When Rod Vincent was advised by the North Bay Sports Awards Committee that he was this year’s recipient of the Judge Reynolds Memorial Trophy for dedication to hockey he was at a loss for words. For those that have come to know Rod over the years this was highly unusual.
Rod is a familiar face in local arenas and has been involved as a player, coach, administrator and/or fan for as long as anyone can recall.
According to Rod, “it is an honour to join the list of people who have received this award previously for their contributions to the sport of hockey. As I reflect on this recognition I think of the many hours dedicated to making a difference in lives of so many boys and girls that I have had the privilege to coach and that is a wonderful feeling. This is very special time for me.”
Rod’s love for hockey started as a youth both as a player and referee in Deep River where he grew up before moving to North Bay. At the time Rod’s father was the President of the Minor Hockey Association in Deep River. As an interesting aside, Rod’s father was recognized posthumously by the Ottawa District Hockey Association for his contribution to hockey, an award that Rod and his mother accepted on his behalf.
Rod began coaching in 1970 when his father could not identify a coach for the Bantam rep team in Deep River. Rod coached this team for two seasons losing one year in the Ottawa District Hockey Association final.
In 1973-74 Rod coached the Junior Varsity team at Canadore College, before moving to Sudbury to coach Cambrian College in 1974-75. In 1975 he returned to North Bay where he started the Women’s Varsity Hockey program at Canadore College, a team he coached from 1975-1981. From 1975-1989 he also coached the Men’s Varsity Team at Canadore. In his spare time Rod coached in the North Bay Tyke Program, West Ferris Minor Hockey Association and the North Bay and District Girls Hockey Association between 1988 and 2002. In 2001 he started the girl’s hockey team at West Ferris Secondary School, a team he coached from 2001 to present.
Rod takes pride in two key achievements; obtaining his Advanced Level NCCP Coaching Certificate and the 1982-83 men’s varsity team at Canadore College, who won 3 silver medals in the OCAA, qualified for the National Championships and finished 4th in Canada.
Rod’s involvement as an administrator includes being north convenor for OCCA Hockey 1975-1976, senior convenor for OCAA Women’s Hockey 1982-1983, site convenor for the Ontario Winter Games in the early 1980s, convenor of West Ferris Minor Hockey from 1990 to 1998 and a member of the executive including a term as President for North Bay and district girls hockey between 2000 and 2002.
According to Erin Weber, a well-known local player who played for coach Vincent at West Ferris Secondary School before experiencing success playing in the OUA with both Wilfred Laurier University and Nipissing University, “I can’t imagine my high school experience without the girl’s hockey team," she said about Vincent.
"Coach Vincent was such an advocate for girls and girl’s hockey. He has such a positive and motivating outlook with respect to hockey, teamwork and in particular the Lady Trojans. He made it possible for me to play a sport I love and represent the Trojans with pride. He would tease and have fun but he still expected you to bring your “A” game. I always wanted to work hard for him and I appreciate the opportunity to have played for him.”
Tom Hedican, no stranger to hockey in our community and best known as the founder of Coach4Food, played for coach Vincent while attending Canadore College. When asked to provide a comment Tom said, “One thing I found out very quickly in playing for coach Vincent, is that he is not just dedicated to hockey, he’s just dedicated. And invariably, it’s a dedication to others, not himself. His attitude has never been to question why; it’s always been why not?”
Congratulations to Rod Vincent, a truly deserving recipient of this year’s Dedication to Hockey Award. Vincent will receive his award at the annual North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards dinner on Saturday, May 2nd at the Best Western Lakeshore. Tickets are available from any Executive Committee member, by calling Chair Bill Jacko at 705-476-1429, Michelle Cundari at 705-471-9771 or by emailing the Sports Awards email at [email protected].
Those interested in searching past inductees are invited to explore the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame website at http://www.northbaysportshalloffame.ca
