2026 Fred Heslop Award - Stephanie Doratty

Stephanie Doratty’s role with Elk Valley Minor Hockey Association is that of the female development coordinator, but her passion is to advocate for all players.

“I really feel like minor hockey is more than just the sport of hockey. I feel like it's a community for the players and families altogether,” said Doratty, one of a handful of winners of BC Hockey’s 2026 Fred Heslop Awards, which honours members who have given outstanding service, and who have devoted a volunteer effort and service to a minor hockey program in British Columbia and Yukon.

“I think that hockey is a chapter in these children's childhood, and my goal is that when they're grown and look back on it, I really want them to see that this chapter was a positive one and it was filled with amazing experiences, friendships and lessons, and where their lifelong love of hockey began,” she said.

“Sometimes we lose sight of why we are in this,” she added. “It’s all about the kids and trying to keep as many kids playing hockey for as long as possible. I don't play hockey myself, so I don't contribute to the on-ice portion, but it's so much more than just that.”

Doratty is in her seventh year as a volunteer in the association and first began as a safety person, before taking on the additional role of team manager. She became a board member four year ago, adding the position of registrar to her responsibilities for three seasons.

This past season, she transitioned into the position of female development coordinator.

 “I'm obviously very passionate about female hockey, but I really work to try and represent all players…female hockey is just one section of it all.”

But it’s a section the Sparwood resident has helped improve through some key fundraising.

“I feel like we've made some amazing strides in female hockey, and I say we because it's a joint effort. There's a lot of other people in the association that have helped and I don't think we would be where we are without the consistent advocacy of everybody,” she stressed.

A skate-a-thon helped raise money last season, as did a women’s charity game.

Earlier this year, U11 and U13 girls’ teams from the area also had the opportunity to compete in WickFest, a Women and Girls’ hockey festival founded by Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser, in Las Vegas.

“It was an amazing opportunity,” said Doratty. “We had two teams travel to Vegas. There were girls across the whole East Kootenays that made up these teams. We had pretty big representation from Elk Valley, and our U13 team was the only Canadian team in their division.

“The U11 team took silver, which was super amazing, and although the U13 team didn't place, they still played amazing. It was an absolutely incredible opportunity – a once in a lifetime thing. The U11 girls actually got to play during the the intermission at an NHL game between Vegas and Vancouver, and they got to meet Hayley Wickenheiser and do lots of on and off-ice sessions outside of game time. It was just really inspiring in so many ways.”