2020 On Ice Instructor Apprenticeship Award
Ern Rideout Memorial Award Recipient:
Milene Denzel
This award was created in memory of Ern Rideout.
Ern Rideout was the first Tucker Hockey on ice assistant instructor. He began in 1999, the inaugural year of Tucker Hockey, until 2007 to assist Coach Rex with a variety of adult & minor on ice hockey programs. As well, from 2006 until 2014, Ern was involved as a business consultant for Tucker Hockey.
For 15 years, Ern was a major contributor to the early success and growth of Tucker Hockey on and off the ice. He will be remembered for his strong character, integrity, dedication, amicable personal traits and loyal friendship.
Since 2016, this Tucker Hockey Award has been issued each year to the on-ice apprenticeship instructor who exhibits a strong potential to be a quality on ice assistant instructor within the Tucker Hockey Team, as well as improved personal growth and development.
Coach Rex selected Milene Denzel as the 2020 Ern Rideout Memorial Award – On Ice Instructor Apprenticeship Recipient. Congratulations!
Ern Rideout Award
Just as she is on the ice, Milene provided a thoughtful and thorough response when she was presented her award. We are thrilled to share more about Milene below!
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I started playing hockey when I was seven, my parents enrolled me in “boys” hockey. As I got older women’s hockey became more respected and more broadcasted which led to my decision to move to girl’s hockey. I have had the opportunity to play high level hockey within this league, however my focus changed and I moved back to “boys” hockey to play U18. Since I have played in both leagues, I have had the opportunity to experience many different coaching styles which I feel helps me as an on-ice instructor.
2. Tell us a little about your interest in the sport of hockey.
Hockey has been an integral part of my life, I play hockey, I have been a referee since the age of 13 and now I have the opportunity to be working with Tucker Hockey. I will never stop playing hockey and I look forward to exploring the coaching side of this great sport. Women’s hockey has been a great inspiration for me and I would like to continue that inspiration for other young female players in coaching.
3. What’s the best part about hockey for you?
Playing a sport enriches your life in many ways, for me hockey connected me to so many great people, coaches and players alike. As well as teaching me life lessons along the way; how to win gracefully, how to lose gracefully, how to be a great team mate and leader, how to represent my association with honor and how to respect the game.
4. When and how did you initially get involved with Tucker Hockey?
My involvement with Tucker hockey started with me as a student in one of the summer camps. Coach Rex saw me helping other students with the parachutes and approached me with the opportunity to become a junior instructor and the rest is history.
5. What is the most enjoyable part of coaching/teaching players?
I love playing hockey but helping others to learn new skills and fall in love with the game is my passion. Seeing smiling faces after they have accomplished a difficult skill is why I do this, there is no greater reward than helping someone become more confident on the ice and love the sport as much as I do.
6. What, if anything, has instructing with Tucker Hockey taught you?
Being both a student and an instructor with Tucker Hockey I Have learned new adaptations of the skills I already knew and how to instruct students of all ages to execute these skills.
7. What other things interest you, outside hockey?
Outside of hockey I have played European handball with the Calgary handball team, play trumpet for South City Jazz, and I love art.
8. What are your future goals or aspirations?
My future goals in life are to complete my education in Biomedical Engineering and to possibly live and work in Europe which may lead to being a part of a female hockey pro team. I love coaching and I love playing, I don’t know where my path will lead me but it’s pretty cool to see everything unfold.
Thank you for this award, your acknowledgment of my efforts means a lot to me.
Thank you Coach Rex for giving me the opportunity to work for you and your team, I have enjoyed it immensely and have learn a lot from you all.
I look forward to hockey going back to normal so we can all do what we love.
~Milene Denzel
Editor’s Note:
Milene has impressed me from day one with her maturity and pleasant demeanor.
She is mature behind her teenage years! She is a great team player and works extremely well with her fellow Tucker Hockey instructors and helping on ice participants.
Milene, congratulations on winning the Ern Rideout Memorial Award!
Thank you for your contributions as a past on ice Apprentice Instructor and I look forward to working with you in your new role as an on-ice Assistant Instructor in the years ahead.
Milene, you have a bright future both on the ice and off the ice!
Best wishes with your future endeavors. You will do well!
See you on the ice soon!
~Coach Rex