The Ontario Minor Hockey Association presented its awards at the Annual General Meeting held at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill on June 9th to recognize the outstanding achievements of its athletes and volunteers.

The OMHA Honour Award is a prestigious award presented to a person who has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to minor hockey for a considerable period of time. The Honour Award recognizes a volunteer at the local level and any OMHA minor hockey organization may nominate a person for this award.

Cheryll Barr of Coldwater Minor Hockey Association was recognized as this year’s recipient. She has seen three generations of hockey players, coaches and members pass through the community all while never missing a game. Few people have provided the constant volunteer time and effort over such an extended period of time. Cheryll is known for her diligence and detail in preparing game sheets and in her current role as treasurer for Coldwater Minor Hockey. Her dedication to Coldwater can be summed up in her own words, “It will be 40 years… the only thing that keeps me here are the kids. That’s what hockey is all about, the kids.”

The OMHA Excellence in Development Award was established to recognize and honour an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to hockey development programming in minor hockey in the OMHA. Nominees can be from any area of hockey development, including player development, coaching, officiating, safety and program administration.

This year’s winner is Derrick Burrows of the Kincardine Minor Hockey Association, who has been involved with minor hockey for over 30 years. He loves the game and what he does and his countless hours of dedication to the community have not gone unnoticed. Derrick has filled a variety of hockey executive and volunteer roles in the community, always ensuring that no one is left without a place to play, team to play on or equipment to do so with. He has led the Initiation/Tyke Development Program for many years, producing the next generations of local hockey talent out of Kincardine.

The Wally Scott Bursary is presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to community service, athletics and academics. This bursary reflects the achievements of a young hockey player who is committed to his or her community, athletic ability and academic achievement. Recipients receive an award towards their post-secondary education.

Matthew Van Oirschot, a goalie from the Lambeth Minor Hockey Association, is this year’s bursary recipient. Matthew is the definition of a student athlete, participating on multiple school teams and is also involved in many school clubs. Along with balancing his own education, Matthew takes time to volunteer tutor other students. His scholastic success, as well as his charitable involvement, prove Matthew to be a worthy recipient of the Wally Scott Bursary towards a degree in biomedical engineering.

The Patricia Hartley Administrators Award is presented in recognition of exemplary service in the field of sports administration. This award reflects the achievements of a local executive board member or volunteer staff person towards the efficient operations of an association and the betterment of hockey. The recipient of this award is selected for outstanding leadership within their own association, commitment to their organization and overall involvement in minor hockey.

The recipient of this years’ award is Vonnie Crawford of the Township of Chatsworth and District Minor Hockey Association. Vonnie has tirelessly contributed to TCDMHA over the last nine seasons. She continually goes above and beyond to ensure everyone has a positive hockey experience and always has the best interests of the players in mind. Vonnie has worked as everything from a referee assigner to Vice-President of TCDMHA and is very knowledgeable of OMHA policies and procedures.