BC HOCKEY AWARDS: SAFETY AWARD - ANDREW ROBB

By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO 

The good doctor – in this case, Dr. Andrew Robb – is not only in the house, but at the rink. In many different roles, one might add. 

Hence, Robb is being recognized as BC Hockey’s Safety Award winner for the 2024-25 campaign. The award is handed out annually to acknowledge outstanding service by a volunteer who has devoted their time to assist the Safety and Risk Management Program in BC Hockey. 

“He coaches in the young divisions, but has also used his medical background in sports to put on free concussion awareness clinics to all members and volunteers. Things like identifying the symptoms, to the care, the return and the documentation side of it,” said nominator Jason Rae, of Comox Valley Minor Hockey Association. 

“He has worked tirelessly on this on his own time and desire. He has researched and is educated on the matter and has sent out e-mails and posts on concussions throughout the association,” Rae added of Robb, who not only coaches his young boys, but is also a Director at Large with the association. 

Dr. Robb works in sports and exercise medicine in the Comox Valley. 

“It’s an honour, for sure. It’s nice to get some recognition, to help encourage us with what we’ve been working on,” he said of the award. “It’s nice to be recognized and I appreciate that BC Hockey recognizes the work that volunteers are doing to help improve safety and increase the enjoyment of youth sport.” 

He is in his third year and second term as Director at Large and is an assistant coach for all of his three children’s teams. 

“I played a lot of hockey growing up and it’s largely been a big part of my life and a big influence and I just want to make sure I share that with my kids and the next generation. I still really enjoy the game. It’s a super fun game and it’s nice to get the kids engaged in it and see the positives come out on their end,” said Robb. 

“For sure, hockey has changed a lot since we were kids, but it’s nice to see some of the positive things. Coming from the background of having had a number of sports injuries myself, and with my interest in medicine, it’s nice to be able to contribute that in another way with the association.” 

Dr. Robb arrived in the Comox Valley in 2019, originally from Calgary where he earned his medical degree at the University of Calgary. 

“It’s nice to be able to be part of an association, since getting involved you learn the community of folks trying to help out. Our current president, Jason, has a big focus on safety for the kids as well,” said Robb. 

“That was one of the things I did last year was I hosted a seminar on sport injury prevention for the association and something I plan to continue going forward.” 

Concussion awareness, sport injury prevention and overuse and over-training all falls under his interest and that of the community. 

“Even in the medical community we’re learning more about concussions. Even since I started medical school till now, there has been a lot of development in that and a lot more awareness among physicians,” he said. 

“It takes time for it to get out to the general population and coaches and parents. And in sport, you know sometimes there’s a bit of, ‘Oh yeah, when we were kids, you got your bell rung and got back out there. And it’s all good and look at us now.’ 

“I’ve been trying to promote just a little more education about injuries in the association and some of the local resources available for kids who are struggling.”