Sportsperson and Athletes of the year to be honored Friday night

paNOW Staff:

Humility is a common theme with the 2011 recipients of the 900CKBI/Kinsmen Athlete and Sportsperson of the year awards.

Darren Whitehead says he is honoured to be named Sportsperson of the year for his 28 years of work with Special Olympics in Prince Albert and never figured he would take home such a prestigious award.

“Not for a moment, not at all, when you are a volunteer you volunteer just to learn a little bit more about what you are volunteering for and to help out people. I volunteer for the fun of it and to help people out.”

Male Athlete of the year Evan Kopchinsky was also surprised when he found out he had won. The fact the award even exits was news to him says Kopchinsky.

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

2h ago

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

21h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

“It still kind of shocks me, I was kind of surprised because I never really knew about the award before.”

Kopchinsky also says winning the award is an honour and is humbled by the amount of attention he has received from teachers, friends, work mates and fellow athletes.

Evan was the Most Valuable Player in Football, Volleyball and Basketball at St Mary high school and doesn't have a preference, but has made a choice now that he is heading to the University of Saskatchewan.

“I've chosen to play Football, not because I like it any more than the other ones, It's just a choice I made, the best choice I thought.”

Kopchinsky has been invited to the Saskatoon Hilltops main camp after a strong showing at spring camp.

Fastball Pitcher Lori Earl is female Athlete of the Year. She made the all conference fastball team after an outstanding season at Galveston College in Texas.

She will also be at the Team Canada training camp in Surrey BC next month.   Despite a tremendous season getting this award is a pleasant surprise Earl says.

“Everyone who competes at  this level plays for the love of the game so I mean when something like this happens it's awesome and it feels great.”

Earl is also honoured to be included in what she terms very select company.

“There have been many great athletes come out of Prince Albert and I'm very happy at being put in the same category and the accomlishment they've achieved and just to be put in the same category as them is just an awesome feeling.”

All three will recieve their awards at the annual banquet Friday night in the Ches Leach Lounge. The guest speaker for the evening is NHL Hall of Fame inductee Dale Hawerchuck.

For more: Hawerchuk talks hockey and sport in P.A.

dwilson@rawlco.com