IHN: 1997 Athletes of the Year Awards

InLine Hockey News
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR AWARDS BANQUET

On Saturday, October 18, at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, just steps away from the site of NHL Breakout L.A., the inaugural InLine Hockey News Athletes of the Year Awards Banquet took place. More than 120 industry insiders, sponsors, manufacturers and players celebrated the presentation of awards for the premier athletes and events of the 1997 inline hockey season.

After welcoming everyone to the banquet presenting an audio visual presentation of '97 season highlights, Master of Ceremonies and InLine Hockey News Editor Richard Graham got right to the awards.

Winning INDOOR INLINE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR, as the indoor inline hockey tournament with the best organization, positive player feedback and achievement in 1997, was The North American Roller Hockey Championships (NARCh). NARCh grew from 12 regional tournaments in 1996 to 20 regionals and an international-flavored championship event in Vancouver, British Coumbia, Canada in 1997. Accepting the award for NARCh was tournament director Paul Chapey.

The OUTDOOR INLINE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR, presented to the outdoor inline hockey tournament with the best organization, positive player feedback and achievement in 1997, went to NHL Breakout. Accepting this award on behalf of NHL Breakout was Kamini Sharma of NHL Enterprises, Inc, and Mike Vajda of Streetball Partners.

GAME OF THE YEAR, awarded to the year's best inline hockey game, went to the Team USA Hockey InLine vs Team Canada Gold-Medal Game at the International Ice Hockey Federation In-Line Hockey World Championships in Anaheim, California, on July 25, 1997. Accepting the award on behalf of the IIHF was Alysse Soll of NHL Enterprises, Mark Rudolph, director of USA Hockey InLine, and Dave Easter, manager of Canadian Hockey InLine.

The AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD was presented to a person or organization who fought through red tape, apathy or other obstacles to create an inline hockey program. This award is meant to inspire and motivate other people to shoot for it. Richard Woodland of West Hawaii Hockey received a check for $1,000 for his program as part of the newly created "InLine Hockey News Betterment of the Sport Foundation."

This foundation has been established by InLine Hockey News to provide periodic contributions to worthy organizations or individuals who demonstrate need and a clear plan of action to help further the growth of inline hockey. Mark Rudolph of USA Hockey InLine accepted West Hawaii Hockey's award, as Rich Woodland was unable to make it to the ceremony.

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR, presented to the inline hockey executive who, through his or her duties in a position of authority, helped the sport grow the most in 1997, went to Ken Yaffe, Vice President of Fan Development for NHL Enterprises. Yaffe, along with the help of an outstanding staff, helped attract more than 19,000 fans over the course of the week-long IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship at the Anaheim Pond, including more than 8,000 spectators at the Gold Medal game.

The PRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR award is presented to the professional player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, perserverance and achievement at the professional level in 1997. Joe Cook, from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, won the award after leading leading Team USA Hockey InLine to its second straight International Ice Hockey Federation InLine Hockey World Championship in Anaheim.

The FEMALE AMATEUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR award, presented to the female amateur player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, perserverance and achievement at the amateur level in 1997, went to Andria Hunter of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Hunter was high scorer at both the 1997 Canadian Hockey InLine Nationals and 1997 NARCh finals. Hunter was one of three players on her current club team the Toronto Typhoon selected to the all-star team at the 1997 USA Hockey InLine Cup national championship, where the Typhoon won the gold medal. As Hunter was unable to make it to the awards ceremony, Shari Hitt of RHI-Amateur accepted it for her.

The final award of the evening, for MALE AMATEUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR, was presented to the male amateur player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, perserverance and achievement at the amateur level in 1997. Glowing testimonials that came in from both coaches and tournament organizers for Gabe Gauthier of Buena Park, California, were impossible to ignore. Gauthier led Team Sure-Grip to more than 90 victories in Squirt and PeeWee division competition in 1997. The 13-year-old player led his team to winning state titles in both Squirt and PeeWee divisions. And at the 1997 NARCh Squirt Division championship, he powered his team to the gold medal.

The 1997 InLine Hockey News Athletes of the Year Awards Banquet was a huge success. According to Dennis Murphy, co-founder of Roller Hockey International, "The event was outstanding and was an excellent venue to bring people from all areas of our great sport together in one place."

According to former Los Angeles Blade Brett Kurtz, "I think that the awards ceremony will inspire tournament organizers to run top-notch events so they might have the opportunity to be recognized next year. This type of inspiration and competitiveness is very healthy for the industry."

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