Stratford, ON - ALLIANCE Hockey is pleased to announce that
Karen daSilva (Lambeth,
ON) has been named the recipient of the 2020-21 ALLIANCE Hockey Award of Merit.
AWARD OF MERIT –
KAREN DASILVA, ELGIN MIDDLESEX CHIEFS AAA HOCKEY ALLIANCE
Watch the full video here!
For many Associations, the 2020-2021 season consisted of limited ice time, little competition and way too many unknowns. Some would even suggest that the 2020-2021 was a season to forget. While they certainly faced their own challenges and bumps, the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs made sure that the 2020-2021 season would not soon be forgotten! The Chiefs were the first ALLIANCE Hockey Association to get kids back on the ice in summer 2020, the first Association to play games during the season and saw a total of six U16 players drafted to the OHL, including the now historic selection of netminder Taya Currie; the first female player to be drafted.
None of these highlights come without a great concerted effort and a strong leader guiding the way. That leader is Karen daSilva, a long-time volunteer and EMC's President for the last three years.
“Our Board, Coaches and our Membership have done a great job, constantly pivoting and working through this pandemic. We managed to do all this having Karen lead the way, constantly working hard to ensure things were as 'normal' as possible for the kids. She directed the entire organization through the ever-changing Provincial rules, ALLIANCE/OHF rules and the Ministry of Health rules that affected arenas, ice scheduling, etc.,” noted a fellow EMC Board Member.
As with most minor hockey volunteers, daSilva spends countless hours away from her own family attending virtual meetings, overseeing Association communication plans, coordinating ice time and so much more.
“When I am at the rink and players come up to me and thank me, I know it is all worth it,” said daSilva.
Congratulations and thank you Karen for your outstanding contributions, involvement, and service to ALLIANCE Hockey!
Thank you to Pro Hockey Life for your support of the ALLLIANCE Hockey Awards Program.
