Former Coquitlam Express forward Mateo Dixon is the team’s first winner of the BC Hockey League’s new Kyle Turris Community Award.
Dixon, who’s headed to the University of Vermont in September, is being recognized his work helping at minor hockey practices as well as fundraisers. He also helped raise $2,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Diabetes Canada at the Express’ first diabetes awareness night last March 24.
Living with Type 1 diabetes himself since he was 13 years old, Dixon stuck around after the game to talk with dozens of fans about the challenges of the autoimmune disease.
“I look at it as a growth opportunity,” Dixon told the Tri-City News about living and competing as a high-level athlete with Type 1. “It’s not limiting at all, it can literally be the opposite.”
Dixon, who’s originally from Toronto, finished his final year of junior hockey with 49 points in 54 games.
The new league award is named after former Express star Kyle Turris, who forged a reputation as a committed community activist during his 14-year NHL career in Phoenix, Nashville, Ottawa and Edmonton.
While with the Senators, he became a part of the Capital City Condors, a community team that provides adaptive hockey opportunities to kids who are unable to play on other organized teams because of cognitive or physical challenges
Turris retired in 2023 and currently works as a special advisor to the Express, helping out at practices and offering guidance to the players.
One player from each BCHL team is being recognized for service to their community with the Kyle Turris Award.
