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Nick Ruigrok, Okotoks, Alberta |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Alberta |
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Theresa Watts, Delta, British Columbia |
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Regional Winner: Hockey BC |
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Dolphus Nitsiza, Behchoko, Northwest Territories |
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Regional Winner: Hockey North |
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Darren Zembick, St. Andrew’s, Manitoba |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Manitoba |
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Mark Toner, Grand Falls, New Brunswick |
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Regional Winner: Hockey New Brunswick |
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Gary Martin, Mount Pearl Newfoundland |
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Regional Winner: Newfoundland and Labrador |
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Keith Miller, Lantz, Nova Scotia |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Nova Scotia |
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Rick Jones, St. Catherines, Ontario |
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Regional Winner: Ontario Hockey Federation |
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Cosimo Filane, Schreiber, Ontario |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Northwestern Ontario |
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Louise Groulx, Orleans, Ontario |
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Regional Winner: Ottawa District Hockey Association |
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Bill Butler, Stratford, PEI |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Prince Edward Island |
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Andrée Leblanc, Daveluyville, Quebec |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Quebec |
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Mike Schwean, Moosomin, Saskatchewan |
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Regional Winner: Hockey Saskatchewan |
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Nick Ruigrok, Okotoks, Alberta
Regional Winner: Hockey Alberta
According to nominator Leigh Lolacher-Kelm, Nick Ruigrok is the ‘go-to-guy for hockey in Okotoks.
“If you need to know anything about hockey in Okotoks, just ask Nick,” said Lolacher-Kelm in her nomination essay. “Our community depends on Nick. Just watch him walk through any arena and you’ll see there’s not many people that don’t stop him with questions, or just to chat, or at the very least for a wave and a friendly smile.”
The driving force behind this selfless volunteer’s efforts is a belief that every child should have a chance to experience the sport that unites Canadians, and that every child’s first experience should be a positive one.
Each year he runs an initiation program for hundreds of local kids new to the sport, and in 2007 he launched a local chapter of Kidsport, a charity designed to help families with registration fees and equipment costs. Over the past three years he has dedicated countless hours to help KidSport achieve its goals in Okotoks.
“When others drop the ball Nick picks it up and finishes the job’”, added Leigh Lolacher-Kelm, an Okotoks resident. “From organizing hockey tournaments and special events, to coaching numerous teams, advising parents, gathering sponsors, managing KidSport, -- truth be told I don’t think the man sleeps. But he doesn’t consider any of this ‘volunteering.’ It’s what he loves to do.”
Theresa Watts, Delta, British Columbia
Regional Winner: Hockey BC
When the Olympic Flame comes to Delta, BC in February, it will be handed to hockey volunteer and drama teacher Theresa Watts.
Watts is this year’s RBC Local Hockey Leader for British Columbia, one of 13 volunteers (one for each Hockey Canada branch) recognized by RBC Insurance, with support from Hockey Canada and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
RBC Insurance will donate $10,000 to a local hockey cause in Watts’ name, and as a special added bonus Watts will receive a Team Spot in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. This Team Spot will give Watts and up to 20 fellow volunteers the opportunity to collectively carry the Olympic Flame for one kilometer.
“Theresa is a selfless, hard-working hockey mom, team manager, division manager, high school drama teacher and Christmas tournament organizer,” said Delta’s Brent Holiday in a nomination letter. “She loves what she does and is the absolute epitome of a volunteer: She does it for the kids and she takes no credit.”
“Every house player in South Delta since 2003 has benefitted from her tournament... easily over 1200 boys to date and climbing. We are so proud that she will be recognized with the world watching during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.”
Dolphus Nitsiza, Behchoko, Northwest Territories
Regional Winner: Hockey North
In northern Canada, when travel costs become an obstacle for kids hoping to play hockey, volunteers like Dolphus Nitsiza are invaluable.
