Wes Rudy’s love of cars began with his father.  Being a parent now, he says it was probably just a hobby aimed at keeping him and his brother and sisters out of trouble, but one that stuck with them all. 

An old, well kept, Karb Kings club jacket from Swift Current still hangs in Rudy’s garage. The first year head coach of the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings says hockey and restoring classic cars both require goal setting.

“It’s very similar, you have to be passionate, you have to enjoy what you’re doing, and you have to set goals and you want to achieve those goals.”

Rudy’s garage is affectionately known as the “Toy Box”. Inside, you’ll find his ’66 Mustang sitting next to a classic “Ski Whiz”, a snow machine he keeps purely for nostalgic reasons, and a motorcycle.  Down the street, in Weyburn, at his brother’s home, is the family’s prized car. It’s a 1933 Ford Coupe.

“It was my dad's car originally, and I think it holds the top of the trophy in the Rudy household, but there's no, getting behind your own car and knowing you put the time and effort into it, it's a great feeling for sure.”

Perhaps what Rudy is better known for around town, is his brief big screen moment. Rudy appeared in Adam Sandler’s film “Happy Gilmore” some 25-years ago.

“We were told it was going to be released straight to video” Rudy remembers. It was a brief scene, early in the film, where Sandler’s character is cut from the hockey team he’s trying out for. Rudy was the goaltender.  He says the scene took two full, 16-hour days to shoot and is now, just a great memory.

“He’s a good coach, he’s a real nice guy, and it’s been a fun year with him” forward Carson Rose says. “He was in Happy Gilmore, so you know, he’s got a great sense of humor. He’s an interesting guy, with his hobbies, loves his hobbies, his cars and that.” Adds captain Mike Eskra.

Rudy says the garage provides the perfect stress relief from the rigors of a long junior hockey season and admits, his movie career, is likely over.

Rudy’s Weyburn Red Wings currently hold a .500 record and are fighting to avoid the SJHL’s Survivor Series playoff. They finish out their season this week with a game Wednesday in Wilcox against the Notre Dame Hounds, followed by a home-and-home set against their biggest rival, the Estevan Bruins.