 goals and 87 assists, winning the BC Junior Mowat Cup under the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association.

After one year of playing Junior A Hockey, Dallas obtained a four year American University Scholarship from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. His first year brought him the acknowledgment of "Freshman of the Year" for Northern in 1988-89.

In June 1989, Dallas was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League in the 6th round. Dallas has played for Detroit, Winnipeg, St. Louis and Phoenix in the NHL.

Don McLeod

Don is another outstanding professional athlete from the Trail area.
Don played major professional hockey from 1970 to 1978. He first played in the Detroit organization in the NHL and was acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1971. In 1972, he was selected by the Houston Aeros in the newly formed World Hockey Association and played in the League for the next 6 years. Other teams he played for included the Vancouver Blazers, the Calgary Cowboys, the Quebec Nordiques and the Edmonton Oilers.

In 1974, Don had a standout campaign leading the League with a goals against average of 2.56 and backstopping the Houston Aeros to the Avco World Championship. Also in 1974, Don was the backup goaltender with Team WHA in their series with the Soviet National Team. Don?s career highlights include the 1974 Avco World Championship, the Ben Haskin Trophy for the best goaltender in 1974, the Terry Sawchuk Trophy for the fewest goals against in the Central Hockey League in 1971. Don was also named to the WHA?s first All Star Team in 1974 and had a 3.33 lifetime goals against average which is in the top 10 in the WHA and recorded 11 shutouts, which is 4th in the WHA history.

Don is recognized as being the first goaltender in pro hockey to use the curved stick, a common practice among today?s goaltenders.
In the 1973/74 season, Don led the WHA in wins with 33 and a goals against average of 2.56. In that year, he led the League in playoff games played 14, minutes played 842, wins 12, and goals against average 2.49. In 1974/75, he led the WHA in games played 72, minutes played 4,184 and wins 33. In 1976/77, he led the WHA in games played 67.

Don played 18 NHL regular season games, 332 WHA regular season games, and 31 WHA playoff games.

Dulio "Duke" Scodellaro

Born in Maple Leaf, Alberta in 1914, a community that now forms part of the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Duke arrived in Trail in 1936 at the age of 22. He worked at Cominco and joined the Smoke Eaters in 1937. That season, he would shine in net, earning himself the moniker, “The Shut-Out King.” The following year, the Smoke Eaters won their first Allan Cup Championship, after a cross-Canada battle. He accompanied the Smoke Eaters to the 1939 World Championship tournament in Switzerland representing Canada, where they swept their opponents. Duke and his team allowed only one goal, showcasing not only his skill in net, but also the team’s elevated style of play. He spent another 12 years with the Smoke Eaters, retiring in 1952, after winning the BC Amateur Hockey Association’s Outstanding Player award.

As a builder, the hockey world credits Duke with a now-common style of goaltending which sees goalies leave the crease to better cut down angles. This style of play was first noticed while he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto during the Second World War. If that weren’t enough, Duke is also associated with designing and developing the first goalie blocker, a now-standard piece of equipment held in the stick hand. An example is on display in the Trail Museum & Archives.

Duke, famous for his flipped-brimmed hat, was a pivotal element of the storied Smoke Eater legacy and a mentor to many goalies. He passed away in Trail in 1983 at the age of 69.

He was inducted in 2025.

Frank "Deacon" Wait

COMMUNITY BUILDER - SPORTS
Frank was born on April 9, 1902 in Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan. As a boy, he was interested in athletics, primarily track and field events and ice hockey.

Frank started a serious hockey career, playing junior with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He then played senior hockey at Indian Head in Weyburn, Saskatchewan before coming to play for the Trail senior team in 1924. In 1925, he turned pro with the Vancouver Maroons. Deacon was then a member of the 1926-27 Springfield Indians. He was then traded to the Boston Tigers in 1928-29. That year, Deacon led the league in points and was chosen the Most Valuable Player. At this time in his career, he was believed to be the best stickhandler in pro hockey. He was called the “Babe Ruth” of the American Hockey League. In 1929-30, Deacon played for the New York Rangers.

