Engen named Hockey Canada Volunteer of the year

It’s arguably the most prestigious hockey award a volunteer can win. This past weekend Hockey Canada honoured Hockey Alberta Board Member, Terry Engen (Eckville, Alta), as the 2011 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year during the awards banquet held as part of the governing body’s 92nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Westin Calgary.

“Receiving this award has been a very humbling experience,” said Engen, who is a former Hockey Alberta President. “The award itself in my mind is recognition of not only the recipient but it conveys the true meaning of a ‘TEAM’ effort. Without a team very little can be accomplished.”

“Terry has given so much to the game of hockey in Alberta and he is definitely deserving of this honour,” said Hockey Alberta President, Annie Orton. “He has impacted the lives of many children and significantly contributed to the success and growth of hockey in Alberta. We are lucky to have him on our team.”

Engen has spent more than 25 years volunteering his time to causes in minor hockey and by serving his community, his province and his country. A fifth-generation farmer from Eckville, a town of just over 900 people, Engen has spent a quarter of a century as a director on the Eckville arena board, helping to make minor hockey accessible to as many local children as possible.

“In all my years of volunteering I think the biggest accomplishment has been in the relationships that have been built,” added Engen. “Through those relationships in the Hockey family have come life lasting friendships that are second to none.”

NIHA-Canada has announced that Team Canada will have a change in Team Staff for the 2011 IIHF World Inline Hockey Championships June 19-25 in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Jason Stephens will now step behind the bench as head coach for Team Canada.

Stephens is currently the general manager and head coach of the Sylvan Lake Admirals of the Senior AAA Chinook Hockey League. A long-time inline hockey coach, Jason has also coached Team Alberta programs at State Wars and USA Hockey Inline Junior Festivals.

“We are excited that a guy of Jason’s experience and ability is able to step in and fill the role,” Scott Hill, President NIHA-Canada said, “We’re excited with what Jason can bring to the program and expect great things of him and the Team Staff this year.”

“ It’s tough to step into a situation so late in the planning stages being that the tournament is in 3 weeks, but I’m confident with the roster that we have and the process that the Team Staff went through to make these selections” Stephens outlined, “ We have a job to do when we get over there and I feel that between now and the tournament we can have the conversations and meetings that are required for us to hit the ground running when the players and staff arrive in Pardubice. It’s an honour to be a part of Team Canada and help grow this program and this sport.”