Vikings hockey coach Brent Blaine receives MHSAA – Brandon Sun Award

The recipient of a provincial high school coaching award will return to the bench for the Vincent Massey Vikings this fall for his seventh season.

Bench boss Brent Blaine will return to defend the Vikings’ Westman High School Hockey championship after defeating the Neepawa Tigers earlier this spring.

The Manitoba High School Athletic Association handed out its annual high school coaching awards at the annual general meeting in Winnipeg and the Vikings coach was recognized.

The MHSAA relies on the tremendous support of volunteers, teachers, coaches, the corporate sector, the media and various other stakeholders to promote high school sports.

Blaine was nominated for the Frank L. McKinnon Award, which is presented to an outstanding contributor to high school athletics.

The award is named in honor of Carman Collegiate’s longtime principal Frank McKinnon, who served as MHSAA board member and president.

Blaine received the award for outstanding volunteerism in high school sports in Brandon, specifically for Vincent Massey with the Vikings high school hockey program.

Six years ago, in his first season with the program, Blaine’s record was 0-24 in league play. He never gave up and through perseverance, determination, responsibility and dedication he reached the top of the mountain this season and led his team to the WHSHL championship.

Hockey is the most involved sport at Brandon High School, with the Vikings playing in more than 50 games, including three tournaments, as well as preseason and playoff games.

According to Blaine, the team is on the ice more than 100 times and the season spans six months.

“We all know how hard it is to find volunteer coaches, but to have that level of dedication from a non-teacher and volunteer coach over six seasons is remarkable,” wrote Blaine’s MHSAA nominator. “Brent’s kids are all grown up, and he coaches because he loves to give back and help guide his players into being responsible, mature, polite, classy young men.

“This is evident by how so many players return after graduation to attend and help coach, run camps or participate in fundraisers.”

With many students struggling to find an identity and a place to belong, Blaine provides that place through the team.

“He leads a program so respected that many players now choose to play high school hockey instead of trying out for teams at a higher level,” his nominator wrote. “Brent accepts all types of players, and some of his favorites are those students who are struggling academically or behaviorally.

“He connects with them, and those players want to perform and produce for him. Not out of fear, but out of respect. Brent is old, but not old school.

“He understands that it’s about relationships and doing the right thing. Coaching now is so different than it was 20 years ago. A lot of players have problems, family expectations, politics, pressure, criticism is everywhere and you have to be much more than a person who exercises and changes lines.”

When you play for Blaine’s team there is discipline and consequences, but they are about effort, sportsmanship and respect, not results.

» Brandon Sun