Administrators. Coaches. Equipment managers. Goal judges. Skate sharpeners. No matter the task, thousands of Canadian volunteers are up for the challenge, especially if it means being close to the game of hockey. This year, CBC honours those volunteers on their seventh annual broadcast of Hockey Day in Canada Jan. 13, 2007, in Nelson, B.C.
Below is a small list of some of the best hockey volunteers in the country - the ones who work tirelessly to make every practice, game or organization run smoothly and for whose commitment truly makes the frozen game the sport it is today.
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WAYNE GUNN Hometown:Kelowna, B.C. Description:Coaches two minor hockey teams. Last year's Kelowna rep coach of the year. Ensures players have fun. |
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MARIO DIBELLA Hometown:Nelson, B.C. Description: Minor hockey volunteer for over 12 years. Provides a great experience as a peewee rep coach. An executive board member. |
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DAVE HOLLAND Hometown: Calgary Description: : Long-time Oval X-treme volunteer. Works penalty box, scoresheet. Fills in for absent referees. |
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BARRY BELAK Hometown: North Battleford, Sask. Description:Long-time minor hockey coach and volunteer. Coached his two sons Wade and Graham. Wade plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. |
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KIRK GIBBONS Hometown:Tobermory, Ont. Description:Runs a pro shop at a local rink 50 km away from his home. Coaches his son's minor hockey team & watches his other son's Jr. B games in Waterloo. Also on minor hockey executive and ice convenor. Encourages kids and hockey moms. |
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CASPER VALSTAR Hometown:Calgary Description: Brentwood Community Association president for over 25 years, hockey director for five years. Coach/assistant coach for 10+ years. Northwest Calgary Athletic Association (NWCAA) director for two years, vice president for one year and president for 15+ years. |
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GRANT NORTH Hometown:Holland, Man. Description:Minor hockey coach. Strict but fair. Kept club alive when registration numbers were low. Teaches players respect and accountability. Has no children on the team. Coaches because of passion for the game. |
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DOUG BONDUE Hometown:Port McNeill, B.C. Description:Has coached minor hockey for 30 years. Served on many committees. Brought minor hockey back to an arena that had closed its doors to kids due to a mill closure in Port Alice, B.C. |
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The late CST. JEAN MINGUY Hometown:Vernon, B.C. Description:Drowned in 2005 while on duty with the RCMP. Co-organizer of B.C. police hockey provincial tournament. Tournament has been renamed in his honour. Minor hockey coach and community volunteer. |
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GERRY CULHANE & PAUL GORDON Hometown:Haileybury, Ont. Description:Volunteer on board of directors with Haileybury 54's. Have run local tournaments for decades to help raise money for the hockey organization. |
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ROB & DAWN KNOWLES Hometown:Edmonton Description:Co-ordinate the majority of aspects of Confederation Hockey Christmas Tournament, the second-largest tournament in Alberta (242 teams, 3,800 players). Spent months organizing volunteers, teams and fundraising for this event. |
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PETER LEFEBVRE Hometown:Stittsville, Ont. Description: Helps on the ice and bench. Has organized minor hockey players to help a less fortunate family at Christmas and raise money for breast cancer awareness. Has gotten sponsors donate pink jerseys, socks, sticks and gloves for the boys to wear during an exhibition game. The sticks will be given to the communitys cancer survivors and those still fighting. His sister-in-law is fighting breast cancer. His goal is to raise $5,000. |
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ERNIE BOESE Hometown:Tofield, Alta. Description: Has moved through the ranks as minor hockey coach, manager, league director and league president. Helped bring a Senior A team back to Tofield and was that team's president for three years. He wore many hats for the team, including driving the team bus. Has now stepped down from the executive but still steps in as needed. Avidly follows Tofield hockey alumni wherever they are playing. |
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RYAN THORNLEY Hometown:Richmond, B.C. Description:Hard working player and coach of Division 1 men's beer league team. Makes all line up decisions and roster moves. In charge of player development, scouting and equipment. Handles finances, from league fees to fundraisers. Organizes two annual tournaments and end-of-year golf tournament and team party. |
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BEV KIRTAY Hometown: Victoria Description:Has raised her three daughters to play the game. Organizes, supports and manages minor hockey teams. Advocates girls' hockey in Victoria. Enthusiastic, capable and offers encouragement to parents, teams and players. |
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About Nelson, B.C.
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Located in the Selkirk Mountains, on the shore of Kootenay Lake in southeastern British Columbia, the city of Nelson was founded in 1886 and was originally called "Stanley" after Canada's Governor General, Lord Stanley. Nelson's hockey roots reach much further, however, producing great NHL talent including Danny Gare, Pat Price and Greg Adams. The small city was also the hometown of Lester and Frank Patrick, hockey's royal family, whom many credit with creating modern hockey with several innovations including the addition of blue lines, the forward pass, penalty shots and the playoff system.
Nelson's mayor, John Dooley, says "we are absolutely ecstatic that CBC has chosen Nelson to host Hockey Day ... This is a true winter sports community, and hockey is an integral component of culture in Nelson and the surrounding communities. It is wonderful that CBC is taking the initiative to bring their Hockey Day broadcast into rural communities such as Nelson and connecting us with the rest of Canada."
Other locations
- Tignish, P.E.I. - Bruce Rainnie
- Toronto - Scott Russell
- Regina - Glenn Reid
- Camrose, Alta. - Scott Oake & Kelly Hrudey
- Whitehorse, Yuk. - Erin Paul
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