BC Hockey Life Members

Leon Chester Macken joined British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) shortly after its establishment in 1921 as Secretary Treasurer, and assumed the role of president in 1923, a position that he held for two years.

A.R. Dingman was the president of British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) for two years, from 1927-29.

John Cecil Urquhart held the title of president of British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1929-30.

Art Jefferd’s involvement in hockey in British Columbia spanned nearly 30 years, serving as president of the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1930-34 and the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association’s Lower Mainland District Director from 1938-59. In 1962, Jefferd was recognized by being named to Hockey Canada’s Order of Merit.

Doug Grimston served as president of the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1942-47 and later moved on to represent the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada) as their president from 1950-52. Each year, the British Columbia Elite Hockey League’s (BCEHL) U15 AAA Champions are awarded the Doug Grimston Memorial Trophy, named in his honour.

Frank Becker served as president of British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1947-49. Becker also served the Mayor of Vernon from 1956 to 1961.

Serving as secretary-treasurer between 1946 and 1958, and president from 1958-60, Leo Atwell had a long tenure with British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) that lasted 14 years. Atwell was awarded the Diamond Stick Award in 1966 and was named to Hockey Canada’s Order of Merit in 1970.

Ivan Temple had a significant impact on hockey in British Columbia, but notably on the Island when he co-founded Victoria Minor Hockey Association in 1943. Temple then joined the BC Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) executive and served as president from 1960-63. After his tenure as president, Temple then assumed the role of secretary – manager from 1963-73 and was awarded the Diamond Stick Award in 1973.

Raymond Peebles erved as president of the BC Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1971-74, and also spent time as the president of Quesnel MHA, Quesnel Kangaroos, Cariboo Hockey League, and the BC Junior Hockey League. Peebles’ outstanding service to hockey in B.C. was recognized when he was awarded the Diamond Stick Award in 1991.

Frank Spring held the position of president for British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) for three years between 1974-77. The following year, Spring’s service was recognized with Diamond Stick Award honours. Today, the top minor hockey association in B.C. each year is awarded Frank Spring Minor Hockey Association of the Year Award, named in his honour.

Milo Fabro represented British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) as president from 1969 to 1971 and was recognized with the Diamond Stick Award in 1976.

Robert Mullock served as president of BC Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1977-79.  Mullock’s service to amateur hockey was recognized in 1994, being named to Hockey Canada’s Order of Merit, followed by BC Hockey’s Diamond Stick Award in 2005.

William Jim Anderson was the Chairman of the BC Amateur Hockey Association’s (now BC Hockey) Rules Committee for three years, and Referee-in-Chief for five years. In 1974, Anderson was recognized with the Meritorious Award by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada). A decade later, British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association awarded Anderson with the Diamond Stick Award in 1984.

Named president of the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) at 36 years old, Dr. Leo Margolis held that position from 1963-66. Margolis was honoured by BC Hockey in 1988 as a Life Member and as a recipient of the Diamond Stick Award the following year. He was also honoured at the national level by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada) with the Prestigious Merit Award in 1990.

Don Schmaltz has been involved in hockey at many different levels in B.C. including coaching Penticton MHA to a U18 AAA Provincial Championship during the 1969-70 season and serving as president of British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1979-81. Schmaltz’s service was recognized in 1997 as he was named to Hockey Canada’s Order of Merit.

Serving as Chair of the 2010 Bid Committee, Lento was a driving force in bringing the 2010 Olympic Ice Hockey Competition to Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Lento was a member of Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors from 1991-2000 and served as Chair from 1995 to 1998. Lento was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010 as a builder. He was also BC Hockey President from 1988-91.

Don Freer was the second full-time Executive Director of the BC Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey), a position that he served for 27 years until his retirement in 2000. Freer held the responsibility of purchasing the association’s first office and oversaw the construction of the current office.

Allan Matthews served as president of the BC Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) from 1991-1994. Matthews also served at the national level as Hockey Canada’s Chair of the Board from 2003-2005 and was inducted into the BC Hockey Halll of Fame in 2008 in the Builder Category.

Bill Ennos has been an integral part of the BC Hockey family since joining in 1980 as a Program Coordinator, working his way up to Associate Director. Aside from being recognized as a BC Hockey Life Member in 2022, Ennos’ dedication and commitment to the game of hockey in B.C. earned him the BC Hockey Life Members’ Executive Award in 2008, along with the BC Hockey Diamond Stick Award in 2018.

Bob Nicholson was named BC Hockey’s Technical Director in 1979, a position he held for over a decade. After his time with BC Hockey, Nicholson moved on to the national ranks, serving as vice-president of Hockey Canada, and President/CEO of Hockey Canada. In 2014, the Penticton native joined Oilers Entertainment Group, and currently serves as the Special Advisor & Alternate Governor, Hockey Operations with the Edmonton Oilers.

After spending time behind the bench with the Trail Smoke Eaters and Columbia Valley Rockies, Tom Renney was appointed as BC Hockey’s Provincial Project Coordinator in 1989. After his time with BC Hockey, Renney coached at the NHL level with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings. After his coaching days, Renney was the CEO of Hockey Canada from 2014 to 2022.

Since joining West Vancouver Minor Hockey Association as their president in 1985, Bonnie Cameron has had long tenures with both Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association and BC Hockey at the executive level, which led to her being honoured as a BC Hockey Life Member in 2023.

June McKenzie has been a mainstay throughout BC Hockey since she joined Trail Minor Hockey Association’s Executive Committee in 1990. When BC Hockey’s new Board structure was adopted in 2015, she became BC Hockey’s Branch Coordinator, Minor Hockey Operations, a role she still holds today.

Known as one of the very first stars of professional hockey, Fred W. ‘Cyclone’ Taylor played from 1906 to 1922, most well-known for his time with the Vancouver Millionaires, where he won the Stanley Cup in 1915. Taylor was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947 and was later elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on through BC Hockey’s Junior B Championship – the Cyclone Taylor Cup.