Nolan Kadachuk, Melfort Mustangs
Generally speaking when someone volunteers their time it is to help out others, but lost in the aspect of volunteerism is what it can do for you too.
Melfort Mustang defenceman Nolan Kadachuk saw an opportunity to not only help out his hometown community, but in the long run it could benefit him personally as he has been a member of the Melfort Fire Department since last spring and with that experience he hopes to make firefighting a career.
The 20-year-old Kadachuk also reads to students at the Maude Burke Elementary School while helping out with the North East Bantam AA Wolf Pack hockey team during the winter and the Prairie Force AAA team in the spring.
The three-year veteran, whose leadership abilities has been rewarded with being named an alternate captain, also works as an instructor with young players at CLUTCH camps and helps out in the fall at conditioning camps.
In the nomination paper submitted for Kadachuk it was pointed out that Nolan knows how important community and volunteering is and that is something that is sometimes forgotten or misunderstood.
Kadachuk’s pride in his community and team gives the Mustangs many reasons to be thrilled that he is their nominee for the RBC and SJHL Community Ambassador Award.
Reid Robertson, Flin Flon Bombers
Moving from the bright lights of a provincial capital to a remote wilderness community can be a challenge, but it appears Flin Flon Bomber forward Reid Robertson has taken that challenge head on and is leaving a mark in his adopted community.
The 19-year-old product from Winnipeg is finishing his second season with the Bombers and while his 32 points in 51 games were well back of some of his more dynamic teammates, it is what he has accomplished away from the team that makes him stand out.
Robertson has become a mentor to young students in the Flin Flon School Division in addition to helping players at the local hockey academy. In fact his efforts at the Flin Flon Extreme Hockey School were so well received that he was named the top instructor by camp staff.
Robertson has become one of the more active volunteers in the community and he has taken that responsibility home with him as he helps out with the Edge of Excellence summer camp back in Winnipeg.
All of this extracurricular activity has made Robertson a role model to the young players and it is because of this the Flin Flon Bombers proudly put his name forward as their nominee for the RBC and SJHL Community Ambassador Award.
Brendon Borbely, Kindersley Klippers
Being named captain of a junior hockey team is a reflection of a player’s personality and it isn’t limited to just what is accomplished on the ice.
While Brendon Borbely wore the Kindersley Klippers uniform for 168 regular-season games over a three-year span, the 20-year-old defenceman was also the face of the team in the community.
The Okotoks, Alta., product was proud of his new home and was often one of the first to offer to help when it was required. Among his many activities away from the rink, Borbely made regular visits to local schools, assisted with various minor hockey events, worked at pancake breakfasts and helped with the Goose Festival Parade.
Borbely’s popularity with the Klippers was so strong that he was once traded to Drumheller and two months later was reacquired without missing even a single game as both transactions occurred during the summer break.
While his junior career is now behind him, his footprint has been left behind and for that the Kindersley Klippers gladly submit his name as a nominee for the RBC and SJHL Community Ambassador Award.
Matthias Urbanski, Battlefords North Stars
It wasn’t that long ago that mental health carried such a powerful stigma that even having the term mentioned in a conversation created uneasiness.
While acceptance is getting better there is still plenty of work that needs to be done and Battlefords North Star forward Matthias Urbanski is doing more than his part to help close the gap.
The third-year forward from Oliver, B.C., has not only created the platform #StarsStandStrong, but he has also designed custom youth merchandise that is being sold at the North Stars merchandise booth with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to his #StarsStandStrong campaign.
For their part the North Stars have partnered with Discovery Co-Op and together they hosted a street hockey tournament last summer that raised more than $1,000 for local mental health supports and services. More events are planned for the future.
Urbanski, who has averaged nearly a point-per-game in 151 regular-season contests with the North Stars, also visits local schools and participates in many other community events hosted by the club.
An alternate captain with the North Stars, Urbanski is a proven leader on the ice, but he is even more valuable away from the rink and because of everything he brings to the team and the community the North Stars take great pleasure in putting his name forward as a nominee for the RBC and SJHL Community Ambassador Award.
Click on the link below for previously selected nominees.
https://www.sjhl.ca/rbc-sjhl-community-ambassador-nominees
