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Former Bruins coach Lovering to be inducted into Sask Hockey Hall of Fame

A former Estevan Bruins head coach was named as a builder to the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2018 inductees.
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A former Estevan Bruins head coach was named as a builder to the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2018 inductees.

John Kelly Lovering, who died in December, 2014 after a long battle with cancer, was a chairman of the National Coaching Committee and wrote manuals that established a foundation for instruction and evaluation. He conducted coaching clinics across Canada and places like Iceland, Japan, China, Australia and England. He was also a former coach of the Autralian national team. While he was at Notre Dame, he coached a total of 38 players who eventually went to the National Hockey League, including Wendel Clark, Curtis Joseph and Rod Brind’Amour.

Lovering coached the Bruins from December 2001 to January 2003. 

In addition to his stint with the Bruins, he had coached the La Ronge Ice Wolves in their first season of 1997-98. 

Other members of the hall of fame class include former players Ron Delorme, Bill Hicke, Hayley Wickenheiser, official Lyle Wilhelm, grassroots organizers Larry Johnson and Dennis Loeppky and the 1987-88 Notre Dame Hounds of the SJHL.

The induction dinner will be held July 7 at the Credit Union iPlex in Swift Current. The hall is located within the iPlex.