Huskies’ long-time team doctors Paul and Mario Taillon named co-winners of the 2023 Off the Leash Luncheon Award of Recognition.
Michael P. J. Kennedy, Ph.D.
For each year since its inception in 2009, “Off the Leash Luncheon” has recognized an individual or group which has made “contributions over a period of years to the betterment of Huskie men’s hockey and/or its alumni in the form of dedicated time or talents…or other assistance to the team and its alumni.” This year’s co-winners are two men who have provided decades of medical support for the team.
Nominator and former team physiotherapist Scott Cyr has succinctly captured what the Taillon brothers have brought to the Huskie men’s hockey team: They “…exemplify what it means to be a Huskie. Both Paul and Mario have been relied upon to provide medical expertise and assistance for our hockey players. Both have sacrificed countless hours of weekend time to ensure that our players are medically taken care of, along with providing exceptionally prompt service within their clinics whenever an athlete has needed to be seen.”
Born in Willow Bunch, Paul Taillon was one of five boys raised by Rodrigue and Madeleine, and attended school in Assiniboia before completing his high school at the bilingual College Mathieu in Gravelbourg. After receiving his B.Sc. in Physiology from University of Saskatchewan in 1977, Paul attended medical school at U. of S. and earned his M.D. in 1982, completing his internship at St. Paul’s Hospital.
“Doc” Taillon was attracted to family medicine because of his interest in providing long term care for patients. His interest in hockey led him to sports medicine as well. He has practiced family and sports medicine in New Brunswick, North Battleford, and, since 1995, here in Saskatoon. That year also marked his initial work with the Huskie men’s hockey team. Among his credentials in the field, Dr. Taillon has a Diploma in Sports Medicine and is a member of both the Canadian and Saskatchewan Academies of Sports Medicine.
Paul and Mario Taillon “have been part of the Huskie health care coalition for years. Their experience has helped shape the coalition and they have provided quality mentorship for medical students, student trainers, and medical residents alike.” Paul’s direct involvement with physiotherapist Rhonda Shishkin in establishing the University of Saskatchewan’s concussion programme is an example of how he has been working continually toward the good health of the student-athletes. When asked of what contribution to the team he was proudest, Paul said: Working with Rhonda Shishkin to get “the whole concussion programme organized and running was pivotal in providing evidence-based care for sport related concussions.”
Husband to Lynda Davidson and father of Dominique (married to Rhonda and father to Jonathan and Juliette), Nicole (married to former Huskie defenceman Derek Endicott and mother to Jacob and Noah), and Daniel, (partner Kristel Harder), Paul Taillon has had his family share him with the Huskie family as he has spent many hours providing medical assistance for the team in Saskatoon and has journeyed with the team during playoffs and nationals.
At the conclusion of his first ten years with the Huskie family, he wrote a letter to the team praising the character of the team and the players’ commitment to hard work to attain team goals: “These men [the players] respect themselves and they respect others. Others include their teammates, coaches, and trainers.” “Respect is deep within Huskie hockey tradition.” “To play for the Huskies is a privilege but it requires sacrifice and hard work.” “…[T]he soul of this programme is they win and lose as a team.”
With humility, he credits his years of service to the Dogs as giving back to him much more than he has given: “Professionally it has sharpened my skills as a sports medicine physician and it has been great working with awesome professionals like the coaching staff, the physios and student trainers, Paul Cyr, and most of all my brother Mario who is such a gifted orthopedic surgeon.”
As he looked back at his twenty-eight years of service to the team, Dr. Paul Taillon has said: “ I feel privileged and proud to be part of the Huskie family. I certainly have gained more than I have contributed.”
For his years of personal and professional commitment to the Huskie Men’s Hockey Team, Dr. Paul Taillon is co-winner of the 2023 Award of Recognition.
Mario Taillon was born in Saskatoon the youngest of five brothers raised by parents Rodrigue and Madeleine. He attended primary school in Assiniboia . Like his brother, his secondary education was at the bilingual College Mathieu boarding school in Gravelbourg for grades eight through twelve. At College Mathieu he participated in volleyball, track, basketball, broomball, and hockey. He played defence in hockey but also was active in student government and rose to the position of president.
After completing a year of pre-med at University of Saskatchewan, he obtained his degree in medicine with great distinction from U. of S. in 1987. Following an internship at City Hospital, he did his residency in orthopaedic surgery and obtained a Royal College fellowship in 1992. The avid sportsman went to University of Oregon where he completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, and Upper Extremity. While there, Mario had the opportunity to work with the NCAA University of Oregon Ducks where in his words, he “really enjoyed his time” working with student athletes.
Upon his return to Canada, he practiced in Calgary which enabled him to be an orthopaedic consultant as part of a medical team working with Calgary Hitmen, Calgary Stampeders, and Calgary Flames’ athletes. Among those with whom he worked were Stamps’ quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia as well as Calgary Flames’ Mike Vernon, Joe Nieuwendyk, Michael Nylander, and Gary Roberts.
With such a wealth of experience performing orthopaedic procedures on university and professional athletes, Mario “really wanted to come back to Saskatchewan” and settled in Saskatoon where he has three children; Joel, Justin, and Matthieu and is married to Alison. He is currently an integral part of the Saskatoon Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Centre where he is described as having “clinical interest and expertise [which] includes arthroscopic surgery of knee and shoulder, ligament reconstruction, and [other] athletic related injuries.”
Since returning to the Bridge City in 1998, Dr. Mario Taillon has been directly involved with the men’s hockey team as the Dogs’ orthopaedic specialist. His knowledge, skills, and experience have also been called upon as he serves as a clinical associate professor in the College of Medicine at University of Saskatchewan.
For his years of peerless service to the Huskie Men’s Hockey Programme, Dr. Mario Taillon is indeed a worthy co-winner of the 2023 Award of Recognition.
Dr. Paul (left) and Dr. Mario Taillon (right) holding the Award of Recognition plaque which will be on display at Merlis Belsher Place and their individual plaques.
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