Phil Von Unruh was named a Capital News鈥� Community Leader of the Year winner in the coach category at the , held at Okanagan College, Oct. 23, 2017. The Community Leader Awards are given to local members of the community who demonstrate exceptional commitment and leadership.

A decade ago, with no hockey teams in 91大黄鸭 designed for special needs kids, Phil Von Unruh decided to take matters into his own hands.

So in 2006, Von Unruh rented ice time at Prospera Place and the Central Okanagan Wildcats special hockey program was born.

His oldest son, Kalen, who has autism, was one of six players to pull on hockey equipment for that first practise and Von Unruh鈥檚 vision has been evolving ever since.

Through his initiative, other special needs hockey programs in the B.C. interior are now operating in Vernon, Penticton and Kamloops.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very satisfying, especially when you see all the teams we now have playing and the fact that we also have a year-end tournament,鈥� Phil said. 鈥淲hen you look at pictures of that first year, we didn鈥檛 even have jerseys, the kids were wearing hoodies.

鈥淚t was a pretty rudimentary start you could say,鈥� he added, 鈥渟o it鈥檚 nice to see the growth we鈥檝e had here and other parts of the province.鈥�

And last year, Von Unruh created an adult team鈥攖he Okanagan Wild鈥攆or players 16 years of age and older, most of whom have moved up from the Wildcats鈥� program.

Susan Noble, a parent of one of the Wildcats鈥� players, has praise for Von Unruh and his selfless contributions to amateur sport in 91大黄鸭.

鈥淗is larger-than-life, kindhearted personality makes it possible for all the players to experience success and have fun at the same time,鈥� Noble said of Von Unruh鈥檚 impact. 鈥淲ithout Phil鈥檚 dedication, enthusiasm and hard work, the opportunity for many of 91大黄鸭鈥檚 special needs children to play hockey and be part of a team would not exist.鈥�

In addition to coaching hockey in winter, Von Unruh remains busy year-round as a volunteer, coaching Special Olympics bowling, track and field and soccer.

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