In 1934, Frank retired from professional hockey and he accepted a coaching position with the Trail Smoke Eaters and a position with Cominco Ltd. Frank left coaching in 1937 to focus his energies on raising a family. Frank returned to coaching with the intermediate Smoke Eaters in 1951. In that year, the Smoke Eaters won the Coy Cup, the Western Canadian Intermediate Hockey Championships in Brandon. In 1953, he moved on to coaching various divisions in minor hockey where he remained until 1972. During these years, Frank’s teams won 11 Provincial Championships.

In recognition of his dedication, sportsmanship and his contributions to minor hockey, Frank was honoured with a number of awards. He was named Trail Citizen of the Year in 1971 and was awarded the BC Amateur Hockey Association Diamond Stick Pin for his contribution to minor hockey in 1967. The Diamond Stick is the highest award given by the BC Amateur Hockey Association.

Following his retirement from Cominco in 1967, Frank and his wife moved to Christina Lake. Frank passed away in July 1989.

Frank Turik

Frank "Putsy" Turik grew up in Trail and played his minor hockey in the City.  In 1944, Frank was a member of the famous Trail Junior hockey team that played in the final of the Memorial Cup championship against the Oshawa Generals.  Despite the team losing the finals to the more powerful Generals, Frank was a standout and in 1945 he was invted to play for the St. Michael's College of Toronto Juniors, who went on to win the Memorial Cup.  He was the tournament's leading scorer with an amazing 3 hat tricks in 5 games.

He then moved to the Ottawa Senators of the Quebec Senior League and was selected to the League's all-star team in 1947.  The following year, he had a trial with the Montreal Canadiens.  After not making the team, he returned to Trail to play with the Smoke Eaters for the next 12 years.  With the WIHL, he was the first player to score 500 points and was noted for his skating abilities and his slick stick handling.

Frank played two years with the Rossland Warriors but returned to the Smoke Eaters for the Allan Cup drive in 1960.  He was a member of the 1961 Trail Smoke Eaters World Championship team, however did not travel to Europe.

Following retirement from hockey, Frank coached the Smoke Eaters and was Referee in Chief for the WIHL.  Frank continued to play old timer hockey with skill until he was 65 years old.  Frank passed away in 2009.

Fred Heslop

Fred Heslop was born in Trail and played minor hockey through to the junior level.  He spent many years coaching minor hockey, winning the Provincial Juvenile Championship 1968.

In 1992, Fred was invited to become a member of the Board of the BC Amateur Hockey Association, now called BC Hockey.  He served on the Board from 1992 to 2006.  He represented the West Kootenay District from 1992 to 1996 and was then appointed an Officer of the organization, serving on many Board committees until he retired from the Board.  He was elected President of the BC Hockey in 2004, serving in that capacity until 2006.  Upon retirement from the Board, Fred was presented with the Diamond Stick Pin,the highest honor given by BC Hockey.  He was also named the recipient of the 2006 Sport BC Presidents’ Award for his dedication to minor hockey in the province.

In 2015, the BC Minor Hockey Association announced that the Minor Hockey Week awards, which honour volunteers in minor hockey, was being named the Fred Heslop Minor Hockey Awards beginning in April of 2016.

Fred passed away in 2013.

Garth Rizzuto

Garth was born in Trail on September 11, 1947. As with all boys growing up in Trail in the 1950s, Garth played hockey.

Garth was a tough competitor and was skilled enough to play junior hockey for the Kelowna Buckaroos and the Moose Jaw Canucks. Garth made his professional hockey debut with the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League in 1967, playing three seasons. The team won the league championship in 1969 and Garth was the top scorer on the team.

In 1970, Garth was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL Expansion Draft. He played 37 games with the Canucks. He played with the Rochester Americans and the Seattle Totems in the 1971-72 season and signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association in the summer of 1972. From 1972 to 1974, Garth played with the Jets, playing in the AVCO Cup Finals in 1973. Garth retired from hockey in 1975.

Garth excelled at many sports and continues to make a contribution to the advancement of sports in officiating. He is a certified National Level 3 Coach in hockey, a certified National Level 3 Coach in boxing, a certified Level 1 Referee in boxing and a certified National Level 3 Racquetball Referee. Garth is currently a boxing instructor at the Cranbrook Boxing Club.

Glen Sanders

Glen began a coaching career in 1978 with the Trail Pee Wee rep team.  This was followed by three years coaching the Trail Bantam Rep team.  In 1984, Glen's scouting career began when he was invited to help secure talent for the Prince Albert Raiders of the W.H.A.  

