PCAHA Awards
PCAHA Awards: Honouring Excellence in Minor Hockey
Each year, the PCAHA AGM Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to minor hockey. These awards celebrate excellence on and off the ice, honouring volunteers, coaches, and players who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and sportsmanship.
PRESIDENT’S SERVICE AWARDS
The President’s Service Award is presented annually by the PCAHA President to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the society and/or to amateur hockey in the Lower Mainland during the preceding year.
UBC Business Students (Marketing project)
Scott Ackles
Alex Guiney
James Wall
APPRECIATION AWARDS (retiring Executive Members):
Christina Bigelow (2018-2024)
Roxanne Reid (2020-2023)
EARLE SINKIE – U21 (JUVENILE) DIVISION M.V.P.: STEVEN JAMES, Chilliwack MHA
The Earle Sinkie Trophy is awarded annually to the player in the U21 Division adjudged to have demonstrated the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and contribution to his team and Association.
Earle Sinkie, in whose honour this award is named, is a PCAHA Life Member and a long time proponent of U21 (Juvenile) hockey. The fact that we have a U21 hockey program within BC Hockey and PCAHA while it has vanished in most parts of Canada is due in large part to Earle’s efforts during the mid- to late 1980’s.
This year’s winner has been an integral part of his team’s achievements. He has the keen hockey sense and skill to play multiple positions. Not only does he score goals, but focuses on making plays and setting up his team mates. Throughout his minor hockey career, he has been known for being a very coachable player.
He has shown his dedication to minor hockey through both his leadership and sportsmanship. He also dedicated many years to officiating, coaching new referees and managing the time clock during tournaments. He has built up a reputation of being a leader among his peers and is a true example of an MVP.
HEAD REFEREE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Stephen Fryer – Squamish MHA
The Head Referee of the Year Award is awarded to the Association Referee-in-Chief who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of officiating in conjunction with his/her Association.
This Official has helped to grow and develop the officiating program in his association and they now have over 40 certified officials which for the Sea- to-Sky corridor is amazing.
He has been instrumental in the development and mentoring of many young officials. All this while also being an active Level 3 official and rep coach.
JOHN PTUCHA COACHING DEVELOPMENT AWARD: Kurt Dalphond, Port Moody AHA
The John Ptucha Coaching Development Award is awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to coaching development and coaching programs within the Lower Mainland District during the preceding season. The award is named in honour of John Ptucha, who himself provided many years of leadership in the coaching programs, including serving for 22 seasons as PCAHA Coaching Coordinator.
As his association’s Hockey Director he runs all of the U7 – U9 weekly development. He also oversees and runs development for U11-U18. He is constantly looking at ways to add age appropriate elements to the programs, keeping players engaged and challenged.
His President often notes how his work with young coaches teaches them the skills to become great coaches and leaders. “It is great to see that the coaching skills he has are being passed on”, she says. He has assisted many coaches to take on larger roles within our association, as well as, with other associations/programs.
He previously took one of our U18 grads under his wing as an assistant coach for the year. His mentorship advanced this player into an in demand coach who was then recruited by a Junior program. Another example of his mentorship work is having U13 players come out to volunteer with the U6 program. He is never too busy to help a coach (of any age) with development and works hard to give any feedback in a way that is both constructive and kind.
SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT AWARD: ROXANNE REID – PCAHA
The Safety and Risk Management Award is awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the area of safety and risk management within the PCAHA at the Minor Hockey Association or District level.
This year’s recipient did an outstanding job making sure risk management was viewed as an important issue within the PCAHA during her tenure.
She took a pro-active approach working with Association Risk Managers, including setting up a WhatsApp risk management discussion group where Risk Managers could share concerns and discuss risk management issues. She didn’t hesitate to respond to their questions, start a discussion amongst the group and consult our governing bodies to get information first hand.
