Hockey NL hands out the hardware
By Mark Squibb, The Shoreline
HockeyNL recognised some its most outstanding members at the 2025-2026 annual general meeting and award show in June, including many from the Avalon peninsula.
Mike O’Brien, who played a key role with Southern Shore Amateur Hockey, was awarded the Gerry Taylor Memorial Junior Council Meritorious Award. Even since the Southern Shore joined the St. John’s Junior Hockey League in 1998, he has remained a dedicated volunteer.
Colby Mitchell of the Paradise Minor Hockey Association was awarded the Brian Wakelin Executive of the Year Award. Mithcell has volunteered with the association for over a decade and currently serves as president.
Dean Whalen, who has officiated hundreds of games over the decades, including senior hockey and Herder games, and has served as Referee in Chief for Cee Bees Minor Hockey Association for the last 20 years, was awarded the Ray Bowe Award of Merit.
Nathan Bakogeorge with the Cee Bees Minor Hockey Association and Jayden Denty with the Glovertown & Area Minor Hockey Association were named the 2026 Minor Hockey Scholarship recipients. Lima Best of the Southern Shore Senior Breakers was named the recipient of the 2026 Jim Stirling / B.F. Lorenzetti Scholarship.
Brian Lambert with Goulds Minor was awarded the Ron Healey Memorial Award. Lambert has been a major part of Hockey NL’s officiating program since 2000. He has officiated both senior hockey and Herder games, and has also officiated at events such as the Telus Cup, Para Hockey World Tournament, Allan Cup, AHL, and ECHL.
Other winners included Deer Lake Red Wings Treasurer Paul Payne (CJ McCarthy Memorial Award), Gary Pardy of Exploits (Female Hockey Promotion Award), Hockey Canada Master Coach Developer Stephanie Delaney (Joe Byrne Development Award), Robert Williams with the Green Bay South Minor Hockey Association (Minor Council Meritorious Award – Central Region), Jodi Blackwood with the St. John’s Minor Hockey Association (Minor Council Meritorious Award – Eastern Region), Sherry Chubbs with the Lake Melville Xtreme Minor Hockey Association (Minor Council Meritorious Award – Northern Region), Dave Ingram with the Clarenville Area Minor Hockey Association (Minor Council Meritorious Award – Tri Pen Region), Stephen Peddle with the Deer Lake Minor Hockey Association (Minor Council Meritorious Award – Western Region), the Clarenville Area Minor Hockey Association (Minor Association/Community Club of the Year), and Tracey Hatcher (Gold Stick Pin).Meanwhile, Terry Hart, John Drover, Dale Sullivan, Nick Aylward, Janet Reddy, Chris Bartlett, Charlie Kearsey, and the late Bern Tobin were all inducted into the Hockey NL Hall of Fame.