“If it were not for Dolphus looking after travel arrangements, insurance, registration and attending league meetings on our behalf we would not have the opportunity to play,” said Chris Cochran, the local teacher and men’s league player who nominated Nitsiza. “One of the students in my class has been taking part in Dolphus' Saturday youth hockey trips as well, and it is all that he can talk about on Monday at school. The smiles on all of the kids’ faces are so rewarding and great to see.”
RBC Insurance will donate $10,000 to a hockey cause in Nitsiza’s Behchoko, Northwest Territories community. A panel including National Women’s Team member Jayna Hefford, National Men’s Sledge Hockey Team captain Jean Labonté and hockey legend Ron Ellis selected the winners, including Nitsiza.
“Of course the tasks involved with getting kids onto the ice with proper instruction requires the assistance of several dedicated volunteers,” added Cochrane. “But Dolphus has taken the lead role and without him none of it would have been successful.”
Over the past six years RBC Insurance has awarded more than $600,000 to grassroots hockey activities across Canada through the RBC Local Hockey Leaders program.
Darren Zembick, St. Andrew’s, Manitoba
Regional Winner: Hockey Manitoba
Forgot Pucks, need pinneys, missing equipment? Darren Zembick is there to the rescue.
Outside of his job as Icemaker at the Community Club in St. Andrew’s, Zembik volunteers hours upon hours of his time to ensure the town can be proud of the facility. Painting the dressing rooms, purchasing a skate sharpening machine and acting as ice scheduler are just some of the few ways that Zembik has shown he is a true hockey leader in the community.
“Everyone in our community knows who Darren is,” said Donna Sutherland in her nomination essay. “Darren’s the fellow who is always at the rink, and when he’s not it just doesn’t feel right.”
Recently Zembik initiated and organized a Stanley Cup Celebration for 3,000 people to welcome home Detroit Red Wings Centre and former St. Andrew’s native Darren Helm. Zembik even retro-fitted the old zamboni to parade The Cup around town.
“Hockey in our area is so much better because of Darren,” added Sutherland. “He makes hockey so much better by making sure it is a positive experience and yet, on top of that he helps so many people become better human beings.”
Mark Toner, Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Regional Winner: Hockey New Brunswick
Mark Toner’s hockey story began in 1972, when he and his wife Rita were watching their son Guy’s futile attempt at shoveling their outdoor rink on a windy day. It was that day that New Brunswick’s RBC Local Hockey Leader determined to put a roof and boards around his rink and keep it open, free of charge, for any local kids that wanted to play.
“For 37 years Mark has kept this rink open to anyone who wishes to play hockey, and he has never missed a season,” said Grand Falls resident Gerald Desjardins in a nomination essay. “Even more remarkable is that he kept taking care of this rink even when his own children had left the family home. He is up through the night making ice all season long, all because he gets a kick out of seeing parents bringing their children to the same rink they played when they were youngsters.”
Today, this humble rink – kept going by Mark Toner and his wife -- is the epicenter of hockey in Toner’s Grand Falls community. It is the place where kids don’t have to pay to play, and can skate without too many rules or pressures.
“The Olympic Flame will be in Grand Falls on November 28 for the torch relay,” added Desjardins. “What an opportunity to have this behind the scene volunteer take centre stage for this historic event – we’d really like for him to know how much he means to our community.”
Gary Martin, Mount Pearl Newfoundland
Regional Winner: Newfoundland and Labrador
With a nomination spanning five pages and ten reference letters it is evident that Gary Martin is what keeps hockey alive and thriving in Mount Pearl.
Martin’s coaching career which began in 1985 has spanned all levels of minor hockey including high school, senior Men’s and the Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games Women’s Hockey team.
Sean Tobin noted in his nomination that, “I have not met anyone who has demonstrated the kind of dependability, dedication and passion for our game that Gary has shown.”
But Martin did not limit his volunteer career to coaching, he has become a level four certified hockey referee and is currently in his third term as President of the Mount Pearl Referees Association. He has developed implemented classroom and on-ice instructional sessions and manages the evaluations of all officials.
