2025 FRED HESLOP AWARD - JANET HAMEL
Janet Hamel’s son, Jackson, has aged out of playing hockey, but that doesn’t mean Hamel, herself, would step away from the game she has grown to love.
Described by her nominee as an incredible advocate, educator and volunteer with Terrace Minor Hockey Association, Hamel has worn many hats over her 17 years of volunteering, leading to her nod as one of the Fred Heslop Minor Hockey Award recipients, recognizing five individuals who have made significant contributions to BC Hockey, their association and community.
“I was surprised. I’m very honoured. I’ve been at this a long time,” said Hamel, who’s son Jackson started playing when he was four. “We moved to Salmon Arm and I found it was a way of meeting people and making connections.
“Over the years you see a real need for volunteers in minor hockey. I’ve always lived the game and we were super excited when my son was four and old enough to play.”
The family returned to the Terrace area, where she has resided for some 50 years where she has worn many hats in minor hockey. From a safety person to a team manager to ice scheduler, statistician, travel co-ordinator to vice-president of the association – Hamel has done it all.
She has sat on the board for 11 years and also served on the Northwest District Board for eight years.
“You see your children develop a real love for the game. That’s what has encouraged me to stay involved after all these years,” said Hamel, who moved back to Terrace in 2011 and held almost every volunteer job.
“You never do it for the awards or accolades or appreciation. It’s kind of a thankless job, you do it for the kids and in a small town like Terrace it’s hard to give these kids access to a higher quality of hockey, or high-end coaches or clinics.
“That’s what has encouraged me, to get these kids access to power skating or specialty clinics. My son has aged out now, but you see what hockey means to the kids and the parents. It’s a community and it takes a small army to run a minor hockey association.”
Also, living in a remote part of B.C. brings other challenges.
“We are seven hours from our closest competition. There’s a lot of travel and parents aren’t always able to go, so you make relationships with other families and they become like your family,” said Hamel, who works as a project co-ordinator for Pacific Northern Gas in Terrace. She is also the Vice-President of Terrace Minor Hockey, and is responsible for rep programming.
She did take a break from volunteering for one year when Jackson aged out, but quickly got back on board.
“There’s a need for it and it gets harder and harder as the years go by,” she said, adding her daughter Kendall has graduated making her an empty-nest mom. “There’s much more involvement required. People are stretched thin and there’s a void for good, quality committed volunteers.”
Mario Annicchiarico is a freelance writer based in Victoria who has previously covered the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, as well as the Western Hockey League.