2020 ken and beryl knudtsen memorial spirit award cohen

2020KenandBerylKnudtsenMemorialSpiritAward

COHENSNUKAL-LYON

TWHANovice2Red

Cohen’sHeadCoachsubmittedanoutstandingnominationletter.Hereisanexcerpt:AfterreadingaboutKenKnudtsen,dedicationiswhatcomestomymind.WhenIthinkaboutdedicationtothesportofhockeyonourteam,Cohenisthefirstnamethatcomestomymind.Cohenisoneof5firstyearnoviceplayersonhisteamoutof18.However,asthehockeyseasoncomestoanendyouwouldneverknowthiswashisfirstyearinnovice.Cohenhascomealongwaythisseason,andoneofthetraitsthathashelpedhisdevelopmentasahockeyplayerishispersonaldedicationtothegameandhisteam.Cohenisoneofthefirstplayersatpracticesandgamesandisalwaysoneofthefirstontheice.Heisalwaysreadytogo.Withasmileonhisface,hetakesonnewchallengesthatthecoachesaskofhiminpracticesandgames.Cohenisapleasuretocoach.Healwaysgivesthecoaches’hisfullattention,andgiveshisbesteffortsinpractices.Evenindrillthataredifficultforhim.Itisthisdedicationthathashelphimdevelopedtothelevelhehasthisyear.Heisnotafraidtofailataskill,andwillpushhimselfinpracticesandgamestotrytomasteranewskillormove.Cohenhastheabilitytofocusonthesmalldetails.WhenCohencomesofftheiceattheendofapracticeorgameyoucantellhehaspushedhimselfphysicallyandhasleftitalloutontheice;andhehadfundoingit.Thekidisdedicated.KenKnudtsenalsowasalsodifferencemaker.Hemadeadifferenceinthelivesofhisgrandchildrentogothatextramile.Cohenisadifferencemakertoo.Heisaquietleader,andhisteammatesalwayswanttohaveCohenontheirline.Hedoesn’tsaymuchinthelockerroomoronthebench,buthedoesleadbyexample.HisteammatesknowthatCohenwillmakethatpasstothemiftheyareopen.TheyknowthatCoheniscommittedtoplayingwithoutthepuck,andhewillmakeahardbackcheckoraslideinfrontofapasstostopagoal.Cohenwillchasedownaloosepuckorbattlehardinthecornertogivehisteamanadvantage.Thelittlethingthatmakeaplayvaluabletotheirteam.Thatlittleextra.Cohenneverhasabadcommenttosaytoanyoneandisrespectfultoeveryoneonhisteam.ThesearejustsomeofthereasonsthatCohenisadifferencemakertohisteam.Astherecipientofthisaward,Cohenwillreceive:

• $500.00giftcardtoPlay-It-AgainSportsWesthills• HisnameontheMemorialTrophydisplayedattheFlamesCommunityArenas• Personalizedengravedmetalwaterbottle“trophy”

ATWHAplayerinneedoffinancialassistancewillreceivefullreimbursementofTWHAregistrationforthe2020-2021seasoninCohen’sname.Thiswasmadepossiblebyfinancialsupportersofthisaward,NesbittBurns,TrailsWestteamsthatdonatedsurplusteamfundsandTWHABantam/MidgetCupsurplusfunds.Three$250giftcardsweredonatedfromPlayItAgainSportsWesthillswhichwillbeofferedtoTWHAplayersrequestingfinancialassistanceforthe2020-2021season.