Ab Slivinski
| Ab Slivinski | |
|---|---|
| Ab | |
| Died | 1992 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1956; 1962–1992 |
Ab Slivinski was a multi-sport athlete and prominent high school coach who led numerous teams to regional championships in Northwestern Ontario. Ab Slivinski was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 as a builder.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Ab Slivinski was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 25 September 1993 in the builder category for football, hockey, baseball, golf, basketball, wrestling, track and field and soccer.[1]
Career and service
Raised in Port Arthur, Slivinski was an active athlete in several sports before transitioning into coaching. During his youth, he played junior Hockey for the North Stars and the Canadiens. He also competed in Baseball with the Red Sox and played football for the Mustangs. On the links, he earned multiple Golf titles at local clubs. Between 1956 and 1961, he studied at the University of North Dakota on a hockey scholarship. Although he received professional contract offers from the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, he chose to pursue a career in teaching.[1]
Slivinski began his professional career at Selkirk High School in 1962. He became a central figure in the Thunder Bay high school football scene, establishing successful programs at both Selkirk and Westgate C & VI. Over the course of his career, his teams captured nine Northwestern Ontario Secondary School Association (NWOSSA) championship titles. In 1984, he was a primary organizer in the establishment of the Thunder Bay Giants and served as the inaugural head coach of the organization.[1]
From 1967 until 1992, Slivinski worked at Westgate, where he coached a wide variety of sports including Basketball, Wrestling, Golf, Hockey, Track and field, and Soccer. His mentorship helped several students achieve success at national and international levels. Beyond the school system, he contributed to the Northwestern Ontario Amateur Football Association, the Ontario Amateur Football Association, and the Canadian Amateur Football Association. In 1990, the Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Associations recognized his dedication to the profession by presenting him with the Pete Beach Award.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1956; 1962–1992) rests on the following dated evidence. He grew up in Port Arthur and played local sports before attending university in 1956, then returned to teach and coach in Thunder Bay from 1962 until his death in 1992.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Won nine Northwestern Ontario Secondary School Association football championships
- Attended the University of North Dakota on a hockey scholarship from 1956-61
- Served as the first head coach of the Thunder Bay Giants starting in 1984
- Received the 1990 Pete Beach Award from the Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Associations
- Coached basketball, wrestling, golf, hockey, track and field, and soccer at Westgate C & VI for 25 years
- Offered professional football contracts by the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Ab Slivinski", builder profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/builder-profile/e03d94b9-e420-47b2-91e8-05f2b123e169 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.