Latest news with #WillieO'ReeCommunityHeroAward
Calgary Herald
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Brent Dodginghorse, Willie O'Ree award winner, on importance of diversity and respect in sports
Brent Dodginghorse was in the midst of a workout Monday evening when his phone started to buzz. Article content The NHL had just announced that the 47-year-old Dodginghorse, a proud member of Tsuut'ina Nation, had been honoured as winner of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award for Canada. Article content The news dropped during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final. Article content 'I was at Gold's Gym, just working out, doing my normal routine, and my phone blew up with messages,' said Dodginghorse, who had received a heads-up from the NHL but was asked to keep it a secret. 'It was like, 'Oh, that must have been it.' Article content Article content 'I had like 72 messages within about five minutes, and all the socials were blowing up. It was pretty cool. Obviously, there was a lot of emotion.' Article content Article content The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, named for the man who broke the NHL's colour barrier in 1958, is presented to an individual who 'through the sport of hockey, has positively impacted their community, culture or society.' Article content Many local hockey fans will remember Dodginghorse from his stint as a hard-working forward with the Calgary Hitmen. When the team won the WHL championship in 1999, he was among their leading playoff scorers. Article content He's now making a mark as a leader in diversity education and awareness, sharing his personal encounters with racism or discrimination. As co-founder of DH Ranch, Dodginghorse runs an educational program that aims to promote respect, understanding and a greater appreciation for fellow hockey players regardless of their race, ethnicity or skill level. He has addressed thousands of athletes, both in minor sports and in the pros. Article content Article content On Tuesday, Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson chatted with Dodginghorse about the significance of his award win and his ongoing work to ensure everybody feels welcome and respected at the rink. Article content Article content Congratulations on being honoured as the Canadian winner of the NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award. In Monday's announcement, O'Ree had this to say about you — 'Dodginghorse draws from his own experiences to teach others about compassion and understanding. It takes a strong spirit to share personal stories with strangers, but he does it to help make his community stronger. The domino effect of his work is commendable.' How does it feel to hear that, and what does it mean to be associated with O'Ree? Article content 'It means a lot because that man has done a lot for hockey and a lot for diversity and teaching and awareness. His story inspired me to keep doing what I'm doing. And it shows that he's a man coming from experience and a true leader, because he's 100 per cent correct that it takes a lot of courage to step up and talk about your diversity story, and to spin it with an educational component and allyship is very important. And to have that reconciliation aspect of it is so important because sports and hockey bring everyone together and it's such a good platform for people to talk about the uncomfortable situations that happen. I've always had this motto, that together everybody can achieve more, and I truly believe that hockey and sports is a platform that helps coaches, players, parents and people of all colours to come together and learn valuable lessons.'
Ottawa Citizen
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Brent Dodginghorse wins NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award
Article content Brent Dodginghorse has been named as the Canadian winner of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award. Article content Dodginghorse, a member of the Tsuut'ina Nation, was honoured Monday night for the substantial work he's done impacting his community, culture and society through the sport of hockey. Article content Article content The 47-year-old is the co-founder of DH Ranch, which has an education program that promotes greater respect, understanding and appreciation for fellow hockey players regardless of race, ethnicity or ability. More than 4,000 people have gone through the program since 2019. Article content Article content Dodginghorse, who won the WHL's President's Cup with the Calgary Hitmen in 1999, is also a consultant for the Calgary Flames and works with the 7 Chiefs Hockey Program with his cousin Kyle Dodginghorse, speaking about diversity and acting as a mentor for young players at the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex and the Chief Jim Starlight Centre on Tsuut'ina Nation. Article content Article content ''He has been such a tremendous advocate and friend and peer and mentor to our entire organization at the Calgary Flames and Calgary Hitmen,' said Candice Goudie, the executive director of the Calgary Flames Foundation, in an interview with last month. 'A lot of what we've built as far as inclusion in our minor hockey programs and in our celebration games, Brent has been a part of that. We are just so lucky to have him.' Article content The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award is named after the former NHLer who became the first Black player to compete in the league when he stepped onto the ice with the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958. Article content
Vancouver Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Brent Dodginghorse wins NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award
