With two sons in the game, and already spending plenty of time at the local arena, Annie Orton decided to become more than just your average hockey mom. She decided to try to make the game the best it could be, a journey that has led her to this year’s Hockey Canada Outstanding Volunteer Award.
A lifelong fan, Annie decided to give back to the game that had given her family so much through the years, joining the volunteer board of the Crowsnest Pass Minor Hockey Association as a director in 1981, the beginning of a 17-year relationship with her hometown organization.
But Annie did more than just work behind the scenes. Every year from 1982 to 1998, she coached or managed teams in Crowsnest Pass, sometimes doing both in the same season and helping a number of local teams reach the provincial championships.
When the provincials came to Crowsnest Pass, Annie was always heavily involved, chairing the committee that organized provincial tournaments in both 1992 and 1998. Her dedication to the game was rewarded in 1991, when she was named Crowsnest Pass Minor Hockey Association volunteer of the year.
She took a step up the minor hockey ladder in 1998, joining Hockey Alberta as Zone 5 discipline coordinator, her first of many positions with the provincial branch.
As Annie’s administrative abilities gained recognition, she was named manager of operations for the zone in 2000, and became director of operations just one year later. She took on the role of vice-president of operations for Hockey Alberta in 2005 and spent two seasons as vice-president of development before ascending to the presidency in 2009.
She has been a tremendous ambassador for minor hockey in Alberta, representing the province at numerous national and regional championships, sharing her knowledge of the game with fellow volunteers, constantly working to make the game better for everyone involved.
In her 15 years with Hockey Alberta, there’s not much Annie hasn’t done, from serving on the Hockey Alberta Awards Committee to time with the game and conduct committee, hockey development committee and executive committee, just to name a few.
She has given thousands of hours to the game, long after her sons’ minor hockey careers drew to a close. For Annie, it was about making sure the game was in good hands, ensuring the next generation of players would have the same experiences as those who came before them, if not better.
Simply put, hockey would not be where it is in Alberta today without her efforts.