BRUCE ALLISON TROPHY – COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD: SARAH LASH, Vancouver Female IHA
The Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy – “Coach of the Year Award” is presented annually to the coach who best exemplifies the coaching ideal of teacher and leader in amateur hockey. The award is named in honour of the late Bruce Allison, PCAHA President from 1977-1980 and BC Hockey President from 1985-1988. Bruce Allison was a true leader in amateur hockey and originated many programs, among them the PCAHA Scholarship Program.
This year’s recipient is somewhat unusual in that she coaches a team of individuals who are not players, but on-ice officials.
This coach’s focus is on coaching new officials in her association. She runs on-ice and off-ice sessions and spends many hours at the rink supervising new female officials.
Her real gift is working with them as a shadow. Prior to game’s start, she listens to their concerns and what aspects of the game they have questions about. She finds out what they are working on and the goals they have set for the game. After the game she reinforces all the great things she saw happening on the ice and uses any issues that arose as learning opportunities. She actively encourages them throughout the game and her approach helps them build confidence. The young officials have made huge leaps forward in their development under her watch.
THE DON ACKERT AWARD – AMATEUR HOCKEY EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: CHANTAL COTTON Vancouver Thunderbird MHA
The Don Ackert Award “Amateur Hockey Executive of the Year” is presented annually to the amateur hockey administrator adjudged to have made an outstanding contribution to the hockey program in his/her community and throughout the Lower Mainland during the past season.
The award is named in honour of the late Don Ackert, PCAHA President from 1980-1983 and a PCAHA Life Member who made a major contribution to hockey within the PCAHA from the 1960’s to the 1990’s.
The recipient of this year’s Don Ackert award has served as President for at least the last nine years and has forged a good working relationship between PCAHA and her Association.
During this past season, she wore many different hats, from assisting with player registration and team rostering to ensuring coaches had the proper qualifications. She worked to ensure all International players had the proper approvals to participate.
She was instrumental in making sure the recreational teams were balanced and worked hard on rectifying issues that arose. As President, she ensured her association came up with additional ice when needed for scholarship or rescheduled games and worked closely with the league to make sure all games were able to get played.
She is actively trying to ensure that all players have a great hockey experience and working to find solutions to keep them involved. She deserves this award because she is in this for the kids!
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD: REBECCA CHAU, Burnaby MHA and PCAHA
The Meritorious Service Award is presented to a person or persons adjudged to have made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey in the Lower Mainland for a period of at least five (5) years.
This year’s recipient is currently a PCAHA League Manager, but has been a valuable minor hockey volunteer for her sons’ teams and Association since 2004 as a team manager, tournament volunteer, and division manager among her volunteer resume.
The last two seasons, she has been the U21 “A” and “C” league manager overseeing 24 “C” teams and 7 “A” teams. She is reliable and always readily available. She seamlessly filled in for the Managing Director when necessary. The teams always had favourable comments with respect to the support they received from her.
Adding to her regular activities, she assisted with the sorting and balancing of the three U21 Scholarship teams. She also stepped up volunteering as an evaluator in the selection of the player of the game awards at the tournaments.
SPECIAL APPRECIATION AWARD: KEVIN AND JENNIFER SOPP, Whistler MHA
Special Appreciation Awards are presented in recognition of significant contributions to amateur hockey.
This couple is being acknowledged for their devotion to supporting and promoting minor hockey in many different ways for the past 27 years with Whistler MHA. From coaching and managing their kids teams to serving on the Executive with Whistler MHA, they have been invaluable to the Association.
Kevin grew up in Parksville and played minor hockey there before moving to the USHL in Thunder Bay and playing for the University of Manitoba. At the age of 14 he began helping out at Howie Meeker’s hockey school and from ages 16-19, he coached for Howie in both Parksville and Potsdam, New York. This began Kevin’s long journey of giving back to the game. He moved to Whistler in 1992 and began to be involved with minor hockey, assisting with clinics and later coaching rep teams, despite not having kids at this time. His style of coaching always ensured that players were advancing their game skills, and learning good sportsmanship. His co- coaches say he is a mentor to both the players and coaching staff. He was always prepared for practices and he helped the other coaches improve their coaching skills by following his example.
