The Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Nothers have teamed up for the Volunteer of the Month program – a ‘Rookie’ and a ‘Veteran’ volunteer will be recognized each month through a profile highlighting their involvement in the game of hockey.

We were thrilled to see so many deserving nominations and have highlighted two winners below for March!

This is the final edition of the Volunteer of the Month program for this season. Thank you to everyone who submitted their stories.

The Rookie (2> years) winner for March is Danielle Kewley of Peterborough Minor Hockey! Here's her story as told by her nomination:

Danielle has spent the past 2 seasons as a manager for our team. She spends countless hours working on budgets, team events, tournaments, and so so much more. Everything from game sheets, to arranging hotels for everyone. Without her our team would not be the successful team that we are. She is a vital part, and us parents are humbled that she takes the time and effort to be there for EVERYTHING involving the team.

My favourite part about being a team manager is helping make sure the season runs smoothly for all the kids. Booking tournaments to watch them play in, planning team building events to watch them become better players, teammates and friends.

My responsibilities in my role, balancing budgets, paying team bills and as I mentioned above, making sure there are tournaments booked - and hotels for each tournament. Helping book team events from team building events, to fun social events for the kids and parents.

It is important for me to be involved in this way as one of the best parts of being in hockey is the family that you gain from being on the team, and I love helping to foster the relationships with parents to help everyone have a fun season. I love getting to know all the kids, and helping them in any way that I can as well. It is a way for me to be involved in hockey for my son, while also helping out all the great families on our team. I am very lucky to have the parent group we do, and they all help make my job easier every day - it wouldn't be as effortless without so many great parents to work with.

The Veteran (2+ years) winner for March is Dave Champion of Thorold Minor Hockey! Here's his story as told by his nomination:

Dave Champion is a true Champion of hockey in Thorold. Dave coached his sons for many years in minor hockey and when the youngest left got university Dave took a year off. He then told the TAAA that he would help where most needed. He started back with Thorold in 2023 in the learn hockey program and the U8 Local League team and as a non parent coach he has been instrumental in the development of the U8s in 2023/24 and now the U9s in 2024/25. He has instilled a love of the game and a desire by the kids to be at practice and games. The smiles on their faces after all practices and games is amazing to see. He is fun, fair, even keeled and firm as the situation warrants. He also still volunteers with the learn hockey program and the goalie school development. He is a non parent coach of a local league team and seldom misses an activity even though he has a demanding career as well. He asks for nothing and gives so much I believe he is an excellent representative of all that is good in the great game we all love and hold so dear and deserves to recognized for it by the OMHA.

I have always enjoyed coaching hockey. When I aged out of Juvenile (U21) I started coaching with a couple of high school friends in PeeWee (U13) house league. Before I had kids of my own I coached PeeWee - Juvenile house league and Midget (U18) A. I took 2 years off after my first son was born and was back in when he was starting hockey school. I have coached both my boys through their hockey careers and now that they have aged out I decided to start over and the last two years have been a blast. U8 last year and U9 this year. 28 coaching years later and there's nothing better than seeing a player get their first goal or shutout and the excitement and joy that it creates.

I have always been about fun and fair play first. I have not coached many championship winning teams but I make sure the players all have a fun year. I like to make the start of practices challenging, be it skating or drills. The last part of practice is some sort of game or obstacle course that makes it fun and they forget they are working on skills.

My favourite part of minor hockey is seeing the kids develop and have fun. When the team is smiling and laughing I know I’m doing my job right.