TORONTO, Ont. – Hockey Canada honoured community leaders from across the country during its annual awards banquet Friday night, held as part of the governing body’s Spring Congress at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.

The Outstanding Volunteer Award went to Ed Wahl of Scarborough, Ont., who has spent more than 50 years involved with the Cedar Hill Minor Hockey League and Scarborough Youth Hockey League as a player, coach, official, board member and minor hockey president. He remains active with the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s marketing and sponsorship committee and as a member of its strategic planning committee. Wahl was honoured last summer as Canadian Tire Hero of Play when the Hockey Canada Century Tour made a stop in the Greater Toronto Area.

Eight national award winners were honoured Friday:

Female Hockey Breakthrough Award

(Outstanding contribution to advancing female hockey)

Josée Lebel (Montreal, Que.)

Gordon Juckes Award

(Outstanding contribution to the development of amateur hockey at the national level)

Bob Caldwell (Deloraine, Man.)

Officiating Award

(Outstanding contribution to officiating at the branch and national levels)

1. Brad Howard (Regina, Sask.)

Hockey Canada Order of Merit

(An individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully)

2. ATLANTIC – Alvin Anstey (Dartmouth, N.S.)

CENTRAL – Claude Allain (Gatineau, Que.)

WEST – Graham Tuer (Regina, Sask.)

Outstanding Volunteer Award

(Outstanding volunteer work in amateur hockey)

Ed Wahl (Scarborough, Ont.)

Hal Lewis Award

(Hockey Canada staff person who best exemplifies the spirit of the organization)

Ryan Robins (Tobermory, Ont.)

A ninth award, the Liz MacKinnon Award, will be presented Saturday. The award is given to the spouse of a volunteer who has made special contributions to Hockey Canada, and to the game.

Nominations for all awards were submitted by Hockey Canada’s 13 branches, and the winners were chosen by a Hockey Canada selection committee. The success of minor hockey associations in Canada depends heavily on volunteers and Hockey Canada is pleased to recognize the individuals who contribute greatly to the game of hockey across the country.

More than 250 representatives from regional and provincial hockey associations are in Toronto, Ont. for Hockey Canada’s Spring Congress, which started Thursday, May 28 and concludes Sunday, May 31.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.instagram.com/hockeycanada.

Francis Dupont                        Morgan Bell                                      Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications        Coordinator, Media Relations        Coordinator, Media Relations
Hockey Canada                        Hockey Canada                                Hockey Canada
(587) 999-5681                       (403) 669-1261                                (403) 519-5754
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