Stan Baluik
| Stanley Baluik | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1935 Port Arthur |
| Years in Thunder Bay | 1936–1954; 1956–1963 |
Stanley Baluik (also spelled Baliuk; born October 5, 1935) is a former Canadian ice hockey centre and professional golfer. He played in 7 games for the Boston Bruins in the NHL during the 1959-60 season, with the rest of his hockey career spent in various minor leagues.[1]
Thunder Bay connections
Stan Baluik (born October 5, 1935 in Port Arthur) is a former Canadian ice hockey centre and professional golfer. Early in his career he played junior hockey for the Fort William Canadiens in the NOJHA from 1950 to 1954, including Memorial Cup appearances. After turning professional in golf in 1955, he served as club pro at the Fort William Country Club in Fort William during the hockey off-season until 1963.
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Stanley Baluik was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 29 September 2001), for golf and hockey.[2]
The Hall of Fame profile is taken to be about this man: both name the Fort William Canadiens, the Boston Bruins and a professional golf career, with a birth year of 1935 or 1936.[2]
Born in Port Arthur, Baluik began his competitive Hockey career with the Fort William Canadiens in the junior ranks from 1950 to 1954. During his final season with the club, he was the leading scorer. He moved on to play for the Kitchener Canucks in the Ontario Hockey Association and later competed in the Quebec Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and American Hockey League. In the 1959-60 season, he signed with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.[2]
While he appeared in several games for the Boston Bruins, he spent the majority of the 1959-60 season with their affiliate, the Providence Reds. His performance in the American Hockey League that year earned him the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie. He remained with the Providence Reds for the final five years of his hockey career, finishing his professional tenure with 191 goals and 322 assists over 509 games.[2]
Parallel to his hockey career, Baluik was an accomplished Golf player, having started as a caddy. In 1952, at the age of 16, he made his debut in the Canadian Open. He won consecutive District Amateur titles in 1954 and 1955. In 1954, he became the first player from Northwestern Ontario to win the Ontario junior championship. He turned professional at age 19 and served as the Club Professional at the Fort William Country Club from 1956 until 1963. During this period, he won the District Open in 1957, 1960, and 1961.[2]
Upon retiring from Hockey, Baluik moved to Lincoln, Rhode Island, to become the Club Professional at the Kirkbrae Country Club. He established a record for the longest tenure at a single club within the New England PGA section, completing 37 seasons at the facility. His professional tournament victories include the Vermont Open, the Rhode Island Open, and various New England Pro-Am and Pro-Junior competitions.[2]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (1936–1954; 1956–1963) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Port Arthur in 1936, he played junior hockey in Fort William from 1950-54 and served as the Fort William Country Club Pro from 1956-63.[2]
Achievements listed in the profile:
- Won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Trophy as AHL Rookie of the Year in 1959-60
- Became the first golfer from Northwestern Ontario to win the Ontario junior provincial title in 1954
- Captured the Thunder Bay District Golf Association District Open title in 1957, 1960, and 1961
- Won the District Amateur golf championship in 1954 and 1955
- Recorded 513 career points over 509 professional hockey games
- Won the Vermont Open and Rhode Island Open golf tournaments
- Served as the longest-tenured Club Professional in the New England PGA section at Kirkbrae Country Club[2]
References
- ↑ This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article on Stan Baluik, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Stanley Baluik", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/4d41b801-c0b6-41d3-a5fd-81d53e710e82 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.