Awards - Honour our volunteers and Coaches, News (London Bandits)

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Mar 11, 2023 | webmaster | 568 views
Awards - Honour our volunteers and Coaches
Our next award that we honour is Pierre Sonier 

Pierre was an accomplished athlete and played college basketball among other sports. He was a good coach but an even better person.  He was extremely dedicated and coached hockey, basketball and soccer....all year, every year.  He came from a family of eight siblings, an abusive father and a mother on welfare.  

Despite life’s challenges he persevered, went to college and became Director of Quintin Warner House, a recovery program for men addicted to alcohol and other drugs.  Sports gave him the confidence to take a positive path in life”. As a result, he felt that it was important to give back to the community.  At the time of his death at 44 we had four children ages 3, 9, 12 and 15.  He was coaching our 9 year old, Johnny, in the major atom division but he was also coaching Johnny and my two girls in other sports.  He was very competitive but he knew that he had a responsibility much larger than winning  - that being to teach kids about sports with the hope that they too would have a love for the game, develop friendships, life skills and keep them off the streets and safe. The Pierre Sonier Coach of the Year Award honours coaches who exemplify integrity, achievement and a continual quest for excellence from themselves and their athletes.  It is awarded to coaches who inspire young people to improve themselves in all aspects of life.  It honours the type of coach an athlete can recall upon in 10 or 20 years, or even 50 years and say, “ I’m glad to have played for this person.” 

 Criteria for award: The award must go to a head coach (not an assistant coach) and they must have at least two years experience coaching.  We have also tried not to give it to the same person more than once.  

The following Individual have received this award 
2019- Chris Ferguson 
2020- Beau Chaffee
2021- Covid Season 
2022- Jack Boyce 

Click here to vote: 2023 Pierre Sonier Coach of the year award
Sponsors
MC Donald's
What is atomic® Hockey? atomic® Hockey is a McDonald's® Canada minor hockey sponsorship program of house league Atom level divisions across Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec) which provides free sets of primary game jerseys and socks to all participating teams. In communities where there is a McDonald's restaurant each atoMic® Hockey association is provided with their kits courtesy of their local sponsor
Tetris Financial
Tetris is supporting the London bandits to ensure players have funds to play hockey. Tetris Financial Inc.
Pizza Nova
TOM KRALIC HAS BEEN A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE LONDON BANDITS AND COMMUNITY HOCKEY LEAGE AS WELL AS THE GLHA OVER SEVERAL YEARS. WE WELCOME TOM BACK AS ONE OUR SPONSORS!
Pete's Sports
Pete's Sports was established in London, Ontario in 1978 and is going on 40 years of providing customers like you with top quality sales and service, offering in-house repairs, embroidery and cresting for all your needs. Come and see the difference service makes, we look forward to seeing you soon!
Tim Hortons
Timbits Minor Sports Program Learning a new sport, making friends and having fun. Tim Hortons sponsors minor sports programs across Canada and the U.S. giving more than 300,000 children an opportunity to play hockey, soccer, lacrosse, softball, baseball and ringette.