By Brendon Crossman

While the grand hockey spotlight focused on Hollywood for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, members of our local hockey community were honoured at the annual Greater Toronto Hockey League Awards Celebration. Among those in attendance at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel were team, club, and League representatives as well as the 10 honoured players, team staff, and officials.

The GTHL Special Recognition Award was presented to Sam Garten of the Vaughan Rangers Atom A team in honour of his inspirational courage displayed in overcoming adversity, while maintaining a dedication and commitment to competing in hockey.

Garten was diagnosed with Leukemia as the 2013-14 hockey season began in September and has since been an inspiration to his team and members of the City of Vaughan Hockey Association. He was with the team between treatments throughout the season and was the motivating force behind more than $30,000 raised for leukemia research and SickKids Hospital.

“He may not be competing [on the ice] right now, but he is facing the greatest challenge and competition life has to offer,” wrote Rangers President Barry Harte in an email. “[Sam] is determined to win and I’m certain his hockey family and his hockey personality and characteristics are the driving force behind that determination.”

Alistair Kennedy was the recipient of the Cooper Humanitarian Award in honour of his lengthy and dedicated service to minor hockey and the youth who benefit from his efforts. Kennedy has coached with the Toronto Penguins and North York Knights organizations each year since the 1993-94 season. He has also coordinated and managed the North York Knights Challenge each year since 1998.

In total, Kennedy has volunteered his time in Toronto’s minor hockey community for more than 40 years. “Al started volunteering at his local rink in the early 1970s, when his eldest son joined the house league,” wrote Knights assistant coach Keith Clarke in Kennedy’s nomination form. “Al never played the game himself, having grown up in Scotland, but from that first experience grew something of a lifelong obsession.”

Five of Kennedy’s seven sons played in the GTHL and his youngest son, Kieran, will be taking over the head coaching duties for the North York Knights Midget Jr. A team in 2014-15. “Al will still be around to help steer the ship, but for the first time in nearly half a century, he won’t be the one drawing up the lines.”

FIVE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
The GTHL awarded five players with scholarships in recognition of their high standard of excellence in hockey and school:

Shyan Van Heer, a member of the Markham Islanders organization, was recognized with the Frank D. Smith Midget A Scholarship Award. Van Heer will pursue a Life Sciences degree at McMaster University beginning this fall and plans to attend medical school at McGill University before joining Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization.

“Shyan is an exemplary student who possesses what I refer to as ‘the full package,’” wrote Dan Zaroski, Principal of St. Brother Andre Catholic High School. “He is intelligent, athletic, well-respected by his peers and teachers, and most importantly, a kind person with a solid set of morals from which he bases his decisions on each day.”

Craig Uyeno of the Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget AAA team was the first recipient of the inaugural Gary Roberts Training Scholarship Award, which will be presented annually to a Minor Midget AA or AAA player who exemplifies hard work and dedication while maintaining a high standard of excellence in school and has made significant personal sacrifices to continue playing hockey at a high level.

“Craig is extremely dedicated to any academic and hockey program he enters,” wrote Uyeno’s mother, Mary Lam, in his nomination letter. “He has even volunteered for a hockey and diabetes medical study at York University. He wants to play at the Junior A and university levels so he will maximize this valuable opportunity.”

Michael Crews, a member of the Streetsville Tigers, was presented with the J. Norman Sharp Midget AA Scholarship Award. Crews, an eight-year member of the GTHL, plans to study commerce and business administration at either Queen’s or Wilfred Laurier University in the fall.

“I am confident that I will become involved with the GTHL again through the world of coaching,” wrote Crews in his scholarship letter. “Hockey has been a vital part of my childhood and I would love to pass on my passion for the game to younger generations.”

Eric Wong, a defenseman with the Toronto Marlboros Minor Midget AAA team, was the recipient of the Gord Hughes Minor Midget AAA Scholarship Award. Wong, a five-year veteran of the Marlboros organization, has applied for engineering programs at Ivy League universities Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

“Eric has been a loyal member of the Marlboros for a period of five years,” wrote club general manager Michael Chraba in Wong’s nomination package. “His teammates certainly respect his camaraderie and unselfishness.”

Oliver Jacobs, a 10-year member of the GTHL, was presented with the George F. Dufton Midget AAA Scholarship Award. Jacobs played the past two seasons with the Toronto Young Nationals, backstopping the team to a fourth-place finish at the 2014 Telus Cup national tournament. He plans to study psychology and neuroscience at a postsecondary institute next fall, with the goal of playing NCAA hockey in the U.S.

BENCH STAFF HONOURED
The Herb Ebisuzaki Coaching Award was presented to Tom Priest, head coach of the Mississauga Jets Bantam AA team, in recognition of his commitment to the hockey community and enduring understanding of the true spirit of coaching. Priest has led his teams to many championships during his 18 years of service, including a Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs championship that capped the Jets’ “Cinderella Season” in 2012-13.

“Shortly after that season concluded, Tom underwent hip replacement surgery but through dedication and perseverance was able to return to the ice in time for pre-season training practices in late August [2013],” wrote long-time Jets administrator Tim Truckle in Priest’s nomination letter. “Tom’s commitment to coaching minor league hockey can be seen by his continuous presence in arenas as he continues to ‘repay the Jets organization for their support,’ as Tom says.”

Doug Johnston of the Mississauga Reps Minor Midget AAA team won the Dr. Tom Pashby Trainer of the Year Award, which is presented by the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario in recognition of the trainer who demonstrates outstanding dedication and service.

“As a retired paramedic, [Doug] has willingly and voluntarily supported the GTHL Program of Excellence with his expertise,” wrote Herb Ebisuzaki in a letter recommending Johnston for the award. “He often does double duty with his teams and the GTHL special programs.”

On-ice official Mark Titus received the Gus Gordon Memorial Officials Award. “Our officials nominate so this is pretty special when referees, supervisors, and the Referee Supervisory Committee all agree on the worthy winner,” said Peter T. Kourtis, Manager of Hockey Operations at the GTHL.

Visit the GTHL Awards page for detailed explanations of each award and for a list of previous winners.