Brent Dodginghorse has been named as the Canadian winner of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award. Dodginghorse, a member of the Tsuut'ina Nation, was honoured Monday night for the substantial work he's done impacting his community, culture and society through the sport of hockey. The 47-year-old is the co-founder of DH Ranch, which has an education program that promotes greater respect, understanding and appreciation for fellow hockey players regardless of race, ethnicity or ability. More than 4,000 people have gone through the program since 2019. Dodginghorse, who won the WHL's President's Cup with the Calgary Hitmen in 1999, is also a consultant for the Calgary Flames and works with the 7 Chiefs Hockey Program with his cousin Kyle Dodginghorse, speaking about diversity and acting as a mentor for young players at the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex and the Chief Jim Starlight Centre on Tsuut'ina Nation. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. ''He has been such a tremendous advocate and friend and peer and mentor to our entire organization at the Calgary Flames and Calgary Hitmen,' said Candice Goudie, the executive director of the Calgary Flames Foundation, in an interview with last month. 'A lot of what we've built as far as inclusion in our minor hockey programs and in our celebration games, Brent has been a part of that. We are just so lucky to have him.' The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award is named after the former NHLer who became the first Black player to compete in the league when he stepped onto the ice with the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958. Dodginghorse will receive a $25,000 prize in the form of a donation to the charity of his choice. daustin@
Calgary Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Brent Dodginghorse wins NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award
Article content Brent Dodginghorse has been named as the Canadian winner of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award. Article content Dodginghorse, a member of the Tsuut'ina Nation, was honoured Monday night for the substantial work he's done impacting his community, culture and society through the sport of hockey. Article content Article content The 47-year-old is the co-founder of DH Ranch, which has an education program that promotes greater respect, understanding and appreciation for fellow hockey players regardless of race, ethnicity or ability. More than 4,000 people have gone through the program since 2019. Article content Article content Dodginghorse, who won the WHL's President's Cup with the Calgary Hitmen in 1999, is also a consultant for the Calgary Flames and works with the 7 Chiefs Hockey Program with his cousin Kyle Dodginghorse, speaking about diversity and acting as a mentor for young players at the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex and the Chief Jim Starlight Centre on Tsuut'ina Nation. Article content Article content ''He has been such a tremendous advocate and friend and peer and mentor to our entire organization at the Calgary Flames and Calgary Hitmen,' said Candice Goudie, the executive director of the Calgary Flames Foundation, in an interview with last month. 'A lot of what we've built as far as inclusion in our minor hockey programs and in our celebration games, Brent has been a part of that. We are just so lucky to have him.' Article content The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award is named after the former NHLer who became the first Black player to compete in the league when he stepped onto the ice with the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958. Article content
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Meet Edmonton's Arjun Atwal, the hockey star who walked away from a pro career to build a diverse future for South Asian and BIPOC players
Arjun Atwal (Image via Instagram) When most athletes get the call to go pro, they pack their bags and don't look back. But Edmonton's Arjun Atwal? He did the exact opposite and it's turning heads across the hockey world. Instead of heading to Europe to chase a professional hockey career, Atwal chose to build something even more powerful at home: a community where South Asian and BIPOC players could finally see themselves thrive in a game that hasn't always welcomed them. Now, the NHL is giving him his flowers as a finalist for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award and it's easy to see why. Arjun Atwal turned down pro hockey dreams to uplift others instead Atwal isn't just a talented player, he's the real deal. Once crowned MVP in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and a standout for the University of Calgary, he had professional contract offers on the table from teams in Europe. But the 26-year-old Edmonton native saw something more important than personal stats or shiny trophies: representation. After spending years being one of the only non-white players in every locker room, he knew firsthand how isolating that could feel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Retirement Villages in Bangalore (Search Here For Results) Senior Living Communities Undo 'Usually going into teams or rooms and not really seeing anybody who looked like me,' Atwal told CTV. Instead of ignoring that, he decided to change it for the next generation. Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award 2025 Finalist: Arjun Atwal His AZ1 Hockey program is changing the game for South Asian and BIPOC athletes That's where AZ1 Hockey comes in. Founded by Atwal, the program isn't just about drills and ice time, it's about guidance, mentorship, and making sure no kid gets lost in the shuffle just because they don't fit the mold. AZ1 helps young South Asian and BIPOC players train and navigate hockey's often confusing (and expensive) system. It's a space where culture, confidence, and skill-building meet, something many kids have never had access to in the world of Canadian hockey. And it's growing fast. With AZ1 expanding across Canada, the vision is clear: hockey should belong to everyone, not just a select few. The NHL gives Atwal his flowers with Willie O'Ree Award finalist nod The NHL is recognizing what Atwal's been quietly building for years. He's one of the finalists for the prestigious Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, which honors people using hockey to positively impact society. For Atwal, the nomination isn't about him. 'It's the kids that are making this happen… I'm just one part of the puzzle,' he said. But let's be real, that one piece is doing a whole lot of heavy lifting. The winner, announced in June, will receive $25,000 for a charity of their choice. Fans can vote daily on the NHL's official site. Arjun Atwal isn't chasing clout, he's creating change. In turning down pro hockey contracts to invest in his community, he's proving that leadership doesn't always come with a captain's 'C.' Sometimes, it looks like showing up for kids who never saw themselves on the ice before. Also read - Why Brad Marchand's Blizzard break is the chillest moment of the Panthers-Hurricanes series Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
