WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Cowan Receives Montgomery Award

Published on March 11, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - In recognition of his outstanding service to both the Western Hockey League, the Brandon Wheat Kings and the City of Brandon, Hugh Cowan has been chosen the second recipient of the Monty Montgomery Volunteer Award.

A longtime volunteer and billet with the Wheat Kings, not to mention various community events, Cowan was recognized during a presentation over dinner Wednesday night at Applebees Grill and Bar.

A former manager at McKenzie Seeds in Brandon, Hugh served as a committee member for both the Brandon Downtown Improvement Area and the 1991 and '94 World Youth Baseball Championship in Brandon.

In addition to working as an off ice official for the Wheat Kings from 1986-2020, Hugh has volunteered for a number of local events including the 1994 Air Canada Cup Midget Championship, the 1997 Canada Summer Games, the 1999 World Junior Hockey Championship, the 2006 Canada Special Olympics as well as the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

While sports has always been a staple when it comes to Cowan's community involvement, he's always been a tireless worker when it comes to other prestigious events.

In fact, the former President of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League's Brandon Cloverleafs was one of several local officials who were instrumental in bringing back the Santa Claus Parade to Brandon in 1987.

Cowan's contribution to the community has extended to a number of other local programs such as:

Board member of the Winter Sun Dog Festival in 1990 and 1991

2006 Communities in Bloom Convention

2005 UCT Air Show

Member of the Board of Directors for Cor Enterprises from 1991 to 2000

Member of the Salvation Army Community Service Board

Assistant Grand marshall of the 1989 Santa Claus Parade

Director of City of Brandon International Hockey Tournament of Champions

Host Committee of 2008 Canadian AAA Senior Baseball Championship

Camp Hughes Blue Bird Nesting Champion from 2009 to 2011

Volunteer for annual Salvation Army Kettle Fund for sixteen years

Volunteer at the Western Canada Music Awards Convention in Brandon

2017 AAA Western Canadian Junior Baseball Championship

Co-Chair for the 100th Anniversary of Kiwanis Celebration and Dinner in 2015

Active Member of United Empire Loyalist of Canada

Member of the Westman Prostate Organization from the past ten years

"I am thrilled and honoured to be receiving the Monty Montgomery award," says Cowan. "Also, I am pleased that i am following another recent winner my colleague and friend the late Benny Laursen. Benny and I worked Wheat King games together for over 30 years. Having listened to Benny's stories about Monty who I can't remember meeting, I missed a lot of wisdom and fun.

Volunteering for Wheat King work has been rewarding its just amazing how many great people you meet over the years, personally its been very rewarding"

"My wife and I started billeting players in the Fall of 1982 and I have been involved with organization every year since. There are many other things I have volunteered for over the years, too numerous to list here."

"Thanks To the Montgomery Family and the Wheat King Organization for this outstanding honour."

Making the presentation Wednesday night were James Montgomery, grandson of the late great John (Monty) Montgomery as well as his father Mel.

"We are delighted to recognize Hugh as the second recipient of this Wheat King volunteer award," says Montgomery. "Our family believes that Brandon is a healthy, vibrant community in large part because of the countless volunteers for the many event that our community hosts."

"On behalf of my wife Monika and our family, we extend our gratitude to the Wheat Kings for the opportunity to create this award and we especially thank Ben for his many years of volunteerism."

Ben Laursen was the first recipient of this award.

Monty Montgomery was a former on ice official, who began refereeing games in 1949. He officiated games in the "Big 6" and during the Brandon Regals professional run as a linesmen.

A former referee in chief for Western Manitoba, he served as Commissioner of the old Brandon Commercial Hockey League and was an MAHA board member from 1953-1965.

In 1965-66, he hung up his skates and turned his attention to timekeeping in the old Wheat City Arena and continued to do that job through the 1989-90 campaign.

Instrumental in the formation of the City of Brandon Tournament of Champions, he was an active volunteer with the event until 1990. Never shy to share a great story from his time on or off the ice, such as those involving former tough guy Dave Semenko, Monty received a Lifetime WHL Pass from then Commissioner Ed Chynoweth prior to his passing in 1991.

The Wheat Kings would like to both congratulate and thank Hugh for his forty years of volunteer service with the Wheat Kings and the City of Brandon.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2020


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central