The Port Coquitlam Sports Alliance will be presenting its first PoCo Sport Awards on Friday, at the Terry Fox Theatre.
The awards recognize some of the community’s top athletes, teams, coaches, officials, volunteers and community leaders. The nominees in five categories were whittled down to no more than four finalists. In addition, four community leaders will be recognized along with 10 volunteers and a comeback award to Marko Marconato of Pirates ice hockey.
Marko fought his way back into the goal crease of the Pirates’ hockey program after he was diagnosed with osteogenetic sarcoma in Dec., 2011. That’s the same type of bone cancer that cost another Port Coquitlam athlete - Terry Fox - his leg. Except Marko’s tumour was in his arm.
To shrink the tumour, Marko endured four gruelling months of chemotherapy before a 20-hour operation removed the growth and reconstructed the arm. Doctors fused bone from his leg and hip to rebuild the arm. That was followed by six more months of chemo.
Finalists for the Junior Athlete award are: Kadin Chung (soccer); Reuel D’Souza (water polo); Haley De Jong (gymnastics); Kinga Wisniewska (water polo).
Finalists for the Adult Athlete award are: Ryland Rees (lacrosse); Megan Rosenlund (volleyball); Ryan Sclater (volleyball); Britain Wolczyk (track & field).
Finalists for Outstanding Team award: Minor softball U-14 rep; Pirates Atom hockey; Saints lacrosse U-16 girls; Terry Fox Ravens football.
Finalists for Coaching Team award: Riversid Rapids wresting, Rob Thomson and coaching team; Terry Fox Raven’s football, Martin McDonnell, Tom Kudaba and coaching team; Pirates Atom ice hockey, Doneau Menard and coaching team; Marlins swim club, Mike Wylie and coaching team.
Finalists for Outstanding Official award: Trevor Share, minor baseball; Jeff Sheehan, Marlins swimming.
Community Leaders being awarded are: David Bird, minor baseball; Kim Egli, Pirates ice hockey; Tracey Nolet, Euro-Rite FC; Rick Sieb, Marlins swimming.
Volunteers being awarded are: Janet Andrew, Ducks volleyball; Darcy Jago, minor baseball; Kevin Stark, minor softball; Sean Walker, PoCo EFC soccer; Karen Elrick, PoCo Pirates hockey; Carol Konkin, PoCo Skating Club; Heidi Davis, PoCo Saints lacrosse; Sean Cauley, PoCo Marlins; Jody Ewart, PCRM ringette; Anita Current, TC North basketball.
The PoCo Sport Awards begin at 6:15 with a pre-ceremony social, with the actual awards being presented beginning an hour later. For more information, as well as tickets, go to [email protected]
