Jon Radcliffe is a world-class auctioneer and has had many opportunities and experiences, but coming home to Waskada is still at the top of his list. “It’s great to come home to Waskada and find out the guys are still my friends 30 years later. Waskada is one of a kind. It is very close to my heart. I grew up here and it’s good to see everyone.”
Radcliffe reinvented himself after suffering a severe injury in the sport of Bull Riding. He spent a long time recovering and basically had to teach himself to talk again. Well, he did this so well that he became an auctioneer, and not just any auctioneer — a Canadian and World Champion Auctioneer. He owns Radcliffe Auctioning Ltd and currently auctions for ADESA Auctions in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. He lives in Torrington, Alberta.
On Saturday, March 31 Radcliffe accompanied former NHL player and coach Brian Sutter to the Waskada Sportsman dinner/fundraiser. Brian was invited to be the guest speaker and Jon was thrilled to be asked to conduct a live auction. The proceeds from the evening were split five ways — new playground, Chamber of Commerce, Day Care, Waskada Legion and the Waskada Museum.
The evening program began following an incredible prime rib dinner.
“I’d like to introduce my good friend and current coach of the Innisfail Eagles (senior men’s) — Brian Sutter. Now, most (NHL) speakers make between $5-10,000 for speaking engagements like this, but Brian said he would like to donate his fees back to the community. He loves small towns,” said Radcliffe. He continued by relating Sutter’s NHL experience – he was drafted in the second round in 1976 and retired as a player in 1988. He played 12 years with the St. Louis Blues and was the captain for nine years. He played in three All-Star games. St. Louis retired his #11 in 1988 when Sutter retired and in that same year he became the youngest coach in the NHL. He subsequently had coaching positions with Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and and Chicago Black Hawks. In 1991 he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach.
Radcliffe and Sutter used the question-answer format in lieu of a speech. To begin those in attendance learned how the two met over ten years ago. Radcliffe auctioned at the annual Sutter Golf Tournament — an event that started 22 years ago, and is the longest-running charity golf tournament of its kind. “We’ve raised $5 million to date, of which 99% of it has gone to families in need all over Western Canada. We get referrals from RCMP and teachers. There are usually about 240 golfers and 35 celebrities,” said Sutter.
“Brian called me up and asked me if I knew of any kids in trouble in my community, and I said yeah there are a couple that need to get busy. Brian paid their hockey fees.”
Question – what was your job as a player?
Answer – I was the second oldest of seven. Number one, I couldn’t skate so I had to figure a way to get it done. My job was to be on the other team’s best player. I was always told what I couldn’t do and I wanted to prove them wrong, that I owed it to the people who bought tickets to the game. So, my job was to shut down their best players, help my team by being a good teammate and playing my heart out.”
Question – who helped you the most in your career?
Answer – I learned a lot from my brothers. They are all my best friends. They taught me to be as good as you can be every day. We had our moments too — we fought all the way to the bus, on the bus, when we got off the bus. . .in fact, we weren’t exactly welcome to play in the intramural sports at school because we were too rough,” joked Sutter, “but I’m proud of what my brothers have done.
Also my coaches in Pee Wee. You know, playing and coaching in the NHL is really no different from minor hockey. I remember all my coaches and teammates — I cared as much in Pee Wee as I did in the NHL.
Question – What was the game like compared to now, besides the money?
Answer – You know it’s fascinating - if I were still playing I would be a $15 million player now. There is less skill in the game now and low scoring. There were great players now and there are great players now, but now you can’t touch anybody and you’re getting a penalty, it’s less physical — but the winning teams are still physical. The best players have to be your hardest workers every night. It took Glen Sather and the Oilers five years to figure that out and then they were away.
Question – what advice would you give young players going into juniors and/or college?
Answer – Be yourself, be as good as you can be. The job as a coach is not to change people, it’s to find out what makes them special. Trust and Respect are two of the most important things. As a player I knew I was only as good as the other 19 people in the room. As a coach – the players gotta know they’re cared for. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, hockey is a small part of our soul and life – it is a reflection of your soul and you gotta care.
Question – I’m thinking you’ve had a lot to do with the Russian players. Tell us about that.
Answer – At first no one knew how to look at the Russians. I made Alex Zhamnov the first Russian captain in the NHL – one big reason was he didn’t need to hear his name. Vladimir Tretiak is a good friend – he is very influential in Russia, politically and in hockey. He started the KHL and wanted me to go coach there. He offered me a million dollars but I thought the farm was more important. I don’t care where you go or who you are, you will meet good people.
Question – You are in the St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame and your NO. 11 jersey was retired. What does this mean to you?
Answer – I think about the guys that wore it before me. I consider myself lucky. I was around a lot of great people. If you want to be successful in life you should never care who gets the credit and be the first guy to try to fix things, stick up for kids, for the poor, for those less fortunate. I don’t expect life to be easy.
Question – What was it like coaching Theo Fleury
Answer - To win on the ice you gotta win off the ice first. Theo has come full circle. Players become like sons to you – some of them need to be reminded what makes them good people every day. Theo’s had one of the toughest roads in life but he’s touching people in the right way now. It’s the same as with Byfulgien and Kane — everyone said they wouldn’t make it, but I knew they would. Byfulgien is a special guy, he’s a warrior. You need guys like that on your team to win. It’s special to see the Jets doing what they’re doing this season.
Question - What was your best game?
Answer – I thought I was special every day I wore that #11 jersey
Question – Who is going to win the Stanley Cup?
Answer – I’d love to see Winnipeg win. One of the greatest things in life is to do a thing everyone says you can’t do. The key is keeping the team together. As a captain or coach you have to know when and when not to reprimand. All the players – everyone one of them are an important part of winning — Winnipeg has this figured out.
The question-answer was paused for some live auction selling. The items included a Brian Sutter rookie card, Jets tickets vs Chicago; a Blake Wheeler jersey complete with authenticity certificate and a Mark Scheifele jersey complete with authenticity and two Brian Sutter St. Louis Blues jerseys and a Reggie Leach Philadelphia Flyers jersey.
Back to the question-answers
Question – Is 18 too young for the draft?
Answer – It’s had a trickle-down affect. The skill level has gone down in Alberta – a lot of kids are burnt out by 18. Kids wear out and the game has to be fun. And it’s gotten too expensive – in Alberta, you can only afford to put two children through the system – if you have three, one is gonna have to be left out. It’s affected the Bantam Draft, and parents are now thinking they need agents for their young teens. In many cases the parents are more upset than the kids if they don’t make it.
Question - What was it like playing against Gretzky?
Answer – Wayne is a special guy. He is extremely respectful it’s hard to describe. You know there’s something real unique about the guy when Gordie Howe says Wayne’s the greatest player. I think he should be a general manager because of his tremendous insight. He’s a special human being.
Question – Who was the hardest to play against?
Answer – Ed Jovanovski was definitely one. All the guys I hated playing against – I wished they were on my team.
Question – Why are you coaching in the minors?
Answer – It’s more challenging – your guys have jobs and families. And I tell them – this is the order of importance: 1a – job; 1b – family; 2. Hockey. Basically you want them become good people (the same as when coaching Pee Wee, NHL or anyone).
“Thank you for having me – what you are doing here is very good,” concluded Sutter.
Radcliffe offered his gratitude as well. “It’s good to get together. I am privileged to have a friend like Brian Sutter. He is all about keeping communities together. The entire Sutter family was recently inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame for what they’ve accomplished on and off the ice.”