“What continues to impress me about and so many others about Gary is his unwavering commitment and passion for grassroots hockey development,” added Tobin. “The hockey community is a better place for Gary Martin and I, like so many others are better people for having the honour and privilege of working with him.”
Keith Miller, Lantz, Nova Scotia
Regional Winner: Hockey Nova Scotia
The Hockey Hall of Fame is full of hockey heroes. In June, 2009, they will be joined by a Keith Miller – a selfless hockey volunteer from Lantz, Nova Scotia.
“Keith Miller has volunteered as Ice Plant Operator, Ice Maker, Cleaner, Supervisor, payroll clerk, skate sharpener and, most importantly, every kid’s friend,” said Miller’s daughter Cindy Miller in a nomination essay that detailed the 25 years her father spent volunteering as manager of the East Hants arena until it closed in 1993. “If it were not for my Dad, a lot of kids wouldn’t have had the proper equipment to play. To this day, with the volunteer work he does for Minor hockey calling bingo, etc, it helps keep costs of playing hockey much lower.”
In 1993 Miller’s beloved East Hants arena closed its doors. As the new arena was being built, Lantz’s community leaders prepared some special recognition for the volunteer who had spent so much time building up his community through hockey.
“The board of directors at this new facility hosted a “Keith Miller night”, where many generations in the community gathered to thank this selfless man for all he had done for them,” added Cindy Miller. “A room in the arena was even named after Dad – the Keith Miller Room – where his portrait is on display.”
The 82-year-old Miller can still be found volunteering at his local rink, calling bingo fundraisers twice a week.
Rick Jones, St. Catherines, Ontario
Regional Winner: Ontario Hockey Federation
Eight years ago Rick Jones initiated a hockey program, CYO HEAT Hockey, to provide a place for mentally disabled children and adults to play hockey and become part of a team.
“Rick is a very special person here in the Niagara Region”, noted Mark Middleton in his nomination. “He gives our children a place to play hockey, he provides older disabled players a means to enable them to play, and families the opportunity to participate and socialize, which would not be available if not for his volunteering.”
Eight years later Rick is still on the ice with these players each and every week. In addition, Rick organizes the annual CYO HEAT golf tournament and has started a program for teenagers to volunteer and work with the disabled, enabling them to achieve their community hours required for school.
“There are many families whose lives have been touched by Rick’s involvement in hockey and the CYO Organization,” added Middleton. “Rick has the thanks and gratitude of many parents, children and families throughout the Niagara community.”
Cosimo Filane, Schreiber, Ontario
Regional Winner: Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Cosimo filane has a long history of hockey as a player, coach, President of Schreiber Minor Hockey, founding member of Fallen Rock Minor Hockey and as an elected board member of Hockey Northwestern Ontario.
Cosimo is the kind of volunteer who becomes an ambassador for his community” noted Edith Commisso in her nomination. “With his outgoing personality he soon befriends new people and on his numerous trips as a representative for Hockey Northwestern Ontario he makes our small town of Schreiber known to all he meets.”
As the father of eight kids, the Filane household was hockey central. If Filane heard of any young players that might be in need of equipment he would simply reply, ‘we’ll find you something, don’t you worry. You just make sure you’re at practice.’
Added Commisso, “His mission statement is that no child should be sitting in the stands if they want to play hockey. His is a firm believer that the game of hockey is, and always will be, for the kids.”
Louise Groulx, Orleans, Ontario
Regional Winner: Ottawa District Hockey Association
The job of volunteer treasurer is behind the scenes and can often go unnoticed if not for people like Loise Groulx of Orleans, Ontario who has managed the finances for Orleans Minor Hockey for the past 26 years.
“She easily spends 20 volunteer hours a week on her treasurer role during peak registration periods and 10 hours a week minimum during ‘slow times’,” wrote Graham Young in his nomination. “Last year she oversaw a $435,000 annual budget, processed 785 player registrations and managed every aspect of the finances.”
