Terry Andryo was back home in Calgary when he got the call from the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame.
A former resident of St. Andrews, it had been nearly two decades since Andryo’s work with minor football in Manitoba — most notably with the North Winnipeg Nomads, where he played a key role in developing the program.
Now 60, Andryo spent a decade coaching, organizing and helping to revamp the Nomads alongside friends who took on similar roles. Together, they grew the program from about 200 registered players to nearly 500, while also spearheading stadium upgrades, player equipment deals and programs to make the sport more accessible.
In 2008, Andryo moved to Calgary, where he and his wife, Maria, finished raising their football-loving family. Their four children — Orysia, Natalya, Zenon and Zac — were all around the game growing up, whether playing, helping with teams or being coached by their dad.
Andryo’s time in Manitoba, however, would not be forgotten. Back in April, he received a call from a Manitoba number. When he answered, he was told he would be one of the 2025 inductees into the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame.
On Sept. 25, at the Princess Auto Stadium Pinnacle Club, Andryo officially received his induction in the Builder category. Many of his football friends were in attendance to celebrate the moment.
“The award is not for me. This is a we moment for us because you can’t build a community solo — you can’t do this alone,” said Andryo. “There are people all along the process, and others who jump in periodically. When I look at something like this, I’m just the guy going to get the cup, that’s it. Everybody contributes to the success of building the community, and the fact that it still exists right now is a powerful statement.”
Earlier that day, Andryo spoke about the group of more than 40 friends who came to support him — many of whom he had played hockey, football or other sports with over the years.
Over time, he has made regular trips back to Manitoba to reconnect with many of those teammates. Some have known each other since the early 1980s, when they played for the Lockport Cowboys.
Shortly after his Cowboys days, Andryo went on to play centre for the University of North Dakota football team, before returning to Manitoba after one season. He later reunited with his friends to play four years of junior football with the Winnipeg Hawkeyes.
“Tonight’s really special for me — not from an awards perspective, but because there are going to be 45 or 50 guys that I played ball or hockey with, three or four different sports, who are going to be there tonight,” said Andryo. “That’s what it’s all about. When you talk about community, and you can get 45 guys you played with 40 years ago to commit to dinner tonight at $150 apiece — that, to me, is special.”
To read more about Andryo and the rest of the 2025 Football Manitoba Hall of Fame inductees, visit footballmanitoba.com/2025-hof-inductees.
