Phil Von Unruh was named a Capital News香蕉视频直播� Community Leader of the Year winner in the coach category at the , held at Okanagan College, Oct. 23, 2017. The Community Leader Awards are given to local members of the community who demonstrate exceptional commitment and leadership.

A decade ago, with no hockey teams in Kelowna designed for special needs kids, Phil Von Unruh decided to take matters into his own hands.

So in 2006, Von Unruh rented ice time at Prospera Place and the Central Okanagan Wildcats special hockey program was born.

His oldest son, Kalen, who has autism, was one of six players to pull on hockey equipment for that first practise and Von Unruh香蕉视频直播檚 vision has been evolving ever since.

Through his initiative, other special needs hockey programs in the B.C. interior are now operating in Vernon, Penticton and Kamloops.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very satisfying, especially when you see all the teams we now have playing and the fact that we also have a year-end tournament,香蕉视频直播� Phil said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you look at pictures of that first year, we didn香蕉视频直播檛 even have jerseys, the kids were wearing hoodies.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a pretty rudimentary start you could say,香蕉视频直播� he added, 香蕉视频直播渟o it香蕉视频直播檚 nice to see the growth we香蕉视频直播檝e had here and other parts of the province.香蕉视频直播�

And last year, Von Unruh created an adult team香蕉视频直播攖he Okanagan Wild香蕉视频直播攆or players 16 years of age and older, most of whom have moved up from the Wildcats香蕉视频直播� program.

Susan Noble, a parent of one of the Wildcats香蕉视频直播� players, has praise for Von Unruh and his selfless contributions to amateur sport in Kelowna.

香蕉视频直播淗is larger-than-life, kindhearted personality makes it possible for all the players to experience success and have fun at the same time,香蕉视频直播� Noble said of Von Unruh香蕉视频直播檚 impact. 香蕉视频直播淲ithout Phil香蕉视频直播檚 dedication, enthusiasm and hard work, the opportunity for many of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 special needs children to play hockey and be part of a team would not exist.香蕉视频直播�

In addition to coaching hockey in winter, Von Unruh remains busy year-round as a volunteer, coaching Special Olympics bowling, track and field and soccer.

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