As an honour, the highest that may be bestowed by the Association, any member who has served the Association and rendered outstanding and meritorious service in accordance with Article 2.1 may be elected a honourary life member at any regular Executive Meeting of the current season and confirmed at the Annual General Meeting. Life members shall have the privilege of acting in an advisory capacity to the Executive and shall be accorded all rights and privileges of the other members.

Nominations for Life Membership must be submitted in writing to the Executive, signed by a member in good standing and detail the service for which the honour is recommended.

Our distinguished members who have been given this recognition are profiled below.

 

Anita Cairney

Anita has been a committed and tireless worker with ND hockey from the early 2000's when her sons Ryan and Marcus started to play the game.  She began working at the team level and soon became a Division Manager, leader and mentor at all levels of the Association.  Most recently, Anita has served as our distinguished Past-President and will be leaving the board in 2017.

Working alongside Anita can be difficult.  She is hard to keep up to.  Nobody is more organized and pays greater attention to detail.  When she completes a role, she leaves behind a binder of best practices for the person lucky enough to follow her.  Tournament organization, Division management, book-keeping, hockey development programs, parent's auxiliary, and hockey equipment replacement are areas Anita has carefully refined and managed.  She has served as a mentor to many current leaders of the association and helped North Delta improve administrative support of players and volunteers.

Anita has been recognized by North Delta Minor Hockey and Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association with awards for service, leadership, and sportsmanship.  She remains a leader among our most dedicated and selfless volunteers.  Some children and their parents may not have met Anita but every player and parent in North Delta has been touched by the work she has put into building our programs.

 

 

 

Leo Sweeney

Leo first became involved with North Delta hockey in 1997 when his son Riley started playing hockey.  His volunteer service includes Team Manager, Division Manager, Hockey Canada Safety Person, and Special Event Coordinator.  Leo is best remembered as a long serving Board member and ice scheduler - a position he held from 1999 until 2010.  He has been a source of strength and continuity in this most difficult job, and helped develop a fine working relationship between the Association and Delta municipality.  After playing all his hockey in North Delta, Riley Sweeney went on to play on a scholarship for the Michigan Tech Huskies.  Leo remained involved with minor hockey in an expanded role as Coach Coordinator for Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey as well as Lower Mainland Central division of BC Hockey.  Leo Sweeney is an inspirational, dedicated, and hardworking volunteer who exemplifies the best of continuing service to our North Delta Minor Hockey volunteer community.

 

Dave Buck

Dave began coaching with North Delta Minor in 1985.  He has remained actively involved with the association since that time serving as coach, tournament director, vice president, president and then coach again in 2001-2002.  Dave initiated and built up the Trevor Buck Memorial award which serves to encourage and celebrate good sportsmanship and fun in playing the game of hockey and activities surrounding the game.  Following his extensive service to North Delta Minor Hockey, Dave took on senior leadership positions with both Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association (Managing Director, Vice President ,President) from 2002 to 2014 and BC Hockey (Lower Mainland District Director).  In May of 2014, Dave Buck announced his retirement from minor hockey and was presented the prestigious "Gold Puck" award from Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association.  Mr. Buck is an inspiring and humble leader who brings out the best in those around him.

Angus McLeod

Angus received a Meritorious Service Award from Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association at the end of the 2007 hockey season.  His main accomplishments at that time were based on wonderful service and support as a rep team parent.  His particular interest was goalie development and the importance of equipment in making it possible for all children to progress to their potential.  Angus became a legendary ND equipment manager inspiring the highest level of care for the equipment purchased by North Delta Minor Hockey.  Nobody did the Equipment Manager role as well as Angus, and he retired and returned to the position several times.  Angus was also the "Manager and Mentor" for many years of young coaches and players on the Juvenile A team.  Everyone associated with these teams to a person respected and admired "Mr. MacLeod" who was as much a part of the team as any player.  Angus has set the high water mark of leadership through service to children, young adults, and families who love hockey in North Delta.