Brian Back
Brian Back
Brian Back
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS (1971 to 1974)
Brian was born in Biggar, Saskatchewan on January 13th, 1954. At a very young age he realized his passion - Hockey. Many remember the young Brian leading the pack to the hockey rink the minute school was over. He would public skate until 5:00pm, practice with his team mates and end the day playing with the next two groups or until Dad would come and drag him home. Saturdays would be spent playing shinny on the outdoor rink. At 13 he was kicked off the Biggar Bantam team for playing too rough. He took off for Weyburn and got on with the Red Wings. The first year they got to the Memorial Cup, but lost out in the Canadian finals. The second year they won the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
In 1971, Brian was traded to the Swift Current Broncos. In his second year he scored the goal in double overtime of the seventh game against Flin Flon, sending their team to the Divisional Final. However, they lost to the Regina Pats. Then he tried out with the Vancouver Canucks. He didn't make the team and came back to play with the Broncos, of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. They won the league and Brian won the "Most Popular Player" Award.
In 1975-76 he went to the Vancouver Canuck training camp and later played for the Spokane Flyers in the Western International Hockey League. The next year he played in Kimberly, B.C. and in 1977 went to play with the Prince George Mohawks. There he was voted "Best Defenseman" and his team won the Hardy Cup, Senior AA of Canada. The following year they played Campbellton, New Brunswick in the Canadian finals and won the second Hardy Cup.
In 1979, Brian moved to Vancouver Island. He played for the Vancouver Island Senior Hockey league. That year he married Donna, his first wife. The marriage lasted 6 years. They had two girls, Breeann and Aimee, who now reside in Oregon, U.S.A.
He moved to Biggar where he met his second wife, Norma. They have two children, Nicholas and Ama-Maree. Nick has just graduated from high school and Ana is in Grade 11. Brian began working in Mines. He worked in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. He has worked as an underground miner, a driller and blaster, and a mining instructor in SIAST College. Today he is Superintendent of Underground Division at Seabee Mine in Northern Saskatchewan.
Brian is now a proud Grandpa of two boys. They live in Oregon, which is definitely too far away.
Days off are spent relaxing at the cabin at Turtle Lake, SK. Retirement is in the near future.
