Dale Rempel SEMHL Award

The Dale Rempel SEMHL Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant positive impact in the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League (SEMHL) and their community. It honours an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and/or charitable causes.

2022-2023 Recipient – Brendan Heppner

Brendan has been in the SEMHL League for over 10 years. He has become a big part of local fundraising in the Morris ‐ St. Jean area. He sits on the Red River Wellness Committee which is currently raising money for Tennis/Pickleball courts in Morris. He is also part of the Morris Area Foundation which is a charitable foundation which invests in the Morris community.

2021-2022 Recipient – Steve Mullin

Steve has been in the SEMHL League for over 10 years. He has been involved in the minor hockey board since 2015, was the president of Minor Hockey from 2017 – 2022, coached in Minor Hockey for 8 years, runs a development 3 on 3 program through Morden Minor Hockey.

2019-2020 Recipient – Marlin Froese

Marlin has been in the League since 2009-2010 Season. He Juggles a full-Time job with the Access Credit Union as the VP of Business Integration. Marlin is also the Chairman of Genesis House in Winkler, Treasurer for Falk Fehr Foundation and Treasurer of the Winkler Royals Hockey Club SEMHL.

2018-2019 Recipient – The Late Wayne Deschouwer

Wayne grew up in Mariapolis, Manitoba. He attended the Somerset and Notre Dame de Lourdes Collegiates, where he met his wife Clémence. They married in 1978 and settled in Gladstone, where they raised three children who grew up either at a hockey rink, ball diamond or beer garden.

2017-2018 Recipient – The Late
Bob Hamm

Bob worked behind the scenes for over 50 years, faithfully and accurately maintaining the SEMHL stats and books. After each game he would pluck away at the keys of his computer entering every assist, goal, and penalty so fans could view the game results on the very same night. Bob passed away in 2018 at the age of 81.

2016-2017 Recipient – Scott Corbett

Scott is the captain of the Warren Mercs and demonstrates true leadership on and off the ice; when he speaks, the players stop and listen. In addition to his role as a player, Scott acts as the team’s general manager; scheduling practices, ice times and refs. He even drives the bus! He is a director for Interlake Minor Hockey and coaches his son’s Atom team.

History:

The SEMHL league executive established this award to recognize a player who exhibits Dale’s passion for the league, volunteerism, community and hockey in the province. It recognizes qualities that he valued and lived during his lifetime.

The league approached and worked in conjunction with Lynn Rempel to create an award that would recognize an individual that exhibited strong leadership. Lynn believes sport teaches valuable lessons and develops leaders of the future. She strongly thinks we can build off of Dale Rempel’s legacy of leadership on and off the ice.

The Rempel Insurance Team is proud to be the sponsor of this award and was directly involved in designing the annual trophy that is presented to the winner of this prestigious award. Brendan Heppner, a former SEMHL player, created the annual award design.

The awards namesake, Dale Rempel (1923-2012), played in the SEMHL for 13 seasons with the Morris Stampeders, Morden Redskins, and the Carman Beavers. His 614 points in 326 games makes him an all- time top 10 scoring leader for the SEMHL on the ice. He was instrumental in the return of the Manitoba Stampeders’ hockey club to the SEMHL and for establishing the MMJHL Pembina Valley Twisters in their new home in Morris. He coached and supported minor and junior hockey for many years.

He volunteered for many community organizations and nationally with the Insurance Brokers of Canada. He was involved in raising thousands of dollars for the Children’s Wish Foundation and for Cancer Care Manitoba. His most prestigious recognition was being presented the Queens Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Those who knew Dale, knew that recognition was not why he did what he did. He just wanted to give back. His greatest joy was contributing to his community and to hockey which he felt had given him so much.

Award Nomination Process: Each team in the SEMHL may submit an individual in writing with a brief explanation of how and why they believe their submission should be considered for the award. This submission should be based on meeting the following criteria: Leadership on and off the ice. Commitment to his team, to his community, and to his future. This individual needs to be involved in his community; is a volunteer; is currently giving back to the game of hockey. His dedication can be either demonstrated through work or education, or both.

The recipient is recognized to possess many of the following qualities: passion; solid work ethic, willingness to help others and give back to community.

Only one person is selected each year to receive the award.