2023 Q1 Minor Hockey
Danny Cammack Memorial Award Recipient:
Liam Kirkpatrick
Published March 28, 2023
This award was created in memory of Danny Cammack.
Danny Cammack had many of the passions of a typical 13-year-old, but none was greater than hockey. What Danny lacked in size, he more than made up for with smooth powerful strides, soft hands and an uncanny puck sense.
Danny Cammack
As much as he loved the game, he loved the camaraderie that came with being a member of a hockey team. Perhaps this is why he was such a good team player. Dan loved to win but it was not the “Be all, end all”. He always kept things in perspective. Doing his best and having fun on the ice was what Danny was all about!
Since 2004, this Tucker Hockey Award has been issued quarterly each year to worthy program participants.
Coach Rex selected Liam Kirkpatrick as the 2023 Q1 Minor Hockey – Danny Cammack Memorial Award Recipient. Congratulations Liam!
Liam at the March Meltdown Tournament
About Liam:
- Tell us a little about yourself.
I am 8 years old and like to play hockey and skate. I really like to skate on the lake with no practice drills with my friends Nixon, Jax and Colin.
I started hockey when I was 5 years old and could not even stand up on my skates. My dad had to help me during practices. Our standing joke in the house is that me and dad went to Timbits and learned to skate together.
We figured out my first year of skating that I have a coordination disorder. This makes skating and movement in general extra hard for me to figure out.
Now that I am going into U11 I can skate a lot better now. This is from lots of help from my volunteer coaches at BVHS and taking power skating lessons which, I really like. They help me to improve my skating and hockey skills.
I hope to be able to play hockey in the NHL or WHL when I am older.
- What do you like about the sport of hockey?
I like to socialize with my teammates and get to know new people. I really like to learn the rules of hockey. I like to pretend to be a referee and sometimes I get mad at the refs when I play a hockey game.
I like the feeling of skating when you get to go fast on the ice. I like the V-Starts/T-pushes and being able to skate and stop with two feet. It took me awhile to get both feet skating and Tucker helped me with that. Being able to go faster is nice.
Since taking one on one lessons with Rex I am getting more confident skating/puck handling and I like to carry the puck more while skating in a game.
I like to play defence because I can help the goalie out and I like stopping other players from being able to shoot. I am starting to like offence a little more as I get faster on my skates because I can score goals on the other team now.
We had a tournament in Golden BC at the Centennial Arena this year and that was my favourite arena to date. They had the best tasting water of all the rinks to date.
Liam and his team at the tournament in Golden, BC
- When and how did you initially get involved with Tucker Hockey?
We were signed up for 3 on 3 spring hockey and decided late to add a skills session. We tried Tucker on the advice of a teammate that year. I really liked the skills session I did. It was my favourite skills session I had done up to that time. I learned to get both feet moving and pushing off my edges that session, which made a huge difference in my enjoyment of skating/hockey.
- What has been the most enjoyable part of the Tucker Hockey experience for you?
I have done some skills sessions and one on one’s with Rex. I really like the skills session and will be doing more of them this spring and summer; however, I like having the one on one’s the most. What I like about the one on one’s with Rex is the drills we get to do. My absolute favourite was the turning drill and other favourites were passing, crossovers, skating with the puck and scrimmages. It helped me learn because Rex would help me break down the movements so I could learn the skills a little at a time.
- How has hockey influenced or positively affected your life?
Hockey has helped me get stronger while learning and doing something fun. I have got to meet a lot of different kids on different teams and made some new friends. I learned I can do hard things when I keep trying and its okay to go at my own pace.
Editor Note:
Liam, thank you for being so thoughtful with your profile answers! Great Job!
You show a strong dedication on and off the ice to the game of hockey. You are a very bright student of the game for your age, keep learning and practicing and loving the game. Remember skating is the most important hockey skill. Continue to work on your flexibility exercises to loosen up your hips to help develop your skating, especially your forward crossovers.
Liam, you are bigger than most 8 year old’s, so continue to use your size, strength and reach to carry the puck and protect the puck in games! You have made good progress in a short period of time this year. Your skills will get better as you get older.
Be patient, keep practicing, keep learning and keep having fun! See you at the rink soon!
Best wishes.
~Coach Rex.