When their family grew, and their children, Kayla and Tyler started playing, Kevin coached their teams and Jennifer began her long career as Team Manager. She always ensured there were extracurricular activities for the players – team dinners, bowling, laser tag, etc. In her son’s final year of hockey, she was dubbed the “Manager of Fun” by her co-manager. Whenever they were planning to attend events away from home, they would be the first to volunteer to help out. Whether it was the annual Jim Fryer Scholarship tournament, or the Girls Jamboree, they were always there, doing what they could to help the organizers.
Both served for long periods on the Association board in a variety of administrative and developmental roles.
Please join me in congratulating Jennifer and Kevin Sopp of Whistler Minor Hockey, recipients of the PCAHA Special Appreciation Award.
GOLD PUCK AWARD: DREW MACDONALD, PCAHA
The PCAHA Gold Puck Award is presented to a person or persons adjudged to have made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey for a period of at least ten years in the district known as the Lower Mainland.
This year’s first Gold Puck recipient has been a valuable member of our team since 2011 when he became a League Manager with the Female League. While a League Manager, he also took on the role of Female League Scheduler.
In 2016, he took on a new role as Female Managing Director, a position he held until stepping down at the end of this past season.
During his tenure, he saw the league grow from 12 Associations with approx. 1900 players to 2792 players participating on almost 200 female teams with 15 Associations offering female hockey. The Female U18 Scholarship tournament has expanded to four teams competing each season and the Interlock with the VIAHA female A teams which supports the development of Female hockey on the Island has proved to be a success.
He oversaw the implementation of the Female District Development Pilot Program providing U13 and U15 players with supplemental high- performance development. This program is now an important part of the commitment by the Female Committee to the growth and development of Female hockey within the PCAHA and it is great to see the results both on and off the ice.
GOLD PUCK AWARD: BEN WHITE, Aldergrove MHA
This year’s second Gold Puck recipient was not only a player in his Association, he returned as a coach and later Executive member when his son started minor hockey. He coached for 13 years and served on the Association executive for 10 years in various capacities – division coordinator, Referee-in-Chief, ice allocator and President. He has been described as the heartbeat of his Association.
His years on the Association Executive have spanned numerous major events – from moving to a new arena, switching to the Fraser Valley East “C” league, hiring the first Hockey Director, a Stanley Cup celebration with Shea Theodore, an Aldergrove Alumni, and a 50th Anniversary Celebration.
With this being his final season with Aldergrove, the current President says Ben has left a standard behind for all executives, current and future, that they can only hope to achieve.
FRED PAGE MEMORIAL TROPHY – HOPE & DISTRICT MHA
The Fred Page Memorial Trophy – Minor Hockey Association of the Year Award is presented annually to the Minor Hockey Association adjudged to have made an outstanding contribution to its community by providing a sound minor hockey program.
The award named in honour of the late Fred Page of North Vancouver, who served amateur hockey at the local, district, Branch, national, and international levels and was President of Hockey Canada from 1966-1968.
As a relatively small association, it has faced its own unique challenges. The almost all new Executive has been working hard to encourage players to return to the game and new ones to register. They had some great success this past season with over 40 players registered for U7, a large U9 team and even enough players for a U18 team.
Not only did they fill every board position at the AGM last month, they had 30 people stepping up to volunteer, and were able to start a disciplinary committee and a constitution and bylaw committee to update the 1977 constitution.
They have engaged with the community by joining in the community parade last September, and participating in volunteer activities and fundraisers. They have also engaged their membership in various ways, including hosting an awards night, they have tried to keep the momentum going and get the community involved. The growth in community partnerships, including a major sponsorship from the Lions Club, engagement with members and inclusion of new faces has been such a turn around this year.
The Executive is working hard to keep their town’s youth involved and focused, especially at the older age groups and are actively seeking out partnership with local business and schools.
They look forward to giving the players the opportunities to make a great decision by choosing to be part of a team.