As a community, they are coaches we can crow about.
The end of 'Coaches Week' brought coaching awards to two city men who work very hard to teach sports skills and life skills to young athletes in Prince George.
Grant Erickson, known for his instruction and organization in the sport of football, was given the Investors Group volunteer sport administrator award as the Coaches Association of B.C. concluded sessions on Saturday at the Northern Sport Centre. Erickson has been involved in minor football and the high school level of the sport since 1998, and is considered the pioneer who helped return high school football to the local sporting landscape. While acting as league commissioner, the high school league grew to seven teams.
Also recognized was hockey coach Mark Barlow, who has been a driving force behind girls participation in the sport -- and for that, Barlow was given the B.C. Athlete Voice ACE (achieving community excellence) award.
Barlow's Cheap Skate Summer Hockey League follows his mantra that all children should be able to play the sport, and Cheap Skate now has more than 140 participants annually. Barlow's nomination came from 10 young female players who take part in the summer program.
