The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is excited to reveal the 2025 recipients of the Administrators, Development and Honour Awards. For recognition of their years of volunteerism in their minor hockey communities, these dedicated individuals have made an impact in various areas of the game, ensuring all players can have a positive experience.

The Patricia Hartley Administrators Award is given 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 who worked toward the efficient operation of an association and the betterment of hockey. This year's winner is Dave Dunn of the North Central Predators Minor Hockey Association.

Dave Dunn has spent a lifetime serving his community, whether as an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police for over 30 years or as a minor hockey volunteer for close to four decades. He’s held almost every position in various hockey organizations in the Orillia area and was named a Lifetime Member of Orillia Minor Hockey in 1997. He is indispensable to North Central, doing his administrative work quietly and with efficiency. Coaches and Executive members all lean on Dave for advice when faced with roster questions, procedures and other circumstances.

“Having a guy like Dave on our executive, we have nothing to worry about. We know that our paperwork is done. Dave is all over it and he’s got it done right to a tee.”

-Roger Crandell, President, North Central Predators Minor Hockey Association

An award established to recognize and honour individuals who have 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. Rahim Karmali of Whitby Minor Hockey is this year's winner.

Rahim has been an integral piece of Whitby Minor Hockey over the last decade. He has filled every role imaginable in the association – from trainer to head coach to board member. He oversees the Coach Mentoring program and chairs the Representative Coaching Selection Committee. Rahim serves as an advisor for coach and player development and provides regular updates throughout the season.

“He’s done a great job tasking the coaching with more initiatives when it comes to on-ice planning. Rahim has done a phenomenal job the last couple of years educating himself and some of our coaches.”

-Anthony Cornacchia, Development, Whitby Minor Hockey

The OMHA Honour Award was established to recognize a person who has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to minor hockey for a considerable period of time, doing so of their own free will and not as part of a job or position for which they receive monetary consideration. The recipient for 2025 is Gene Patterson of the Welland Minor Hockey Association.

Gene Patterson has been a fixture in the Welland Minor Hockey community for nearly six decades. He has served three generations of Welland Tigers in various administrative and development roles and still runs the skate shop at the rink to this day. Gene was inducted into the Welland Sports Hall of Fame as a builder and has also been recognized for his volunteerism by Hockey Canada. He is the living embodiment of commitment, leadership, and selflessness to minor hockey and his accomplishments have left an indelible impact.

“Everybody in Welland Minor Hockey knows Gene, knows his smiling face. Everyone will say hi to him in the halls. He’s a staple in our community.”

-Stacey Doan, President, Welland Minor Hockey Association