Hockey Canada honoured community leaders from across the country during its annual awards banquet Thursday night, held as part of the governing body’s 95th annual general meeting at the Westin Calgary.
The Outstanding Volunteer Award went to Nancy Wilson of London, Ont., who has contributed tremendously to the growth of the game in British Columbia, across the country and around the world over the past 15 years. She has had a particularly strong role in developing women’s hockey, acting as both the game plan and female high performance coordinator for B.C. Hockey. She has also served as head coach of the University of British Columbia, Team B.C. and Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team, and as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team. Wilson was the first-ever recipient of the B.C. Hockey Development Award – Female High Performance Program, and is an inspiring coach mentor provincially, nationally and internationally.
The eight Hockey Canada national award winners honoured Thursday are as follows:
Female Hockey Breakthrough Award
(Outstanding contribution to advancing female hockey)
Dave Peterson (Calgary, Alta.)
Hal Lewis Award
(Hockey Canada staff person who best exemplifies the spirit of the organization)
Glen McCurdie (Manotick, Ont.)
Gordon Juckes Award
(Outstanding contribution to the development of amateur hockey at the national level)
Clément Jodoin (Rimouski, Que.)
Officiating Award
(Outstanding contribution to officiating at the branch and national levels)
Richard Trottier (Laval, Que.)
Hockey Canada Order of Merit – Atlantic
(An individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully)
Gerry Evans (Mount Pearl, N.L.)
Hockey Canada Order of Merit – Central
(An individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully)
Bill Appleby (Waterloo, Ont.)
Hockey Canada Order of Merit – West
(An individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully)
Rob Virgil (Edmonton, Alta.)
Outstanding Volunteer Award
(Outstanding volunteer work in amateur hockey)
Nancy Wilson (London, Ont.)
A ninth award, the Liz MacKinnon Award, will be presented Friday. The award is given to the spouse of a volunteer who has made special contributions to Hockey Canada, and to the game.
Nominations for all awards were submitted by Hockey Canada’s 13 member branches, and the winners were chosen by Hockey Canada’s selection committee. The success of minor hockey associations in Canada depends heavily on volunteers and Hockey Canada is pleased to recognize the individuals who contribute greatly to the game of hockey across the country.
More than 250 representatives from regional and provincial hockey associations are in Calgary for Hockey Canada’s 95th annual general meeting, which started Thursday, May 29 and concludes Sunday, June 1.
