TimminsToday received the following announcements issued by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA).
Every year, the NOHA recognizes the many officials and volunteers who contribute to the game in Northern Ontario. Traditionally, these individuals are recognized at the NOHA Annual General Meeting, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizatiion will be acknowledging all award winners via the NOHA website and various social media platforms until April 23, 2020.
Stephen Surcon of Schumacher has been awarded the Rick F. Albert Memorial Award, and Dr. Robert Lafontaine of Timmins was announced as the winner of the Dr. Tom Pashby Trainer of the Year Award.
Rick F. Albert Memorial Award winner – Stephen Surcon (Schumacher)
For the last fifteen years, Stephen has been instrumental in the area of coach and player development within Timmins and the surrounding Region. During this time, Stephen has been a coach or assistant coach within one of the Timmins Region’s Minor Hockey Associations, including the Timmins Majors Midget AAA. Stephen has led many teams to championships, but none more prolific than when his teams earned back-to-back NOHA Championships at the Peewee AA Level in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The 2016-17 season was especially special where his team captured the OHF Championship at the Peewee AA Level.
Stephen is an NOHA National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Learning Facilitator of the Development 1, Coach 1 – Intro to Coach, Coach 2 – Coach Level, Checking Skills 1, and Instructional Stream Clinics. He has held this role since the 2014-15 season. During this time, he has delivered almost twenty coach development clinics, and has been never reluctant to travel to deliver a clinic in a different district when asked.
Stephen has been a staple in the NOHA’s Program of Excellence over the last nine years, attending the 2011 NOHA POE Under-17 Regional Camp, and the 2012 to 2015 OHF/OHL/NOHA POE Under-15 Camps. More recently, Stephen has been an assistant coach with Team NOHA Under-16 in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
A High Performance 1 Certified coach, Stephen has never been afraid to better himself and further develop his coaching skills. He has attended various continuing education programs over the years, such as the NOHA Advanced Skills Analysis Seminar, the OHL Coaches Conference, and the Roger Neilson Coach Conference.
Stephen has shown a desire to stay current with the game as it is played today, so that he may provide quality instruction to the hockey players in the Timmins area, no matter what age group he is involved with.
About the Rick F. Albert Memorial Award
This award is to be presented to a person or association which has been instrumental in the area of development within the NOHA.
The award can be given to an individual involved in coaching, refereeing, training or the initiation programs, one who has developed a program which has been incorporated to the benefit of hockey or a person who has dedicated a great deal of time and effort to development within the NOHA.
This award could also be presented to a hockey association who through its efforts during a hockey season has furthered the advancement of development within the NOHA.
Dr. Tom Pashby Trainer of the Year Award winner – Dr. Robert Lafontaine (Timmins)
Dr. Lafontaine has been a team trainer for the last 10 consecutive years. In these capacities he has always exhibited outstanding dedication and service in player safety and risk management. His professional training and background as an Orthopedic Surgeon has made him an invaluable hockey volunteer. Dr. Lafontaine exemplifies an extremely high commitment to player safety and education. Over the years he has assessed and treated broken collar bones, dislocated patella, placed stitches, and has treated many other sport injuries. In all instances, he has done this at the rink while making the player feel as comfortable as possible.
What makes this all more remarkable is that he has also treated many other players not on his teams. Several times over the years he has been called upon to assess and treat other players who have been injured at the same arena or tournament. He has been a resource for many players from all over Northeastern Ontario.
Hockey has always been one of his passions. Born and raised in Kapuskasing, he played hockey as a youth in the KMHA. Despite demanding studies at the University of Ottawa and Montreal, he continued to play Canada's beloved sport and continues to play hockey to this day. Better known as 'Dr. Bob', he is a passionate and loyal Boston Bruins fan.
Despite having a very busy and heavy schedule, Dr. Bob still finds the time to be the team Doctor for the Timmins Rock Junior “A” hockey club.
About the Dr. Tom Pashby Trainer of the Year Award
This Award is given in cooperation between the Hockey Development Centre of Ontario and the NOHA. The Dr. Tom Pashby Trainer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding dedication and service in the areas of safety and risk management in the province of Ontario. The recipient(s) of this award will exemplify commitment to the values of safety, enjoyment, fair play, education and integrity in the game of hockey through the Hockey Trainers Certification Program of Ontario. Each member of the HDCO will be selecting a winner and the HDCO will then select a Provincial winner. The NOHA will award its winner at the NOHA Annual General meeting.
Eligible recipients must be:
• May either be in a volunteer or professional capacity
• May be active or retired
• Must have attained Level III of the HTCP or equivalent
• Must be a member of an Ontario CHA Branch/Division
• Outstanding achievements in the area of Safety/Risk Management or contribution to the Hockey Trainers Certification Program
