Ben Chambers, Trainer for the 2006-07 Lakers Major Bantam (1992) team, was awarded the ALLIANCE Hockey Trainer of the Year Award for the 2006-07 season. This award goes to the trainer from across the entire ALLIANCE Hockey organization (which has over 25,000 players and over 4,000 coaches, trainers, and managers) that has not only made an outstanding achievement in the area of safety and risk management but is an excellent role model for the position of trainer.
The following is an excerpt from the nomination letter prepared by Richard Gethke, an Executive member and parent of a player on the 1992 Lakers team, and submitted with Ben's nomination for the award this past spring:
"Ben Chambers is in his third year as a trainer with the Huron Perth Lakers and was a trainer for his home town before that. Ben spent 2 years with the 1990 Laker team and has now moved up to the 1992 Laker team along with the Assistant Coach of the 1990 team.
We, the 1992 Laker team, always had a parent trainer up until this season. At first, I couldn't understand why would bring in an outside trainer. Very shortly after he started his duties it was easy to see. Right from the start he showed his professionalism and dedication. Ben attended every game and practice which for him was usually an hour to practice twice a week. We were at a tournament this season in Markham when one of our forwards went crashing into the boards with an opposing player. Our player got up and rushed back to the bench holding his arm with blood spurting out. He had a deep 'T' shaped cut to his arm from a skate blade. Ben jumped to action ensuring fire & ambulance crews were called. He made sure pressure was being applied to this deep wounds and blankets were on the player to prevent him from going into shock. The ambulance and fire crew responded and took the player to the hospital where he received 20 stitches to his forearm. This was a very serious situation because of the location of the cut. Ben took control and remained calm while looking after his player.
Ben has since moved to Niagara Falls due to work commitments but still ensures he is at every game and tournament we attend. Ben would be a truly deserving choice for Trainer of the Year. He is a great friend to every kid on the team. He will actually bring an 'X-Box' to tournaments for the boys to use along with a TV just in case the TV in the room does not have an X-Box connection. He has also been known to have a good game of mini sticks with the boys. Ben talks to the boys daily on MSN just to chat but at the same time seeing how they are doing i.e. what are they thinking or how their sore muscule/injury is coming along. He is always there for them to talk to and they feel they can talk to him about anything. They consider him to be a humorous, caring friend. As one of the players stated one time, 'We have the perfect trainer, completely serious before and during a game and a total Goof ball when it is over.'
I personally hold a lot of respect for Ben as he does this as a non-parent volunteer. To put the amount of time he does in for this team is truly amazing. It is with great honour and respect for this man that we would like to nominate Ben Chambers for Trainer of the Year."
Above: Ben Chambers (left) receiving his ALLIANCE Trainer of the Year Award from Richard Gethke on behalf of ALLIANCE Hockey and the Huron-Perth Lakers.
Below: Ben being congratulated on receiving his award by Shawn Gethke, a player on the Lakers Major Bantam (1992) team.
