WESTVILLE ROAD, N.S.
The Subway Selects recognized several people during a recent year-end banquet.
Along with handing out regular awards to players on each of its 10 teams from Novice to Midget, two special awards were presented.
A new award was created and given in memory of an exceptional member of the Subway Selects hockey family. Margaret Hickey, the great grandmother of Midget AA player Jenna Hickey and grandmother to board member Patrick Hickey, passed away in February at age 88.
Margaret, known to everyone as GG, was a huge supporter of her great granddaughter and her teammates since Jenna became a Select in her first year of Atom. Margaret travelled to many of Jenna’s games, in and out of the province, often dressed in Selects green, and cheered for everyone.
HONOURARY SELECT
A few years ago, GG was made an honourary Select and presented with her own jersey. She called this the best day of her life and at her funeral, the jersey was proudly displayed.
Fundy Highland Female Hockey past president Sueann Musick noted that the GG Award is presented to players who exhibited many of the same traits as Margaret – a positive attitude, team player, kind, respectful, fun and supportive to her teammates.
“We are grateful to Jenna for sharing GG with us all these years,” Musick said. “You are a lucky girl to have such support in your life and we were fortunate enough to be a small part of that.”
Lindsey MacDonald of the Midget AA team and Abby Vint of the Midget A team were selected as this year’s recipients because they best exhibit GG’s character.
MacDonald was chosen because, “Like GG, Lindsey is someone who can inspire others to be better without judgement or criticism,” Musick added.
“She has a ‘never quit attitude’ that hasn’t waivered since the first day she put on her Selects jersey and without flash or fanfare, she gets the job done while smiling the entire time.”
Musick said Vint has GG’s big heart.
“She is always looking out for her fellow teammates, tries to keep things positive and has a sense of humour that matched GG’s in many ways. Abby makes people feel welcomed by reminding them that life doesn't always have to be taken so seriously.”
For her contributions to the Subway Selects program, Musick herself was recognized with the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award.
Musick became the president of the Pictou County Female Hockey Association in 2012 and led the organization through many changes, including growing from five teams when she joined the board to 10 teams this year, and guiding the association through conference developments, regionalization, and transitioning to the Fundy Highland Female Hockey zone.
“Sueann worked diligently each season to promote our organization, with a dedication and focus that ensured that if a girl wanted to play hockey, she would find a team for her to play on,” Fundy Highland board member Lesley Heighton said:
Moving forward, the award will be named after Musick and given to an individual or individuals who embody the values that she has woven through the fibre of the Subway Selects organization – integrity and dedication to promotion of the female game.
THE RING IS THE THING
During the banquet, each team gave out awards for MVP Offence, MVP Defence, Most Improved, Most Dedicated, Most Sportsmanlike, and Coaches’ Choice.
A total of 17 graduating players were also given rings from sponsor Greg Burrows of Subway, which is the largest number of graduating players since Subway began sponsoring the female hockey teams 10 years ago.
