Hockey Manitoba Volunteer of the Year Awards
The purpose of the Hockey Manitoba Volunteer Awards are to recognize outstanding commitment and significant contributions to the game of hockey in Manitoba. Each year, literally thousands of volunteers are the driving force behind our great game. Hockey Manitoba identifies ten (10) recipients annually from each of its ten (10) regions as nominated by representatives from those regions.
Additionally, Hockey Manitoba presents the Frank McKinnon Outstanding Volunteer Award annually to a volunteer that has made exemplary contributions through a long term commitment and dedication to hockey in our province. The award is selected by Hockey Manitoba’s Board of Directors.
2023 – 2024 Recipient of the Frank McKinnon Outstanding Volunteer Award – Dennis Kyle
Dennis Kyle was involved in hockey all of his life. He played all of his minor hockey and senior hockey as an Elkhorn Canadien. After he had two boys of his own, he went on to coach both of their minor hockey teams for many years, mentoring many great young hockey players from his area- many who went on to have successful junior, college, university and even NHL careers. He also served as an Assistant coach for one season with the Yellowhead Chiefs U18 AAA program when they were unable to find a coach.
In addition to volunteering many hours as a coach, he was a volunteer for the Power skating program that is ran annually in the fall at the Elkhorn arena – and assisted with teaching many young male and female athletes the basics of skating.
Once Dennis started officiating, he went on to ref many minor hockey games in Elkhorn and surrounding arenas – as well as senior hockey in Manitoba and SE Saskatchewan for several years. He was a well respected referee for his area, as well as a great mentor for new young referees.
Not only did Dennis coach and referee hockey – he was also the caretaker for a couple of years at the Elkhorn arena – running the Zamboni and ensuring the community had the best ice and cleanest rink in his area (he also sharpened everyone’s skates!). Dennis served as a Director and then Chair of the Elkhorn District Community Centre for several years and then was referee coordinator for the busy little arena.
Once his coaching days were over, he still enjoyed getting out on the ice with all the kids at power skating or assisting at a practice if needed, and he loved to watch all their progress over the years while officiating their games. Until his passing, Dennis still organized and played rec hockey on several teams and was always willing to play for any team that was short-handed or going to a competitive tournament. And of course, he still loved watching his sons, nieces and nephews and the many kids he had coached over the years play the game of hockey.
Hockey Manitoba would like to congratulate Dennis and all of the Volunteer of the Year recipients and sincerely thank each and every volunteer for their dedication to hockey in Manitoba.
Past Frank McKinnon Outstanding Volunteer Award Winners
| 2022 – 23 | Harvey Bolton |
| 2021 – 22 | Ashley van Aggelen |
| 2020 – 21 | Bill Whitehead |
| 2019 – 20 | Ken Gladden |
| 2018 – 19 | Peter Dueck |
| 2017 – 18 | George Ulyatt |
| 2016 – 17 | Dale Fossay |
| 2015 – 16 | Doug Orchard |
| 2014 – 15 | Brian Franklin |
2022 – 23 Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Winners
| Name | Region |
| Aaron Rome | Brandon |
| Jason Zulyniak | Central Plains |
| Jen Hoffman | Eastman |
| Carrie Gottfried | Interlake |
| Nic Campbell | Norman |
| Jennifer Elder | Parkland |
| Perry Russell | Pembina Valley |
| Frank Bennett | Westman South |
| Mike and Marion Segal | Winnipeg |
| Shelly Nichols | Yellowhead |
2021 – 22 Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Winners
| Name | Region |
| Jarrod Franklin | Brandon |
| Greg Buydens | Central Plains |
| Karen Smith | Eastman |
| Kristin Murdock | Interlake |
| Darin Mansell | Norman |
| Will Moncrief | Parkland |
| Shawn Dias | Pembina Valley |
| Megan Robertson | Westman South |
| Joyce Webinger | Winnipeg |
| Mark Stainer | Yellowhead |
2020 – 21 Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Winners
| Name | Region |
| Ryan Caswell | Brandon |
| Nancy Funk | Central Plains |
| Ken Kutzak | Eastman |
| Amanda Halldorson | Interlake |
| Harvey Bolton | Norman |
| Ryder Rodriguez | Parkland |
| Matt Bestland | Pembina Valley |
| Denis Decroliere | Westman South |
| Dwayne Schmidt | Winnipeg |
| Brent Brennand | Yellowhead |
2019 – 20 Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Winners
| Name | Region |
| Kris Klemick | Brandon |
| Mike Neill | Central Plains |
| Tracy Ouellet | Eastman |
| Dave Underwood | Interlake |
| Ron Larocque | Norman |
| Wendy McDonald | Parkland |
| Shane Froebe | Pembina Valley |
| Ryan Kyle | Westman South |
| Bob Capstick | Winnipeg |
| Dan Johnson | Yellowhead |
2018 – 19 Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Winners
| Name | Region |
| Jason Scott | Brandon |
| Carol Stewart | Central Plains |
| Neal Stoesz | Eastman |
| Alvin Amos | Interlake |
| June Shlachetka-Monias | Norman |
| Tannis and Dave Pulock | Parkland |
| Barb Orchard | Pembina Valley |
| Michael Wiseman | Westman South |
| Pam Campbell | Winnipeg |
| Derek Tibbatts | Yellowhead |
2017 – 18 Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Winners
| Name | Region |
| Terry Popadynetz | Brandon |
| Ferdi Nelissen | Central Plains |
| Paul Magnan | Eastman |
| Darren Bond | Interlake |
| Jerome Conaty | Norman |
| David Hopfner | Parkland |
| Greg Ens | Pembina Valley |
| Corey Anderson | Westman South |
| Guy Jeanson | Winnipeg |
| Bill Brown | Yellowhead |
