Hockey Manitoba's 100th anniversary season began with a Celebrity Golf Tournament this past August at the Southwood Golf & Country Club in St. Norbert.

The season long celebrations came to a spectacular end Saturday night as over 700 people attended the association's Gala Dinner at Canad Inns Polo Park in Winnipeg.

“It's been a long year and a very exciting and productive year,” said Hockey Manitoba Executive Director Peter Woods when asked if the staff can now exhale after an extremely busy winter. “It just gives us a couple of weeks – we get to regroup and we start all over next year with our regular programming. There will be some changes for next year and I think that's an opportunity for us to move forward. It's been very enjoyable and I think everyone that has been associated with our branch should be proud of what we accomplished this past year.”

Hockey Manitoba hosted a Minor Hockey Summit, Project 100 – a weekend dedicated to female hockey and an Outdoor Series that featured a province-wide celebration with an estimated 50 community locations across Manitoba hosting outdoor games.

All five & six-year-old hockey players throughout Manitoba received a free Reebok hockey stick as Hockey Manitoba gave back $100,000.Sport Manitoba President & CEO Jeff Hnatiuk says the Gala Dinner was a fitting end to a remarkable season.

“It's a fantastic evening and the whole year long celebrations that they've had recognizing 100 years of hockey history in Manitoba which runs so deep, and to see so many people involved here this evening – people who have worked as volunteers for years, we've got coaches, we've got players of course, all those who have upheld the great sport of hockey for years and years.”

Fort Garry North, Manitou and Ste. Anne Minor Hockey Associations each received $5,000 Scotiabank Community Grants.



Manitoba's glorious hockey history was front and centre Saturday night.Stanley Cup rings, the Avco Cup and numerous memorabilia were on display.

Ab McDonald won four Stanley Cup rings, three with the Montreal Canadiens and one with the Chicago Blackhawks.

McDonald, who also played with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. was the first ever captain of the Winnipeg Jets when the team joined the WHA.

“It was great to come back to Winnipeg and be part of a team that sort of helped get hockey back in Manitoba,” said McDonald. “I got down to Chicago quite often and Pierre Pilote, the all-star Hall of Famer says, 'Now Ab, who are you going to cheer for?' And I say, 'Pete you know I'm a Winnipegger and you know who I'm going to cheer for.'”

Since 1993, Hockey Manitoba has recognized the “Volunteer of the Year” as its most prestigious volunteer award.

Now in its 100th Anniversary season, Hockey Manitoba announced that the award would be re-named the Frank McKinnon Award.

McKinnon served two decades on the executive of the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Manitoba) including five years as president in the 1970's. He helped create the Centennial Cup (now RBC Cup) in 1971. In 1979 McKinnon became the first chairman of the board of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada), a post he would hold until 1982.

The 2015 recipient of the Frank McKinnon Award is Brian Franklin of Deloraine who has been a part of the game in Manitoba for over 50 years.

Franklin who served as treasurer of the Tiger Hills Hockey League champion Deloraine Royals for 25 years, became president of Hockey Manitoba in 2007 and served as leader of the organization until 2012.

“Just fantastic,” said Franklin. “Frank (McKinnon)  is a legend. He's done so much for not only hockey in this province but baseball, he was a school principal – you name it. Frank is just a wonderful person and to be the recipient of the award named in his honor, it is just truly amazing. I can't believe it.”