Kelowna Minor Hockey Association

🏒 Calling All Kelowna Minor Hockey Female Alumni!



The Okanagan Lakers Female Hockey Program are recruiting female student-athletes attending UBC Okanagan or any Okanagan College campus for our inaugural 2026/27 season in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League.

Continue your hockey journey close to home and help build the next chapter of women's hockey in the Okanagan.

📧 Interested? Email [email protected] to learn more.

The Marilyn Hedman award for outstanding contribution to Kelowna Minor Hockey, is a very special award here at KMHA. Congratulations to Kelly Wilson for winning this award this year. One of the things kids remember most about playing hockey are the tournaments so putting on a good one is vital. The success of the U9 Tournament would not have been possible without the her dedication and hard work. From behind the scenes planning to helping wherever needed throughout the event, she consistently stepped up with a positive attitude and a willingness to help. Her organization, commitment and countless volunteer hours helped ensure the tournament ran smoothly for players, families, coaches, and spectators. We are incredibly grateful for everything she did, her efforts truly mad a difference and we are honoured to give her this award. So thank you Kelly and Congrats again.

Rep Coach of the Year – Congratulations to Matt Welsh. We have watched this coach grow so much in the last 3 years. He has a passion for coaching, and we have no doubt he will do great things behind the bench in the years to come. This past season he helped mentor his two assistant coaches, led team video sessions, finished tied for first in their league, finished with the lowest penalty minutes in the league by over 100 minutes. Won two tournaments, finished second in two and third in one. Lost in the finals of playoffs in a shootout and finished with an overall record 32-8-3.

The Paul Silcock award formerly known as the Rec Coach of the Year award – This is a very special award and we would like to take a moment to honor the person whose name it now carries. We recently lost Paul, whose dedication, leadership, and generosity left a lasting mark on our hockey community. Renaming this award in this honor ensures that the values he embodied will continue to inspire others for years to come. With that being said, we can’t think of a more deserving coach than this person. He has coached for many years and most of those years he has coached two teams. Families love being on his teams and players always have a great experience. This year’s winner is Doug Chambers. Congratulations Doug, and we thank you for everything you have done for KMHA.

Most Promising Coach – This year we have 3 winners, Congratulations to the winners, Charlee Taylor, Leanne Sopha and Liam Pavan. They all brought enthusiasm, a love for the game, dedication, a commitment to improving a player’s experience on and of the ice. Whether it was keeping stats, demonstrating a drill or offering advice to players. They showed up to every game, tournament, and early morning practice with the same infectious energy, and we can’t thank them enough for what they brought this past season.

U18 Coach of the Year –Congratulations to Kelly Frame. This person has put in the time. Every year you can count on him putting his name in and stepping up to take a team. His passion and commitment for the game is contagious and players love being on his team.

U15 Coach of the Year – Congratulations to Bill Leitch. This guy brings it every year. What sets this coach apart is how much he cares about each player. He invests countless hours preparing practices, mentoring athletes, and ensuring every player feels valued regardless of skill level. His patience, encouragement, and leadership have inspired players to work hard, support one another, and develop a true love for the game. He is the gold standard.

U13 Coach of the Year – Congratulations to Jenn Austin. This person has coached since the U9 level, consistently demonstrating an outstanding ability to connect with young athletes. Even during a challenging U13 season, she prioritized fair play over winning, maintaining an unwavering commitment to integrity. She fosters a positive environment in both the dressing room and on the bench, earning the deep respect of her players and their parents.

U11 Coach of the Year – Congratulations to Nathan Welton This coach treated everyone the same. Whether you were the highest skilled player or a beginner he had time to coach them all. Even at practice he would treat the other team’s players the same as his own teams and give them the same attention. We have heard from many families about how happy their child was with the coaching this season. Minor hockey is better off having coaches like this person. .

U9 Coach of the Year – Congratulations to Curtis Grainger. What sets this coach apart is the culture he creates at the rink. His players are encouraged to work hard, support one another, and not be afraid to make mistakes as part of learning the game. Through his leadership, patience, and dedication to development-first hockey, he creates an atmosphere where kids feel valued, motivated, and excited to come to the rink each day.