MHSAA 2023 Award Recipients Announced

GREY CUP LEGACY MALE AND FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR

The 1990 Grey Cup was held in Winnipeg for the first time and as a result, a profit was generated. Part of the profit was directed to a legacy for high school coaching. Each year the MHSAA selects its Male and Female High School Coach of the Year and a $1,000 prize is awarded to both individuals courtesy of the Grey Cup Legacy Fund.

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Coach of the Month Awards

Each month a well deserving high school coach in Manitoba will be announced as the Payworks Coach of the Month.

Recipients will receive a token of appreciation from our great friends at Payworks.

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Alexander Josephson Memorial Scholarship

The Alexander Josephson Memorial Scholarship is awarded in honor of Alexander Josephson, a student and hockey player at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2005. He was a member of the 2003 Provincial Championship Team and selected as a Provincial All-Star. The recipient of this scholarship is a player who demonstrates strong leadership and team play, high scholastic standing, a hard-working attitude, and is proceeding to a post secondary education. A male and female hockey player will each receive a $2,500 scholarship.

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Garett Lee Sidor Memorial Scholarship

Garett Lee Sidor, a student at Windsor Park Collegiate, was an outstanding young student athlete. His life tragically ended on May 13, 2007. Garett participated in many sports, including hockey, volleyball, and basketball. He was selected as an All-Star in the 2007 Provincial AAA Basketball Championships which his Windsor Park Royals captured. He was also named to the All Manitoba Team. Garett’s friends and Family have set two scholarships to be awarded to a male and female high school basketball player who displays sportsmanship, leadership, and outstanding ability. A scholarship in the amount of $500 is awarded annually to a male and female basetball player. Nominations will be taken by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association and scholarship funds will be administered through the Garett Lee Sidor Scholarship Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation. Contributions to this fund may be made by contacting the Winnipeg Foundation.

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Hall of Fame – Team Category

To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, teams must somehow have distinguished themselves above and beyond the normal standards. These may include: undefeated seasons, consecutive league, zone, or provincial championships wins, or appearances. The Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall select no more than one team in any year and may choose not to select any team.

RECIPIENT

HALL OF FAME – BUILDER CATEGORY

Nomination of a builder shall not be considered unless they have at least ten (10) years of service within the high school athletic community in Manitoba and have contributed to the success of Manitoba high school athletes over a period of time.  Would include any individual who has distinguished himself/herself by demonstrating exceptional leadership and character. This may include contributions as a coach (head or assistant coach), volunteer, official and/or administrator.  Will have been instrumental in the development of the sport, school program and/or event.

This could include:

1. having coached a team or individual that has consecutive appearances and/or won consecutive, league, zone and/or provincial championships.
2. Earned conference, zone, league, provincial or national coaching award(s).
3. Was instrumental in developing and building a successful athletic program.
4. Involved with committees or boards that were instrumental in the development of high school sport championships, events and athlete development opportunities/policies.
5. Involved in the hosting of numerous successful event, tournaments, and/or provincial championships for high school athletes, spanning numerous years.

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Sami-Jo Small Award

Sami-Jo Small was a tremendous athlete in high school and represented Canada at three Olympic Games, in two of which, Team Canada won gold. She was also a member of five World Championship winning teams for Canada and was MHSAA Athlete of the Year and Scholar/Athlete Award winner in 1994, while attending College Jeanne Sauve. The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame presents the Sami Jo Small Award, a $1,000 scholarship to a female high school hockey player who is recognized for a combination of excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.

RECIPIENT

DR. DALE IWANOCZKO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Dale Iwanoczko was an outstanding student and athlete who began his volleyball career playing for Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School. He advanced to the University of Manitoba where he was named a five time All Canadian and C.I.S. Most Valuable Player in 1991. He was also a member of Volleyball Manitoba’s Provincial Team & Canada Games programs. Dale was Valedictorian, Governor General Medal Award Winner, and Athlete of the Year at Selkirk in Grades 11 & 12. He proceeded to obtain his medical degree from the University of Manitoba. Dale Iwanoczko left the sports world at the age of 30, after succumbing to Hodgkin’s Disease, a battle he had fought for fourteen months. Friends and colleagues of Dale have come together to create $1,000 scholarships in his name to be presented to rural and urban high school volleyball players.

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KEN ‘FRIAR’ NICOLSON AWARD

The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame is the sponsor of the Ken ‘Friar’ Nicolson Award. This award is named in honour of long-time CJOB radio Winnipeg Jets play-by-play broadcaster Ken Nicolson. Ken was a tremendous supporter of high school hockey and served on the organization committee for the first two Provincial High School Championships. The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame presents a $1,000 scholarship to a high school hockey player who is recognized for a combination of excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.

RECIPIENT

MANITOBA’S CREDIT UNIONS SCHOLAR ATHLETE

The Manitoba’s Credit Unions Scholar Athlete Award is presented to four students annually who maintain a minimum of 85% average and participate in at least two interscholastic high school athletic activities. Manitoba’s Credit Unions awards each Scholar Athlete a $1,000 scholarship.

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FRANK L. MCKINNON AWARD

The Frank L. McKinnon Award is presented to an outstanding contributor to high school atheltics. The award is named in honour of long time Principal of Carman Collegiate, Frank McKinnon who was a past Board member and President of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association.

RECIPIENT

WINNIPEG JETS ALUMNI AND FRIENDS HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIPS

Presented to one male and one female graduating high school hockey player – a $2,500 scholarship to be used towards post secondary education. The criteria for this award includes a person’s on-ice skills and achievements, as well as off-ice activities including: leadership in school and community, participation in school and community activities. Applications are evaluated by a committee made up of retired NHL players.

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CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association is based on the tremendous support of volunteers, teacher, coaches, corporate sector, media, and other persons interested in the promotion of school sport. The MHSAA annually recognizes the contribution of such individuals and presents certificates of recognition.

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FRED STEVENSON AWARD

The Fred Stevenson Award is named in honour of long time hockey coach Fred Stevenson of St. John’s-Ravenscourt. The $1,000 Scholarship is sponsored by the Stevenson Family.

RECIPIENT

NICK LAPING LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Nick Laping Leadership Award is in honour of a great friend of high school sport, Nick Laping. Nick started his teaching career at John Taylor Collegiate and coached the John Taylor Pipers and St. Paul’s Crusaders in Basketball. Nick left teaching and went into the business community working for Jr. Achievement and later on as Vice President of Human Resources at the Birchwood Group. His was a real leader in sport and always cared about his high school sport roots.

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Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Athlete of the Week
Athlete of the Week is awarded to outstanding rural and urban student athletes.

Be sure to check out the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Instagram account,@manitoba_dairy, where each week they will post the weekly recipients and encourage their followers to show their support for the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Athlete of the Week!

Every Tuesday the winners will be posted to Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Instagram story. Please ensure you are following for your chance to share!

Coaches and schools, get your nominations in by every Monday morning!

Please note, you must be logged into mhsaa.ca to complete your nomination.

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