The Greater Toronto Hockey League celebrated the 2023 Awards Gala presented by Nothers The Award Store at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 15. The Gala featured a social hour, food, and a ceremony in the Great Hall recognizing each of the award and scholarship winners for the 2022-23 season.
The night, made possible by Nothers The Award Store, marked the official beginning of the League’s five-year partnership with Nothers, which will extend through to the 2027-28 season. The partnership, with the GTHL Awards Gala a significant piece, will strive to amplify several areas with the focus on continuing to ensure all League participants have the best possible experience that will ultimately become lasting memories in sport.
The GTHL would like to extend another big congratulations to all of this season’s award and scholarship winners, all of which certainly had lasting memories made.
2023 GTHL AWARD & SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Len Barrett U18 House League Scholarship Award: Erik Worden
The Len Barrett Under-18 House League Scholarship Award recognizes a U18 house league player who achieves a high standard of excellence academically and in hockey. The award is a one-time post-secondary educational scholarship provided by the GTHL. Click here to see past winners of the Len Barrett U18 House League Scholarship Award.
This year’s recipient, Erik Worden, played all of his minor hockey with Leaside Hockey Association at both the competitive ‘A’ and House League level. In addition to hockey, Worden is also an avid cross-country runner and soccer player. Off the ice, Worden has maintained a 93 per cent average while attending the University of Toronto Schools, an independent school for students grade 7-12. Worden has achieved academic excellence while also managing sports and a heavier school workload. Worden is looking to become a medical doctor after post-secondary school.
Frank D. Smith U18 ‘A’ Scholarship Award: Nayan Liscombe
The Frank D. Smith U18 ‘A’ Scholarship Award goes to a player that achieves a high standard of excellence academically and in hockey. The award is a one-time post-secondary educational scholarship provided by the GTHL. Click here to see past winners of the Frank D. Smith U18 ‘A’ Scholarship Award.
Liscombe played in the GTHL for his entire minor hockey career, including the last four seasons with the 2005-born ‘A’ Don Mills Mustangs. Off the ice, Liscombe displayed incredible excellence in the classroom by achieving a 100 per cent average in his first semester of grade 12 and carried a 96 per cent average in his first three years of high school. Liscombe will look to pursue a degree in business in post-secondary education.
J. Norman Sharp U18 ‘AA’ Scholarship Award: Gabriel Costantini
The J. Norman Sharp U18 ‘AA’ Scholarship Award recognizes a U18 ‘AA’ player who achieves a high standard of excellence academically and in hockey. The award is a one-time post-secondary educational scholarship provided by the GTHL. Click here to see past winners of the J. Norman Sharp U18 ‘AA’ Scholarship Award.
This year’s recipient, Gabriel Costantini, played all of his minor hockey in the GTHL with seven of those seasons played at the ‘AA’ level. Costantini’s last three seasons were spent with the 2005-born ‘AA’ Vaughan Rangers.
Off the ice, Costantini has consistently been an honour-roll student who also gives his time to the community. Costantini volunteered with Vaughan Soccer Club and is also a mentor and tutor for children with Youth Dream Canada. Costantini will look to continue helping the next generation by becoming a teacher.
Gord Hughes U16 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award: William Moore
The Gord Hughes U16 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award recognizes a player who achieves a high standard of excellence academically and in hockey. The award is one-time post-secondary educational scholarship provided by the GTHL. Click here to see past winners of the Gord Hughes U16 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award.
This year’s recipient, William Moore, displayed excellence in both the classroom and on the ice with the U16 Toronto Marlboros. Academically, Moore maintained a 93 per cent average while also scoring at over a point-per-game pace on the ice. Moore has his sights set on playing in the NHL, however, maintains going to school for engineering on his list of goals.
George F. Dufton U18 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award: Aidan Hagshi
The George F. Dufton U18 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award recognizes a U18 ‘AAA’ player who achieves a high standard of excellence academically and in hockey. The award is a one-time post-secondary educational scholarship provided by the Don Mills Flyers Hockey Club. Click here to see past winners of the George F. Dufton U18 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award.
The 2023 recipient, Aidan Hagshi, displayed excellence in the classroom as a perennial honour roll student. In addition to his dedication to academic success, Hagshi demonstrated excellence on the ice by being among the top point scorers on his team this past season.
Rob Silc Community Coaching Award: Tobin Davis
The Rob Silc Community Coaching Award is presented by the GTHL to a House League coach who best exemplifies a long-term commitment to grassroots hockey, player enjoyment, and community spirit. The award is named after the late Rob Silc, who was a longtime volunteer coach with the Scarborough Hockey Association. Silc passed away unexpectedly while running a practice for his son’s team. The award is presented in his name to recognize his commitment and dedication to the game, his community, and to his family. Click here to see past winners of the Rob Silc Community Coaching Award.
This year’s recipient, Tobin Davis, has been coaching with the Leaside Hockey Association for just under a decade. Over his time coaching hockey, Davis has displayed exemplary motivation, leadership, and passion for those he has coached. This past season, the Leaside U18 Tier 1 Select team finished first in the regular season and lost a close fight in the championship final against Thornhill. Davis exemplifies everything one would want in a minor hockey coach.
Herb Ebisuzaki Coaching Award: Marc Ihamaki
The Herb Ebisuzaki Coaching Award is presented to an outstanding minor hockey coach from the GTHL who best exemplifies the true spirit of coaching. Click here to see past. winners of the Herb Ebisuzaki Coaching Award.
