NHL Announces Finalists for Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award and Fan Vote

Willie O’Ree Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL announced the finalists for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award in Canada and the United States on Monday. And fans can help choose the winner.

Three finalists in each country were selected as people who “positively impacted their community, culture or society” through the sport of hockey. Each finalist will receive at least a $5,000 prize to be donated to a charity of their choice, while the winner in each country will receive a $25,000 prize to be donated.

Fans can vote for their community hero at NHL.com/OReeAward until May 19.

Here’s more on what the NHL said for each finalist:

Willie O’Ree Community Award presented by Hyundai (Canada)

Mark Burgin, Vancouver, B.C.

As a board member for BC Hockey, Burgin is part of its first working group for equity, diversity and inclusion.

He is also the founder of Diversity Athletics Hockey, which provides mentorship and athletic development to youth facing social, cultural, economic or other barriers. The non-profit’s goal is to help keep kids involved in sports.

Mark DeMontis, Toronto, Ont.

DeMontis is the founder of Canadian Blind Hockey (formerly Courage Canada) and has won gold five times with Canada’s national blind hockey team.

At 17 years old, DeMontis effectively lost his dream of making the NHL from sudden sight loss. But he helped build a bigger blind hockey community as a result, with the organization providing programs, development camps and competitions for people who are blind or partially sighted.

Allen Hierlihy, Hamilton, Ont.

Hierlihy volunteers with the Hamilton District Sledge Hockey Association, which welcomes 30 kids each year and teaches them sledge (or Para) hockey. They have three teams of varying competitiveness.

Hierlihy first joined this community after his son became an amputee, and he’s dedicated his time for eight years to help others find the community as well.

Willie O’Ree Community Award presented by Discover (United States)

Jerry DeVaul, Colorado Springs, Colo.

DeVaul is a U.S. Army veteran, double amputee and competitive Para hockey player who’s also the president of the Colorado Sled Hockey Association. Since 1995, the non-profit has provided a competitive hockey environment to connect youth, veterans and adult athletes with disabilities.

Kelsey McGuire, Philadelphia, Pa.

McGuire is the founder of Philadelphia Blind Hockey, which provides students aged six to 13 years old with free blind hockey programming. The high school teacher adapts her knowledge of teaching visually impaired students with helping kids learn to skate and play hockey.

Estela Rivas-Bryant, El Segundo, Calif.

Rivas-Bryant, a first-generation Mexican American who grew up in Southern California, founded the Empowerment Effect after coaching youth hockey for more than 20 years. The non-profit organization focuses on hockey and mentorship for young girls in Los Angeles by providing free equipment, coaching and ice time to more than 30 players.

The winner of the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award in Canada and the United States is expected to be announced in June.

Fans can also vote for the 2024 Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher of the Year until May 10. Learn more about the nominees and that award at NHL.com/MVT.