Asher was a dedicated member of Prairie Hockey Academy for four years, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership, selflessness, and a commitment to his community. His impact extends far beyond the rink, touching the lives of many through his volunteer work, mentorship, and dedication to helping others.

鈥淎sher has been an outstanding young man and a cornerstone of our program over the past four years. Diligent, hardworking, and approachable, he is the type of person who would be the first to help load the bus for a road trip and the last to make sure it was spotless before heading home. His attention to detail meant you never had to ask him twice鈥攈e simply took initiative and got things done.

Beyond the rink, Asher was a leader in the school community, connecting people and building friendships that strengthened the culture of our academy. His presence will be deeply missed in both the dressing room and the high school hallways.

It comes as no surprise that Asher was recognized as聽Humanitarian of the Year. His dedication to serving both our small community and his hometown has made a lasting impact鈥攐ne that will continue to ripple forward for many years to come.

We are proud to call Asher an alumnus of Prairie Hockey Academy and look forward to watching him continue to lead and excel as he moves on to junior hockey. His character and work ethic will carry him far, and we are excited to cheer him on in the next chapter of his journey,鈥� added PHA Director of Hockey Operations, Erik Robitaille.

Throughout his time at PHA, Asher has remained actively involved in multiple communities. He has:

• Refereed minor hockey in Avonlea, Caronport, and Moose Jaw.
• Dedicated one day a week to assisting Caronport Minor Hockey teams.
• Stayed connected to his home association in Avonlea, volunteering for practices and drop-in skates whenever possible.

Beyond hockey, Asher took it upon himself to start a community ball hockey league at just 15 years old. He independently planned and formally presented his proposal to the local board, gaining approval for a program that has now been running for two years. The league, which gets kids active two nights a week, doubled in size in its second year, attracting players from surrounding communities. It now includes a year-end tournament that serves as a fundraiser for Avonlea Minor Hockey, reinforcing Asher鈥檚 dedication to giving back to where his hockey journey began.

Asher鈥檚 contributions also extend into facility upkeep, having worked at the Caronport rink for a year to help maintain a higher standard for local teams, the public, and visiting players.

At school, Asher has been a valued leader, serving on the Student Leadership Council despite already fulfilling his leadership requirements through PHA coursework. He has also represented BCA in badminton and track and field, always known as a supportive and encouraging teammate.

One of Asher鈥檚 most admirable qualities is his commitment to mentorship. He consistently looks out for younger players in the academy, especially those struggling with the transition to PHA life. Whether it鈥檚 taking them out for coffee, driving them to Moose Jaw if they don鈥檛 have a license, or simply being a listening ear, Asher leads by example. His acts of kindness often go unnoticed until later, as we often hear about them from others, including Principal Lewis.

Despite battling through a shoulder injury this season, Asher has remained a positive force both in the locker room and in the community. His resilience, character, and unwavering dedication to helping others make him an ideal candidate for this award.

鈥淟ife is bigger than hockey, but we can use hockey for great things. I believe that hockey can be used as a platform to create leaders around the world. At Prairie Hockey Academy, they strive to build “life champions”; winning on the ice and developing as a player is important, but they approach life by knowing your identity outside of the sport,鈥� said Watson. 鈥淓ach day brings new opportunities to learn and grow, and inspire younger generations, all it takes is one small action to drastically change a person鈥檚 life. My focus is being able to keep the fun in the sport and be a role model, not only for my siblings, but for my friends and peers along my walk in life. This bible verse goes to show that everyone should serve Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” You don鈥檛 have to be a believer but everyone can take the same message. Anyone can lead, everyone should serve, and the choice is in your hands.鈥�

鈥淣ot only is Sky a very strong goalie, he is an exceptional teammate and member of our community here at Bishop鈥檚 College School鈥� said Director of Hockey Operations Brodie Dupont.

鈥淲hen it comes to Sky鈥檚 commitment to being a great teammate, we often refer to him as a third coach. Sky is always making sure the guys have their gear, proper clothes etc.,鈥� added Dupont. 鈥淗e is always the last person on the bus after packing the gear and checking the room before we leave. He cleans the rooms often, and is always the last guy leaving practice making sure the pucks have been picked up and the nets have been put away properly.鈥�

Sky joined the Bishop鈥檚 College School Eastern U18 Prep team for the 2023/24 黑料不打烊 season. In 3 games the Northridge, California netminder went 3-0-0 with a 1.67GAA and .940SV%. He would play two Eastern Championship games, going 1-1-0 with a 3.70GAA and .908SV%.

In the Bishop鈥檚 College community Sky is a great leader and volunteer all while playing hockey and achieving his IB Diploma which is the highest standard of academics offered. Sky is a prefect here at Bishop鈥檚 College, along with the highest rank in cadets. This year Sky volunteered in many areas around the school and has helped with touring new potential students, and even touring two full teams.

Sky is an incredible role model and represents academics, community and hockey at the highest levels. Post Bishop鈥檚 College Sky plans on joining the military and serving his country.

鈥淥n behalf of Sky, who is currently attending the Air Force Academy, without any communication access to the outside world, we (his parents) would like to thank you for this great honor that has been bestowed upon him with this award,鈥� said Eric Willer.

