Over 200 people packed onto the ice surface on Thursday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre to watch former Warriors players Kevin Masters and Paul Dyck be inducted into the Conexus Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame.  

Friends and family of the two, former players, their play-by-play broadcaster, and dignitaries joined to watch both Masters and Dyck get the call to the hall.  

Prior to speeches, a video montage was created for both players that included former teammates, billets, their coach, and the voice of the Warriors at the time Rob Carnie. They told stories, recapped each of their playing careers with the Warriors, and had some laughs.  

It was safe to say that emotions were high for both Masters, Dyck, and their family and friends in attendance.  

For Calgary product, Kevin Masters, the honour to join a long list of Warrior legends in the hall of fame was something he didn’t see coming.  

“When Derek [Kletzel] phoned in December I checked the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1," says Masters. “When it got closer, I started to realize how much the Warriors put into it how special it is and how lucky I am to be invited and be a part of it.” 

“It’s still surreal. You feel lucky but still, question if it was quite right,” adds Masters. “You have to take a moment and self-reflect and look at your career and say you did have a good career.” 

Kevin Masters 2 Feb 16_0.JPG

Masters played 246 regular season games in Moose Jaw from 1988 to 1992 as a defenseman. He finished with 38 goals, 108 assists, and 146 points, which has him as the sixth-highest-scoring defenseman in the organization’s history.  

After his four years in the Western Hockey League, he took advantage of the league’s scholarship fund to attend the University of Calgary.  

Master says you literally can’t put a price on having an outlet like the scholarship fund for players to use to get a post-secondary education and to continue to play hockey.  

“To be able to leave junior and decide to go to university is nice to be wanted and get to play a few more years of hockey. The education might be a little bit better in Canada than in the United States," He said with a grin on his face.

Masters graduated with a degree in Kinesiology. He is currently a strength and conditioning coach and works with the general population and adult and youth performance athletes in a variety of sports. 

He now resides in Edmonton with his wife Kathryn and two sons, Kyle and Lucas. Lukas plays U18AAA with OHA Edmonton, while Kyle is following in his dads' footsteps and playing in the WHL for the Kamloops Blazers.  

“He’s much better than I am and is driven as I’ve ever seen. He’s doing well and very lucky to be in Kamloops.” 

He concluded by saying that Thursday's ceremony was very special and a night he will never forget.  

Kevin Masters 1 Feb 16.JPG Kevin Masters during his speech on Thursday night. 

Over to Paul Dyck, who came to Moose Jaw from Steinbach, Manitoba, and played 144 regular season games in a Warrior uniform.  

For Dyck this was a very special night as this was the first time, he has been back to the city for quite some time.  

“It’s extremely memorable running into some people that I haven’t seen in a number of years, going back to Rob Carnie who was our play-by-play guy and some of the people on the video tribute, along with seeing Kletz,” explains Dyck. “Then going in with Kevin is very special as well, as I thought the world of him.” 

Paul Dyck 2 Feb 16.JPG Paul Dyck's plague unveiling on Thursday night. 

In 144 games, Dyck put up 17 goals, 51 assists, and 68 points and was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.   

After graduating from the WHL he went on to play hockey professionally including 714 games in the IHL followed by five seasons overseas in Germany.  

Following his playing career Dyck returned home in 2010 to coach the Steinbach Pistons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), in which he has been very successful.  

Dyck notes that his current success with the Pistons stems from his time in Moose Jaw with the Warriors.  

“It started with how the coaches treated me, along with the opportunity they gave me and I thought they were very honest and transparent with me. That is something that I try to do with our players.” 

In 2011 Dyck assumed the role of interim head coach in December 2011. He was named general manager and head coach in 2012. Dyck holds the record for the fastest head coach to win 250 games and on Nov. 5, 2022, he won his 400th game. 

“I love the level and the age group, I’m in my hometown and we have a great board of directors and ownership and the community has bought in. It’s been a special run.” 

He has led the Pistons to two league championships in 2013 and 2018 and was named the MJHL Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Paul, his wife Candice and children, Annikah, Nate, and Lucas reside, in Steinbach, Manitoba. 

Dyck concluded by saying that it is an honour to join the hall of fame alongside names like Theo Fleury and Mike Keane. 

“It’s pretty surreal. On Wednesday, I took in the U18 AAA game and I was walking around the rink and admired the building. I sat there and felt humbled by it.” 

Paul Dyck 1 Feb 16.JPG Paul Dyck was emotional on Thursday night during his induction speech. 

The two will also be honoured by the hometown fans prior to Friday night’s game between the Warriors and the Winnipeg ICE.  

The Conexus Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame is located on the north side of the concourse at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.