In 1989 Wendy Toye took up the torch for speed skating in Humboldt and laid the foundations for one of the most successful clubs in the province. Toye and a group of volunteer parents organized the Club and served as founders, coaches and every other position required of a new club. They approached the City schools and recreation department started operations that year with skates donated by the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club.
The club grew from a few families to include as many as 40 skaters in the learn to skate program. Early families both volunteers and skaters included Stumburgs, Toyes, and Stolzs. Other skating families included the Spences, Peters, and Eatons.
By the mid-nineties Carol and Hugh Jenkins were providing leadership for the club and their three sons were skating. In 1995-96 another soon to be well known skating family joined the club and Addison and Ebony Thiel hit the ice.
In 2000 Ebony and Addison Thiel brought home the club's first 4 National medals and Ebony was the clubs first national champion in Long Track. Addison was the first of many runners-up and won 2 medals. Along the way Ebony set both Provincial and National records some of which still stand six years later. Sadly Ebony broke her leg twice in short track and the club lost one of it's best competitors to injury. Ebony retired with six national medals including winning 2 more in 2002 when she finished 3rd in Canada.
Addison also set a number of Provincial and Canadian records. In 2002 he won 2 gold the first day but finished second after being knocked off his feat in the next two races by team mates of the eventual winner. In 2004 he finished 2nd overall with 1 gold and 1 bronze. He also represented the province at the 2002 Canada Winter games. Addison retired in 2006 with many provincial titles, two national runner-up finishes and 5 national medals.
In 1999 another speed skating family hit the ice, the Burner family - Nathan, Ryan, Terran Bernhard. Lloyd and Susan Bernhard both serve on the executive.
Nathan won his 2 first national medals in 2001 in Regina. In 2004 he picked up a second National medal. In 2005 he cleaned up winning 2 gold and a bronze.
Little brother Ryan became the club's second National Champion winning 3 gold and a silver.
In 2006 Nathan became the club's third national champion winning 3 gold and a bronze. He also became the club's first North American Champion winning three gold and a Silver at Salt Lake city.
Willie Dutton joined the club in 2002. He brought home 2 national medals that year. In 2004 he won another medal at Nationals. In 2006 he won three medals and finished second overall at Canadians. He also finished second in the North American Championship at Salt Lake City.
Through the years the club has been fortunate that many volunteers have stepped forward to provide the means for skaters to compete recreationally, at club events, provincially, Nationally and Internationally. All of this generations skaters have blossomed under the 'winning-est' coach in the province, Larry Thiel. His patience, knowledge and willingness to share are the foundation of the club's Provincial and National Championships. Successor coach Craig Dutton has been fortunate to work with Larry and to continue the winning tradition of the Humboldt speed skating Club.
In 2006 another strong volunteer stepped forward, Rachel Krueger re-introduced the school based speed skating program with the help of teachers from St. Dominic. The program and Cindy Klassen's astounding success in the 2006 Olympics and World Championships have again raised the profile of speed skating in Humboldt.
Maybe one of Humboldt's finest will make the final step to the Olympic podium in the future.
