Volume 10, Issue 19, Week of May 13, 2013
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
The Spirit of
Saskatoon Jack Brodsky, with a treasured souvenir on his office wall. (Photo by Joelle Tomlinson)
Jack Brodsky exemplifies community involvement
J
ack Brodsky played minor hockey company. He kept going, mostly out of in Winnipeg. He became a fan of the respect to his employees. He was a hard Saskatoon Blades when his family worker, filled with perseverance. When moved to Saskatoon in 1965. he made up his mind to do Little did he know how hockey something, he stuck to it. He would dominate his future as a was a risk-taker, believing that business enterprise. was the only way to get ahead. Today, he is the co-owner, He was a sharp businessman, president and governor of the filled with honesty and Blades of the Western Hockey integrity, whether it was in League (WHL). He is in his construction or hockey. ” 15th season on the executive His father bought the Blades council of the WHL and chairs franchise from Jim Piggott, its education committee. another construction executive, He was president of the bid and entered a co-owners committee and subsequently the position with Joe Reich and People chair for the 2010 world junior Jack McLeod in 1976. Four hockey championship when the years later, the family bought event came to Saskatoon. He is co-chair of out its partners. Rick Brodsky became the Memorial Cup tournament, which will the chief executive officer, until he left to be held here from May 17-26. purchase a franchise in Victoria. Jack took And if you think that’s all in a day’s over the operation in 1992. work for Brodsky, he is also the chair The family sold the construction of Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition, a business as their father was dying of board member and co-founder of the cancer. He passed away in 1996. Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame, “My mother, still alive at 94, was the and chair of the board of Tourism homemaker, the balance to Dad’s drive, Saskatchewan. and she inspired us all as well.” He looks back and recognizes the Brodsky was primarily a fan when the inspiration came from his parents, Nate Blades played out of the downtown arena. and Marie. “You could smell the fried onions. You “My dad was an entrepreneur before see the smoke, from the people smoking anyone ever knew what the word meant,” cigarettes, near the ceiling at the beginning Brodsky said. of the game. Near the end, you could “In the early 1930s, when he was barely see the ice. It was a great place for unemployed, he rode the rails, begged for atmosphere.” food, but never gave up his spirit. He was The Blades became the major tenant a commercial ice fisherman and hauled when Saskatchewan Place, now Credit freight into northern Manitoba before Union Centre, opened in 1988. launching a construction business in the “It’s grown from 7,800 seats to 11,300 late 1940s. to nearly 15,000 in my time – perhaps a “By the early 1960s, an accountant once little bigger than ideal for normal season advised him to close down his construction games. We accept the size, knowing that
NED POWERS
the building draws in many attractions, and it’s a natural for events like the Memorial Cup, the world juniors and the Briers.” Brodsky likes the way Saskatchewan teams have stayed competitive in an extremely strong WHL. “Regina has the second-biggest rink. The new building in Moose Jaw made a big difference the last two winters. Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Prince Albert are the community-owned teams and people rally around them. The one thing about the WHL is that it values all partners equally, and where it makes a difference is in the bantam drafts.” As long as Brodsky has been a governor, the WHL’s education committee has been close to his heart. “Yes, our league is the fast track to the National Hockey League. But it doesn’t happen for everyone. Educational scholarships began early in the 1970s and a league standard by the early 1990s. Since 2000, the education committee has provided tuition and books to a nearby university for each year a player has served in our league. It is a very flexible program, making scholarships available at universities or trade schools. “If you look at the rosters of the Alberta Golden Bears or the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, you see the value their teams are getting out of WHL graduates. “The funds from our 50-50 sales program go mostly towards the education scholarships and other charities. Our investment in player education is about $70,000 annually and the WHL total is about $1.5 million.” Brodsky says making the playoffs usually guarantees financial success.
“Over the last five years, we own the best won-and-lost record in the WHL. I’m at a loss to explain how we have failed at playoff time. I’ve said all along that I support Lorne Molleken as our general manager and coach. When he was with us for the first time in 1991, I had the deepest respect for his hockey knowledge, his motivational skills and the ability to get players to work for him. Then, he went away to the pros and came back from Chicago, San Jose and Pittsburgh with more knowledge. He knows the game.” Brodsky says he has learned from WHL executives such as the late Ed Chynoweth and current leader Ron Robison, as well as from men like Bill Hunter. “The more I got to know Bill Hunter, I grew very fond of him. He was a warm guy, was really humble and gave friendly advice. The last time he did an autograph session for us, his hand was shaking so badly, but Bill stayed until the last customer got a signing. I think of Bill and Al Anderson as men who taught me to get more involved in the community.” He’s become an expert at wearing multiple community hats at the same time. That’s why he was selected as the winner of the Saskatoon B’nai B’rith’s We’re Proud of You award in 2007 and why, just days ago, he became the newest inductee into the SABEX Hall of Fame by the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Shirley, live on a quarter section of land west of Saskatoon, where Shirley raises horses. They are parents of three children, John, David and Heather. He is also the father of three — Erik, Schad and Jesse — from a previous marriage.