MONTREAL, Que. -
Joe Maynard's contribution to hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador has earned him recognition across the country.
Hockey Canada honoured nine community leaders from across the country during an awards banquet Friday night, held as part of the governing body's 91st Annual General Meeting at the Westin Montreal.
Maynard, a native of Flatrock, was recognized as an individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully, winning the Hockey Canada Order of Merit award for Atlantic Canada.
The award winners included Andre Ricard of Trois-RiviÈres, Que., who was named the 2010 Outstanding Volunteer. For 11 seasons, Ricard has been president of Hockey Mauricie, which oversees 17 minor hockey associations, as well as 22 tournaments and four festivals annually. He has also helped host and promote both national and international events, including the 2001 National Women's Under-18 Challenge and the 2008 IIHF World Championship, among many other accomplishments within the hockey world.
Nominations for all awards were submitted by Hockey Canada's 13 member branches and the winners were chosen by Hockey Canada's officers of the board, or the appropriate Hockey Canada council. The success of minor hockey associations in Canada depends heavily on volunteers and Hockey Canada is pleased to recognize the individuals who contribute greatly to the game of hockey across the country.
A member of Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador's board of directors for six years, Maynard's contributions to the hockey community have come both on and off the ice.
Five league championships
That includes his time playing for the Flatrock Flyers of the Avalon East Senior Hockey League from 1967 to 1985, during which time his team earned five league championships and he won four scoring titles for the team he helped establish.
He was also team captain for 17 years, winning one MVP award and setting a league scoring record that has yet to be broken. After retiring from playing, Maynard continued his involvement with the Avalon East Senior Hockey League, serving as director for 20 years, league president for 10 and treasurer for five. He was also a volunteer and coach for the Pouch Cove and Area Minor Hockey Association for many years and in 1997 helped form a junior team for the North East Avalon area.
Perhaps one of his greatest hockey accomplishments, Maynard was instrumental in resurrecting the historical Herder Memorial Trophy in 1992, three years after the award for winning the Newfoundland and Labrador Senior Hockey League title was dropped. Senior and intermediate leagues now compete together for the trophy, which remains one of the oldest still played for in the country.
The remaining award winners included Julianne Fuller of Inuvik, North West Territitories (Female Hockey Breakthrough Award), Rose Delparte of Calgary, Alta. (Liz MacKinnon Award for special contributions of a Hockey Canada's volunteer's spouse), Lesley Reddon of Calgary, Alta. (Hal Lewis Award for Hockey Canada staff person who best exemplifies the spirit of the organization), Harley Hotchkiss of Calgary, Alta. (Gordon Juckes Award for outstanding contribution to the development of amateur hockey at the national level), Ian Heather of Winnipeg, Man. (Officiating Award for outstanding contribution to officiating at the branch and national level), Don Yeck of Belmont, Ont. (Hockey Canada Order of Merit -Central) and Sheldon Lanchbery of Deloraine, Man. (Hockey Canada Order of Merit - West).