Glen coached the Trail Junior B team for two years, winning coach of the year in 1987.  The same year, he was hired by Ken Hitchcock to scout for the Kamploops Blazers.  For ten years, Glen helped the team win six Memorial Cups and winning three of them.

In 1996, Glen became the General Manager for the new Trail Junior A team.  After three seasons, he returned to scouting and took on the position as head scout for the Tri City Americans, then the Regina Pats.  

In 2004, Glen was hired to scout for the NHL's Nashville Predators, a position he contiues to hold.

Glen has dedicated his life to many hours on the road, visiting countless hockey arenas, and helping many young players realize their hockey dreams.

Glen was inducted in 2019.

Gordie Robertson

Gordie played every sport.

He had swum from Castlegar to Trail, played lacrosse, baseball, softball and hockey.

He played with a minor hockey bantam team which won the B.C. Championship. As a juvenile, he played for the Nanaimo Clippers in 1945 and came back to play for the Smokies in 1946-47.

In 1952, his team won the Gold Medal in the Olympics while he played for the Edmonton Mercury Champs. In 1958-59 he played with the Smokies when they went to the Allan Cup. Gordon "Gordie" Robertson was born on June 25, 1926.

Jim Anderson

Jim was born in 1916 and began to play hockey at the age of 10.  This would prove to be a lifelong dedication to the sport of hockey and its growth locally, provincially and nationally.

Jim excelled as a player and became a member of the Trail Senior Smoke Eaters in the late 1930s before enlisting for WWII.  Following the war, he rejoined the Smoke Eaters before becoming coach of the Trail junior team in 1949.  Under his direction, the juniors won the BC Championship in 1950 and 1952.

From 1958 to 1963, he served as the Association's Secretary-Treasurer.  From 1963 to 1986 he was the Association's Honourary Vice-President.

Jim's major contribution to the administration of hockey in BC and Canada came through support for the rules of the game.  He was the Chairman of the BC Amateur Hockey Association's Rule Committee and Referee in Chief for 5 years and was the Western Canada representative of the CAHA Rule Committee for 5 years as well, including Chair of the Committee for 3 years.

In 1974, Jim received the CAHA Meritorious Award for service to hockey in Canada.  Previously, he had been awarded the BCAHA prestigious Diamond Stick Award for his service to hockey in BC.  Jim made a significant contribution to the evolution of amateur hockey in BC and Canada through both the BCAHA and the CAHA.

Jim Mailey

James Anthony Mailey was involved in just about every kind of sport available in Trail and will always be remembered as someone who always had the sport's best interest at heart.

Jim was born in Vegreville, Alberta.

He played junior hockey with the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Nanaimo Clippers and senior hockey with the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Jim coached Midget, Juvenile, Junior and Intermediate hockey in Trail.

He refereed at all levels of hockey, including Junior, Senior and the Allan Cup finals. He also organized and instructed referee clinics in B.C.

Jim was very active as President, Secretary and Director of the Trail Minor Hockey Association for many years. He held positions with the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association, including Referee-in-Chief and representative to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. For many years, he was also very active with the Trail Athletic Association.

Together with Bobby Kromm and Art Misisco, Jim established the Bobby Kromm Summer Hockey School in Trail.

Jim was presented with the Diamond Stick Award in 1978, one of only four area residents that have received this honour.

In 1984, Jim was named Kiwanis Sportsman of the Year. This award is bestowed upon a Trail citizen who has given endlessly, over a long period of time, to sports in Trail, The Home of Champions.

Jimmy Morris

In 1974, Jimmy Morris was elected to the BC Sports Hall of Fame as a multi-talented athlete.

Jimmy was born in Tacoma, Washington on December 15, 1911.

He arrived in Trail in 1925 and first played organized hockey during the 1927-28 season for Peter McIntyre's Trail Juniors. He joined the Trail Smoke Eaters in 1932 and played until 1946 when he retired as an active player.

In 1939, Jimmy was a member of the World Championship Smokies.

His success in sports was not confined to hockey. He also excelled in lacrosse, soccer, rugby, baseball, softball, basketball, and track and field. He played on at least 27 BC championship teams, an outstanding achievement that will be difficult to duplicate.