MOOSE JAW — The 32nd annual Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner, held at the Exhibition Grounds recently, honoured three local champions and welcomed Craig MacTavish, Curtis (Cujo) Joseph, Lloyd (Shaker) Moseby, and Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach Corey Mace to Moose Jaw.
Hosted by the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club and presented by JGL Livestock, the sold-out banquet celebrated local sports achievements and was a major fundraiser for the Kinsmen Club’s youth sports programs and community projects. After expenses, the Kinsmen Club expected to raise more than $75,000 for these endeavours.
The night began with chairman Coleton Froehlich’s opening address.
“By attending tonight’s dinner, you are helping the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club give back to the community in a meaningful way — whether it is the numerous youth sports groups, or the park improvements we give to, just to name a few,” Froehlich said.
Rod Black, a veteran broadcaster with CTV Sports and TSN, served as the master of ceremonies and kept the evening flowing smoothly with his lighthearted charm. A highlight of the evening was the Hot Stove segment, where the four celebrity athletes reflected on their careers through a candid question-and-answer feature.
Returning celebrities
MacTavish, a familiar face in Moose Jaw, reminisced about his visits to the city years ago when he, along with other Edmonton Oilers, supported the Clark Gillies Celebrity Golf Classic.
“It’s been a while, but I have great memories from when we came here and raised money for such great causes,” MacTavish said.
For Joseph, his return to Saskatchewan brought back memories of his breakout season with the Notre Dame Hounds in 1988 when he helped lead the team to a Centennial Cup title.
“Coming back to Saskatchewan always feels special,” Joseph said. “That year was a turning point for me, and I’ll always remember the success we had at Notre Dame.”
Meanwhile, Lloyd Moseby shared a fond memory of stopping in Moose Jaw years ago with fellow baseball legend Roberto Alomar.
“We were on a road trip, and we made a stop to get a photo with Mac the Moose,” Moseby recalled. “It’s great to be back here and be part of such an important community event.”
Three local celebrities honoured
The awards portion of the evening was another highlight. Moose Gibson, a long-time umpire and dedicated advocate for wheelchair curling in Moose Jaw, was honoured with the Sports Builder Award sponsored and presented by the Moose Jaw Express and SaskPromo.com.
The award recognized his significant contributions to local sports including his influence in bringing the Wheelchair Curling Championships to the city in 2023 and 2024 — confirming that Moose Jaw was an ideal venue to host similar curling events.
Mark O’Leary, head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors, was recognized with the Sports Team Award presented by Golden West Radio. This recognition comes on the heels of an unforgettable season in which the Warriors claimed their first-ever Western Hockey League championship in 2023-2024.
The team’s incredible performance captured the community’s spirit and ended a 40-year wait for a championship title, making the Warriors a clear and unanimous choice for Team of the Year.
The Kinsmen Sports Achievement Award went to Cory Olafson, for his dedication to promoting the Sports Celebrity Dinner and his longtime role as a baseball coach and mentor. Olafson was additionally presented with a Kinsmen Club life membership for his unwavering commitment to the community.
The evening wrapped up with closing comments from Froehlich, who praised the event sponsors, volunteers, and attendees.
“This event wouldn’t be possible without the amazing people who give their time and resources to make our community stronger,” Froehlich wrote in his chairman’s message.
To learn more about the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club visit “” on Facebook or email [email protected].
