June 22, 2010
Helga Steenhof honoured by Hockey Hall of Fame
Steenhof was recognized for years of volunteer service with the Smithers Minor Hockey Club last week by RBC Insurance, who announced Steenhof as the one recipient of the RBC Local Hockey Leader winner in all of B.C. Each year, RBC Insurance gives the award to one recipient from each province. Nominees are chosen by each community’s RBC.
“The words that come to mind when I think of Helga and the type of person she is are warm, enthusiastic, caring, passionate, inspiring, dedicated, approachable, and perfect,” Smithers RBC assistant manager Jayson Chaplin wrote in his nomination letter for Steenhof to RBC Insurance. “She has such a positive impact on our Minor Hockey Association that her legacy will last the ages.”
Canada-wide, there were 200 nominations for the award, Chaplin said. Each of the winners receive a trip to Toronto, Ontario for an awards ceremony where they are inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, a signed Team Canada jersey, and $10,000 for that community’s Minor Hockey Association.
“Congratulations to Helga,” Chaplin continued. “She definitely deserves it.”
On receiving an RBC banner in recognition of her 10 years of volunteer services last Monday, Steenhof admitted to being a little overwhelmed with the announcement that she was the one in B.C. selected for such an honour.
“I feel a little sheepish, actually,” Steenhof said. “So many people do so many wonderful things, not just in Smithers, right across the province and I kind of feel what I do is just a drop in the bucket, but it is a huge honour,” Steenhof said.
She first started volunteering 10 years ago when her eldest son went into hockey, she said. Now, with two of her sons in minor hockey and the other just waiting to begin the Smithers Storm team, she remains dedicated to the association and couldn’t wait to tell them the good news.
“I was thrilled to contact our president, Kent Coish, and ask ‘how would you like to spend $10,000? Because it’s coming!’” she exclaimed.
While there hasn’t been an official meeting with the association members to discuss how to best utilize the funds, there are a variety of upgrades that it could definitely be used for. It will definitely be put to good use, Steenhof said. Possibilities for the funds include upgrading the concession, purchasing more goalie equipment, or purchasing storage bags for team jerseys for when they’re traveling to an away game.
“I just want to give a huge thank you to Jayson for nominating me for this award,” Steenhof said. “And a huge thank you to RBC for the hockey leadership program in general, and being able to reach out to communities like Smithers and to give them a bit of cash so they can do some upgrading. It’s really great.”