Groulx credits “staying on top of it” for allowing her to cope with her vast workload which also includes stints as an annual Jamboree volunteer and a Team Manager.
“I get me reward by watching the kids come through the system,” added Groulx. “…they are so honest and genuine. They look up in the stands and they are thrilled at what they are accomplishing. The kids are learning a skill that they can use throughout their lifetimes.”
It is obvious that to the town of Orleans, Louise Groulx is one in a million.
Bill Butler, Stratford, PEI
Regional Winner: Hockey Prince Edward Island
If you visit the Pownal Sports Centre near Stratford, PEI, chances are you will run into Bill Butler.
“He is at the rink more than he is home during the hockey season,” said Patricia Butler, Bills’s wife, in her nomination essay. “We have a sign that we put up in the kitchen every winter ‘we postpone this marriage for hockey season’. From coaching to fundraising to planning to schedule and rules committee meetings . . . . he is willing to fill any volunteer position.”
Over the 14 years that Butler has volunteered with his local hockey association he has worn the hats of executive, rink manager, committee member, equipment manager and coach. His fundraising efforts have contributed to the opening of a new arena (the Pownal Sports Centre in 2004) and to the founding of a team in the Prince Edward Island Minor Junior Hockey League – the Pownal Red Devils (Butler currently serves as coach and general manager).
“He has no children in the system now, yet still gives 100% of himself to the youth of Pownal,” added Patricia Butler. “He gives his all so that the youth of Pownal can experience the love of the game, the sportsmanship, the friendship, and of course the smell of rink fries.”
Andrée Leblanc, Daveluyville, Quebec
Regional Winner: Hockey Quebec
Andrée Leblanc knows how important hockey is to Canadian communities, even those as small as Daveluyville, Quebec. Hosting hockey tournaments is how this tiny village near Trois Rivieres gets noticed and remembered.
“As a hockey volunteer Andrée Leblanc makes sure that everyone who comes to visit for our tournaments returns home with a positive impression of our little village, and with a desire to come back the following year,” said Daveluyville’s Jerome Sicard in a nomination essay. “For 17 years our local hockey leader has supervised the tournaments in the Estrie region, and spent hours on end at the arenas supporting participants and making sure that everything run smoothly.”
In addition to serving as Daveluyville’s unofficial welcome committee, Andrée Leblanc also volunteers as minor hockey vice president, registrar, AA governor and manager of two teams.
As Sicard explains, Quebec’s newest RBC Local Hockey Leader can also be found in almost every regional and sector meeting, and leading groups of volunteers in anything from fundraising to registration.
Mike Schwean, Moosomin, Saskatchewan
Regional Winner: Hockey Saskatchewan
For the first time in Moosomin history, one of its residents will be honoured in the Hockey Hall of Fame. On June 16 Moosomin’s Mike Schwean – the 2009 RBC Local Hockey Leader for Saskatchewan – will be added alongside fellow Saskatchewanians like Howe, Federko, Bower and Hull.
Schwean’s road to the Hockey Hall of Fame involved hundreds of volunteer hours in minor hockey, resulting in a tremendous sense of pride among area youth.
”You will not find anyone who has given more to a Community than Mike,” said Peter Nabholz, who nominated Schwean. “From being our recreation director, to spearheading our outdoor arena, to being an official and coach, and to sitting on countless minor hockey boards Mike’s commitment is truly staggering.”
In addition to serving as a board member with Moosomin Minor Hockey, Schwean has spent more than a decade serving three terms as president, head of fundraising, assignor of officials and as coach of countless teams from novice to midget. As explained by Nabholz, Schwean has also volunteered his time to run hockey schools and power skating clinics on numerous occasions.
“The impact that Mike has had on our community, and on our youth, through hockey is incredible,” added Nabholz. “He is very deserving of whatever recognition we can give him.”
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