Coquitlam Minor Hockey director John Blessman's contribution to the sport is worth at least $100,000, figure the players and parents of the local hockey community.
Blessman is one of 100 nominees in the Kraft Hockey Goes On Canada contest, which sees the top five winners celebrated for their efforts with a $100,000 donation to their minor hockey program.
Accolades for CMH's director of hockey development have been flowing since the finalists were announced. Linda Pshebnisky, whose son is coached by Blessman, nominated him for the contest not only for his dedication to hockey but also for recruiting older players to give back.
"The boys and girls of Coquitlam Minor Hockey respect and look up to John with the highest regard," she said.
Perhaps his greatest CMH contribution to date is the midget rep mentoring program Blessman started this year. Those players have become certified through "Respect in Sport" to teach hockey to the younger divisions.
"It's not just standing out there pushing pucks," said Blessman of the on ice mentoring.
Bobby Shantz, 17, a CMH Midget A2 player, finds working with the kids to be rewarding and is amazed by how fast they pick up hockey.
"You can see it on their faces," said Shantz. "They are thinking, 'Wow, this is awesome. I'm flying around and having fun.'"
As for his own coach, Shantz described Blessman as unreal in the way he relates his players.
"Oh, he's great," said Shantz. "He's not strict in the way that he doesn't get mad. He can teach you a lot of skills if you listen to him."
Standing on the ice at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex where he first learned to skate, Blessman reflected on his formative hockey years.
Hard work coupled with effective coaching allowed him to taste the National Hockey League. The one-time New Jersey Devils draft pick played professional hockey for 11 years.
When he retired, Blessman wanted to pay it forward by helping kids use hockey as a vehicle to better themselves as individuals. For him, it's also about inclusiveness so that all Canadians can access the nation's popular pastime.
"I've noticed a change in the ethnicity of people playing hockey," said Blessman "It's important that all Canadians get a chance to play the sport."
He explained that cost is the biggest barrier to playing organized sports.
CMH has a financial hardship program that subsidizes these costs for parents, as well as Learn to Skate and New to Hockey classes - all of which would benefit from the $100,000 Kraft contest money.
When asked about how it felt to be nominated, Blessman said there are 100 CMH volunteers who come before him.
Voting for the contest runs from March 23 to 24 at krafthockeygoeson.ca, with the finalists announced on April 3rd