This year’s recipient, Marc Ihamaki, is the dedicated coach behind two teams in the GTHL. For almost a decade, Ihamaki has volunteered his time coaching one of his son’s with the North York Knights. This past season, Ihamaki stepped up and added the head coaching duties for the U13 ‘AA’ North Toronto team after they lost their previous head coach. For Ihamaki, it’s not all about the wins and losses. Ihamaki is more interested in developing his players into not only better hockey players, but better human beings. Ihamaki’s level of care for his players and their families is second to none – and that feeling goes both ways.
Dr. Tom Pashby GTHL Trainer of the Year Award: Rick Court
The Dr. Tom Pashby GTHL Trainer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the area of safety and risk management in the League.
The 2023 winner, Rick Court, has been the trainer for the 2006-born Ted Reeve Thunder since the 2016-17 season. Court was always in attendance for practices and games. It took the birth of his first grandchild for him to finally miss a team event. Court knew what each and every player needed, inside and out. Whether it was Gatorade, water, juice boxes to snacks for players with diabetes, Court always went above and beyond what it meant to be a team’s trainer.
Gus Gordon Memorial Officials Award: Carl Friday
The Gus Gordon Memorial Officials Award recognizes an official who displays a balance between positive attitude, dedication, competence, and improvement. Click here to see past winners of the Gus Gordon Memorial Officials Award.
This year’s recipient, Carl Friday, has been with the GTHL in various officiating capacities for over 30 years, including time helping in the MHL and NYHL. Friday has officiated an OHL Gold Cup Final, numerous U18 All-Star games, and hundreds of GTHL games. From starting out as an official to then passing on his knowledge to the next generation as a supervisor, Friday embodies what it means to be an official with the GTHL both on and off the ice.
Roy Pejcinovski Memorial Goaltending Character Award: Daniel Berton
The Roy Pejcinovski Memorial Goaltending Character Award is presented to the goaltender who demonstrates extraordinary community service. The award is in memory of Roy Pejcinovski, a goaltender with the U15 Don Mills Flyers team whose life was taken far too early. Roy was a caring and compassionate teammate. He was respected and admired by opponents and loved by his teammates. Roy had a passion for people and the community and was a leader among leaders. Click here to see past winners of the Roy Pejcinovski Memorial Goaltending Character Award.
The 2023 recipient, Daniel Berton, spent the last four seasons with the 2005-born ‘A’ West Mall Lightning. In 2018, Berton and former GTHL alumnus Ethan Kowatsch partnered to start the Indigenous Youth Hockey Drive. In the last five years, over 600 bags of hockey equipment and hundreds of goalie equipment have been collected and donated to help get Indigenous youth into hockey. At the height of the pandemic, Berton wanted to also help motivate his peers during difficult times. A ‘Motivational Monday’ series was started and continues to this day by Berton. Each week, Berton posts a video which focuses on positivity and persevering through difficult roadblocks.
Cooper Humanitarian Award: Troy Whetstone
The Cooper Humanitarian Award, established in 1977 and originally sponsored by Cooper Canada, recognizes an individual with lengthy and dedicated service to minor hockey and youth who benefit from their efforts. Click here to see past winners of the Cooper Humanitarian Award.
This year’s recipient, Troy Whetstone, has been the Referee-in-Chief of North Toronto’s House League since 2011. using his experience as a referee in the GTHL, Whetstone is the reason why many officials from North Toronto House League have gone on to officiate higher levels of hockey. In 2019, North Toronto’s House League Chair stepped down. Whetstone quietly stepped up and has not only matched the efforts, but has gone above and beyond all expectations. Whetstone has helped grow North Toronto’s Learn to Play and House League programs tremendously. Without his dedicated service, the North Toronto organization would not be where it is today.
This year’s recipient has been the Referee-in-Chief of North Toronto’s House League since 2011. Using his experience as a referee in the GTHL, this person is the reason why many officials from North Toronto House League have gone on to officiate higher levels of hockey. In 2019, North Toronto’s House League Chair stepped down. This person quietly stepped up to the plate and has not only matched the efforts of his predecessor, but he has gone above and beyond all expectations. This person has helped grow North Toronto’s Learn to Play and House League programs tremendously. Without the dedicated service of this person, the organization would not be where it is today.
John R. Gardner Special Recognition Award: Thomas Arciero
The John R. Gardner Special Recognition Award was established in 2001 by then GTHL President John Gardner. The award is presented by the League to a player who has experienced a significant event in their lives and has managed to overcome adversity and continued playing the game of hockey. Click here to see past winners of the John R. Gardner Special Recognition Award.
The 2023 recipient, Thomas Arciero, played for the U16 ‘AA’ Toronto Eagles this past season after spending the last five seasons playing ‘AAA’ in the GTHL. This past year, Arciero lost his father, Angelo. With the support of his mom, sisters, extended family, friends, and teammates, Arciero was able to continue playing the game of hockey. His father was Arciero’s biggest fan and a big believer in seeing a commitment through regardless of any obstacles or circumstances presented along the way.
ABOUT NOTHERS THE AWARD STORE
For more than 50 years, Nothers The Award Store has been a leading supplier of awards and recognition products across Ontario. Some of our key clients include Swim Ontario, Ontario Volleyball, Western University, Ontario Soccer, Skate Ontario, Canadian Lacrosse Association, Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, Ontario Basketball, Pet Valu, BDC, and College Pro.
Nothers The Award Store has full-service capabilities at the manufacturing facility – offering complete assistance from program concept planning all the way to product delivery.
For more information about Nothers The Award Store, visit nothers.com.
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