BC Hockey Award Winner – Coach Blaine!
The 2023 BC Hockey Annual General Meeting is being held in beautiful Penticton this week. Part of the proceedings is announcing the 2023 Award Winners, recognizing all the terrific volunteers, who make minor hockey possible in our beautiful province.
The Ernie Gare Award is awarded to BC Hockey’s top coach who shows leadership to players, demonstrates skill development and has a sound philosophy. Winning is a consideration but is not the only consideration. This award is given in memory of the late Ernie Gare of Nelson, BC who demonstrated what BC Hockey feels are the ideal elements of a coach.
This year we are so pleased to announce that the recipient is none other than Kitimat Minor Hockey Association’s own Blaine Markwart!
Blaine is not only the Head Coach for all of KMHA, but also the Head Coach of the U13 Rep team. Under his leadership, the team won the North West District Representative League title, the 2023 NWD Zone Championship, and they brought Kitimat its first provincial championship in 22 years at the 2023 Tier 4 Provincials held in Invermere. The team was also the recipient of the Fair Play Award, presented to the most sportsmanlike team of the tournament. Representatives from Kitimat were approached by a number of other team officials at this tournament who complimented Blaine on his professionalism, sportsmanship and dedication.
The year was not without its challenges for Blaine, who, battled through a back injury that often left him unable to walk. However, he never missed a single ice time, always present for practices and games alike. Blaine was also a regular coach for the Female Development Ice Times, dedicating even more of his time to growing the game in our community and supporting the development of female hockey at the same time.
Please join us in congratulating Blaine on a very well-deserved honor! We are so fortunate to have Blaine as a role model for our children and our fellow volunteers! Well deserved!
