BONNYVILLE – Lakeland Jr. B Heat Lacrosse coach Daryl Hodinsky has been awarded the Wayne Sutherland Coach of the Year Award by The Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL), Alberta’s major lacrosse league.
Hodinsky says the award is a reflection of how much he cares about his athletes, not just about how they play the sport - but about them personally.
“I aspire to show up every season with a fresh start and with some new drills or ideas to make my players better on and off the floor,” says Hodinsky.
Eric Gaulin, Bonnyville’s U11-2 Lacrosse coach and also Hodinsky’s nephew, says Hodinsky was named coach of the year during an annual general meeting held in November.
“Daryl has been instrumental in lacrosse in the Lakeland and has been a key part of our organization for many years. He’s not only an amazing coach, but a great mentor to many of us that have taken on coaching at the minor levels,” says Gaulin.
Gaulin says the award is a huge deal, especially after Hodinsky lead his team to a provincial championship and won silver at the McDonald Cup.
“We are truly blessed to have someone as passionate as Daryl. [I’m] a very proud nephew of his, and his support has led me to be the coach that I am today,” says Gaulin.
Hodinsky started coaching in 2011 when his then 11-year-old son wanted to start playing lacrosse.
“I think organized sports are very important in showing youth of all ages what it takes to come together as a team for a common goal, and how to work together to overcome obstacles and attitudes. It shows you that no matter your skill level, there is a place for you, not just within your team but within your community,” says Hodinsky.
The coach also spoke about how helpful sports are in developing young people into thriving adults.
“We don't just coach athletes' skills for the sport of lacrosse, but we work on how to survive in life, there will always be obstacles to overcome and no matter how hard it is, you can overcome them,” says Hodinsky, who is now looking forward to the 2025 lacrosse season.
It will be a busy season, as he is coaching the Jr. B lacrosse team again, as well as bringing a Senior C lacrosse team to the Lakeland.
“I’m very excited to see how both teams will compete in the coming season. But none of this is possible without the hundreds of young players who are playing Lacrosse in the Lakeland. These young players are the ones who feed the junior and now senior programs,” says Hodinsky.
He is excited to see the sport of Lacrosse grow in rural Alberta and points out that the Lakeland Lacrosse Association is the largest rural association in Alberta.
“Kudos to all the volunteers who make this happen,” says Hodinsky.
