Marv Bird
For more than 30 years, Marv Bird was well-known for his leadership of hockey development in northern Alberta. His roles included: Hockey Alberta Clinic Instructor and program lead; Grande Prairie Minor Hockey Association executive member for 14 years; President of Hockey Alberta (1996-98); member of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors for two years; coordinator of the Arctic Winter Games program and Alberta Cup program for several years; and chair of the hockey program at the 1995 Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie. Recognition includes the Hockey Alberta Distinguished Service Award (1988), City of Grande Prairie Outstanding Citizen Award (1990), and Hockey Alberta President’s Award (1997).
Clare Drake
Clare Drake is referred to by his peers as Canada’s “dean of coaching” due to his impact on the development of players and coaches for more than 40 years at the high school, University, Olympic and professional levels since 1959. Clare coached the University of Alberta Golden Bears to six national titles, coached Canada’s Olympic Team in 1980, and coached the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association in 1975-76. Clare is also the only Canadian university coach to win a national championship in both football and hockey in the same year – 1967. Clare also was instrumental in the development of the National Coaching Certification Program, and National Coach Mentorship programs.
Malcolm (Mac) Macleod
Mac MacLeod has been involved in hockey for over 60 years as a player, coach, volunteer, bus driver and anything else required to assist to make the game possible for local youth.
In 1990, Mac started as a volunteer with Hockey Alberta, including positions as Zone 2 Minor Hockey Chair (1990-94), Zone 2 Director (1994-98), and Hockey Alberta President for two years and Past President for two years. Mac has received the Hockey Alberta President’s Award (1998), the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medallion (2003), and a Hockey Alberta Life Membership (2003).
Eileen Yewchuk
One of the early organizers of the Edmonton Chimos Hockey Club, Eileen Yewchuk was a pioneer for female hockey in Alberta. In 1977, women’s hockey was formally recognized and registered by the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association. In the following years, Eileen toured the province to promote female hockey, and assist in the growth of the women’s game through player and team registration and league formation. In 1978, Eileen represented Alberta at the first ever national meeting for women’s hockey in Canada, and in 1980 women’s hockey was formally admitted into the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. Eileen helped with the addition of female hockey into the Alberta Winter Games.
Edmonton Chimos (1985)
The Edmonton Chimos Hockey Club is the longest running Senior Women’s AAA hockey program in Alberta and was the first to represent Alberta at an official national championship. The Chimos won the 1984 Senior Women’s Nationals in Spruce Grove beating Quebec in the final. The 1984 gold medal performance was preceded by silver medals in 1982 and 1983. The Chimos would defend their gold medal in 1985 defeating the Toronto Aeros.
Dawn McGuire went on to represent Alberta on Team Canada at the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championships in 1990 and 1992. Shirley Cameron was selected to Team Canada in 1990, and Jane Legace in 1994.