鈥淭his last year, Sky worked very hard in many areas, always eager to improve himself and those around him. We would like to thank his coaches, Brodie Dupont and Josh Bray, as well as Bishop’s College School faculty and staff for their continued support. We are sure that Sky will be very happy to learn he is the recipient of this award.鈥�

Some notable volunteer and achievements this year

• Prefect: Each year, nine students in Grade 11 are elected prefects for Grade 12. They are selected by the faculty as student-leaders to lead their peers through all phases of student life.
• Cadets: Commanding Officer of the 2nd Cadet Corps (Highest rank in the Cadet Corps)
  • Attended a CO Conference at Camp Valcartier on September 15th, 2023
  • Leading 280+ fellow cadets, NCOs, and Officers
  • Marksmanship Award
  • The Black Watch Plaque (awarded to the best instructor irrespective of rank)
  • 4-year Service Ribbon
• Color Athletics Award Athletic: award presented to students who demonstrate skill, leadership, and a positive attitude on and off the field, and who set the example for others to follow.
• House Captain: Student leader officer in charge of students inside the dormitory
• Book Archiver- Bishop鈥檚 College School Archives
• Prospective student guide/ Ambassador- Bishops College School

Usher has spent the last two seasons in the 黑料不打烊 with Shawnigan Lake School. The Langley, BC defender played last season with their U15 Prep team and spent the 2022/23 season with the Shawnigan U17 Prep team.

Carson is a Grade 10 student at Shawnigan. Like most student athletes in the 黑料不打烊 his main passion is hockey, but he chose Shawnigan for its rigorous academic program. Although he played his minor hockey at the Burnaby Winter Club, Carson decided that moving away from home to accept the challenge of boarding school life would be the best way to realize his dream of becoming a two-way defenceman in the NCAA. He has thrived on the ice and off, putting together an average of 83% over seven courses.

Early in the 2021-22 season, Carson learned that his father had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Although the prognosis was scary and statistically unfavourable, Carson and his entire family remained positive and optimistic. To make matters worse, Carson shattered his leg nine games into this second season.

Each year, Shawnigan students must complete a These projects are student-led and allow them to pursue a personal passion or area of interest. Carson chose to focus his project on increasing awareness on the effects of cancer and raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. To date, his campaign has raised $17,800 for cancer research, far surpassing his original goal of $2,500. He was responsible for creating the first 黑料不打烊 Outdoor Winter Classic at Sun Peaks as a mechanism for much of these funds. This event required an enormous amount of coordination and administration. He was the event鈥檚 MC and coordinated the introductions preceding the event and handed out prizes afterwards, which he acquired through a partnership with the NHLPA鈥檚 Hockey Fights Cancer program.

“It is a great honour to receive this award. I organized the Hockey Fights Cancer game and fundraiser in honour of my dad who always went above and beyond helping others,” said Usher. “It was a great success thanks to the help from my coach, Jeff Compton, and so many families in the hockey community. I am planning on continuing the Hockey Fights Cancer fundraiser next season and hope that it becomes an annual event.”

Carson has been an inspiration to his team, his school, the hockey community and beyond. Despite his personal and family situation, he has remained focused on giving back and staying positive. He has taught everyone near him the definition of resilience, optimism and gratitude.

“The entire school is proud of Carson’s unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on the world. Through his remarkable efforts, Carson has not only transformed personal hardships into a beacon of hope, but also channeled his passion for hockey into an influential force for cancer awareness, added Compton. “By raising over $17,000 for the Hockey Fights Cancer foundation, he has exemplified the true spirit of philanthropy. Carson’s unwavering determination in the face of challenges serves as a true inspiration and a role model to his peers.”

A forward from Penticton, BC, Wrigglesworth has spent the last two seasons in the 黑料不打烊 with the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) Female U17 Prep team.

Since joining OHA in 2021, Kailey has routinely demonstrated strong character, leadership qualities and a commitment to her community by taking on a number of projects and volunteering her time to help others. During this past year, Kailey played a huge role in organizing OHA鈥檚 participation in the local Toys for Tots charity drive. Toys for Tots collects toys for children of all ages to ensure that every child has a gift to open on Christmas morning. Toys for Tots has been an important event for OHA in past years, and Kailey ensured that Christmas 2022 would be no exception.

In addition to Toys for Tots, Kailey was also part of the Penticton Provides 10,000 Tonight food drive. Kailey helped organize the drive and recruited her fellow OHA student-athletes as volunteers. This fundraiser aims to ensure that nobody in the community goes hungry during the holiday season.

Happy to share her love of hockey, Kailey volunteers weekly with the UpperDek Vees, a special needs hockey program. Kailey is also on the ice with Penticton Minor U9 and U11 Girls twice a week, lending a hand to young female players and helping to grow the game. Kailey鈥檚 love and passion for the game is clear, as is her desire to share that passion with the next generation of players.

“Being an athlete who is constantly under demand can make it hard to get involved in the community. However; doing so consistently this year has really changed my life.聽 When I was little, I remember the older girls coming on the ice to coach me and I always looked up to them.聽 It left a huge impression on me and now I have the opportunity to pay it forward and be a role model to someone else,” said聽Wrigglesworth. “Winning this award truly means a lot to me and recognizes all the hard work I have put in throughout the year.聽 I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to play in the 黑料不打烊 and am committed to continuing to grow as an athlete, as a leader and as a figure in the community.”

Kailey鈥檚 volunteer spirit extends to her time at school as well. As part of the Leadership Group at Penticton High, Kailey helps with the breakfast club, spirit weeks, fundraisers, and school events such as Terry Fox, Kindness Days, Remembrance Day, and Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Kailey manages to give so much of her time to helping others while at the same time balancing her OHA schedule, maintaining a grade point average of 93.67%, and being continuously recognized for the Excellence in Effort each semester.

“We are very proud of Kailey for the work that she has done in our community and for being such a great role model not only to those outside our organization, but for all the student-athletes at OHA. Kailey checks all the boxes when it comes to character and leadership, so we are very happy to see her recognized by the league as someone that stands apart from the group in a positive way. 聽We are honoured to have such an inspiring young woman in our program and would like to congratulate Kailey and her family on an incredible achievement,” added OHA General Manager Scott May.