Our latest podcast...

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The hockey career of Yorkton’s Metro Prystai has been well documented. He had a storied career with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings over a span of 12 years in the 1940s and 50s, scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Red Wings in the 1952 finals, back when there were only six teams and only the very best made it to the top, let alone the Stanley Cup playoffs. He won two Stanley Cups with Detroit, and was named to the NHL All-Star team three times.

He was not the first with a Yorkton connection to make it to the NHL; he was one of several dozen. But he was Yorkton’s own, born and raised in a house on Ontario Avenue close to St. Mary’s Church, the second-youngest of seven children born to Harold and Annie Prystai, Ukrainian immigrants.

Metro and most of his contemporaries have passed on. But in 2003 he sat down with Terri Lefebvre Prince, then the city archivist, and they recorded two hours of conversation during which Metro reflected on his life. 

And Frank Block wrote and recorded an audio book, The Metro Prystai Story, in 2015. With the permission of both the City of Yorkton and Mr. Block, we have used those audio files, as well as information gleaned from online sources, for this podcast remembering the life of Metro in and outside hockey, much of it in his own words, with insights from those who knew him well.

These are stories about people and events in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been on the map since 1882 when a small group of men from Ontario, and originally from Britain, came to the District of Assiniboia, still largely unsettled prairie and aspen woodlands. 

There are many stories -- and perhaps some myths and mysteries -- to be explored.

We publish a new podcast at least once a month. All are available on this website, as well as all podcast directories. Simply search for Yorkton Stories.

These podcasts are a labour of love and respect for those who came before us, and who make Yorkton what it is today. As a former newspaper owner and editor, former city councillor, still-active community volunteer and local history buff, I know many of us have stories to tell. If you have one we should know about, get in touch.

If you want to support this effort, please consider making a donation. 

And please feel free to tell others about Yorkton Stories -- pass on this website address to those who may be interested, or help us by promoting it on your social media. We are on Facebook and Instagram @YorktonStories.