The legacy of Sicamous Eagles co-founder Wayne March will carry on through the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's (KIJHL) new General Manager of the Year award.
In a Nov. 13 media release, the league announced the creation of the new award that will be presented annually in honour of the longtime Eagles GM who died on Sept. 18.
"Wayne exemplified the positive characteristics that a General Manager should strive for in junior hockey," KIJHL commissioner Jeff Dubois said in the release. "He had a tremendous eye for talent, was committed to player development and advancement, and was universally respected by his peers as an individual who always operated with honesty and integrity.
"We're very pleased to be able to honour Wayne's memory well into the future with the creation of this award."
Along with Doug Birks, March was an original co-founder of the Eagles franchise, and spent 28 years involved in the organization. Under his leadership, the team won three league championships and competed in the finals six times. They also picked up two Cyclone Taylor Cup championships for B.C. Junior B and captured a Keystone Cup as Western Canadian Junior B champions.
Eagles governor Sheila Devost said the organization was honoured to share news of the award, particularly as the team is celebrating a milestone year.
"Wayne's presence was felt in the arena Sunday as KIJHL commissioner Jeff Dubois shared the news of this award to a packed house, celebrating the Eagles' 30 years in the league during the alumni game," she said in the release, adding that the crowd included over 40 players, coaches and trainers on the ice and bench. "It was an emotional moment for so many who started and shared their hockey journey with Wayne, especially his wife Mary and family."
In a recent tribute written about March, he said what he cherished about his time with the KIJHL was advancing players to "bigger and better things in their lives." The Eagles alumni that he helped advance to the NHL include recent Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Shea Weber, as well as Cody Franson, Deryk Engelland, Kris Beech and Andrew Ebbett.
