The purest form of leadership is that of a servant; the greatest in an organization is best served by treating themself as the least to do the best job.
That is John Anderson, to a tee.
He is currently the Yorkton Terriers’ Alternate Governor and volunteer assistant equipment manager, but he seems to have done everything except play and coach for the team for the last 17 years.
Anderson, 60, has been the club’s Governor, Team Chaplain, a board member, the man in charge of security volunteers, off-ice officials, has staffed the ‘Terrier Window’ and helped out in the announcers’ box doing stats.
He and his wife Karen have also been billet parents.
So, anything he can do for the Terriers, he has done.
“John’s passion, honesty and servitude represent the Terriers, the SJHL and our community in an unparalleled way,” says Yorkton head coach and general manager Emery Olauson.
“In a time where volunteerism is waning, John keeps going above and beyond. The league is better because of John’s service to it, and our team can’t thank John enough for all he has done. On a personal note, John was among our family’s first true friends in Yorkton when we arrived, and we are lucky to know him.”
Born in Quebec to a military family, Anderson grew up in Flin Flon and was a hardcore Bombers fan until he finished high school in 1989. After years in Alberta, he and Karen moved to Yorkton in 2007 and became involved with the Terriers as the Team’s Co-Chaplain.
The SJHL has Chaplains across the league who provide Chapels to the players under the umbrella of Hockey Ministries International.
As described by the HMI website, Chapels are: “interactive sessions (that) provide players with a message, a prayer time, and an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their own lives; things that matter to them; things with which they struggle. Chapel leaders explain Biblical principles that can help them to deal with challenges on and off the ice.”
Anderson feels that preaching and living his faith with the Terriers’ players has been central to his work with the club.
“I truly believe that it was in God’s plan to bring me to Yorkton and to be the Chaplain for all these years,” he says.
“I always tried to be a positive role model for the boys and tailored my messages to fit where they were at the time. I have always felt the draw to help the kids accomplish what they set out to do. I feel God has put me in the lives of these young men to show His love. I try to set an example of how to live the way God wants us to, and I enjoy encouraging them through tough games and seasons to the good ones. I never advise on what they should do on the ice as that would be, in my opinion, overstepping my role and maybe contradicting what the coach had told them, but I am there to support the boys spiritually and mentally.”
He was there for the team’s two league championships in 2013 and 2014, and National Championship in the latter year, as well as the runs to the final in 2010 and 2011.
Last season, he took on all the roles described above and has settled into helping with laundry, laying out jerseys and gear for home games, and whatever else needs to be done in support of head equipment manager Kade Wishnevetski.
Anderson is loving it so far.
“I must say that even though I enjoyed my other roles,” he says, “this one has to be the most rewarding.
“I really feel the draw to serve these young men and the coaching staff. Sometimes the hours are long, but I enjoy my conversations with them, and I feel that the guys and the coaching staff appreciate what I do for them.”
Away from the rink, Anderson claims he is ‘semi-retired’ and works as an educational assistant in a Grade 3/4 class at St Alphonsus School in Yorkton. He is also eager to join the staff at the rink in nearby Theodore, SK, where he hopes to drive the Zamboni.
His big heart to serve the Yorkton players, staff, and community also continues to be noticed by the league as a whole.
“We sincerely appreciate John’s commitment to both the Terriers and to the SJHL,” says SJHL Commissioner Kyle McIntyre
“Clearly, he has a passion for sport and a vocation to serve youth. John wore multiple hats while volunteering for the Terriers, he continues to be part of the SJHL Management Committee, and he is now an equipment manager for the team. Volunteers like John continue to make our franchises and our league tick!”
Anderson is “very excited with the direction” Coach Olauson is taking the Terriers, who have spent most of the season among the league’s upper echelon and have been ranked in the National Top 20 clubs.
“I believe he is putting a winning team on the ice,” Anderson says,” and we will be contenders once again after a long drought.
“I also think the team and organization is looking more professional, and as always, the boys are great role models in the community. I am very excited to see where we are going and feel privileged that I am allowed to be part of this exciting time.”
His passion for the Terriers does him credit, and as a servant of all at the Westland Arena, John is one of Saskatchewan’s Finest.
