Hockey player, businessman.
Born at Winnipeg on 15 October 1929, son of Michael Balagus (1896-1971) and Helen Balagus (1906-1989), he attended Isaac Newton School. In 1951, he had tryouts with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs but ended up playing for the Winnipeg Maroons. His hockey career was completed in 1968 following 13 years playing for the Warroad Lakes. While playing hockey, he became co-owner of MGM Sporting Goods. He was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (1997).
He and wife Elizabeth “Liz” Oberwenec (1932-2011) had four children. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as President of the Board for the Sello Villa Apartments and the Canon Luhovy Assembly Education Foundation. He was declared Ukrainian Sportsman of the Year by the St. Nicholas Men's Club (1988) and Man of the Year by the Knights of Columbus (1998).
He died in Winnipeg on 21 January 2021.
Obituary [Elizabeth Balagus], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 June 2011.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 2021.
Obituary, Cropo Funeral Chapel.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 29 December 2021
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