Few people who have worn a Lloydminster Jr. A uniform over the years have had as significant of an impact on the organization as Mark Hallam.
Growing up in Medicine Hat, Hallam made the move to Lloydminster to begin his junior career in the fall of 1996. Little did anybody know at that point that he would produce 238 points over the next three seasons, a standard that has yet to be met by anybody within the Blazers/Lancers franchise.
Not only did he rack up the points during his time on the ice with the Blazers, but Hallam served as a tremendous leader within the organization.
“Mark Hallam was the best captain I have ever played for. He was not the toughest player but the toughest person,” said former teammate and current Bobcats assistant coach Kris Wiebe. “If something bad happened during a game, he would be the first to claim it but if something good happened, he would step back and never take the credit. When I got the chance to be a captain in junior and college that is how I tried to run my team as well.”
He would then advance past Junior A to an NCAA Division I hockey career that included three seasons at Iona College and one at Quinnipiac University, where he led his team as captain in his senior season. After completing his studies in college, Hallam returned to Lloydminster to assume the role of Marketing Manager for the Lloydminster Bobcats for three and a half years, where he excelled much like he did on the ice.
During his time with the team's front office, Hallam thrived in approaching community members for sponsorship and getting fans involved at the rink.
“We were fortunate when Mark Hallam returned to Lloydminster,” said former Bobcats player Matt Strickland. “His dedication and sincerity towards the welfare of the players was tremendous.”
Today, Mark resides with his wife and kids in Okotoks, where he works with Enerflex.
Hallam joined the Bobcats game night broadcast back on September 19th to discuss his time spent in Lloydminster.