The award is about the "spirit" of hockey and honors both Ken and Beryl Knudtsen, whose spirit, love of the game and never-ending support are why this award was created.

The Ken and Beryl Knudtsen Memorial Spirit Award has two components. The first is to recognize a player who exhibits the spirit of the game, as exemplified by Ken and Beryl. The Spirit Trophy will be awarded to one player from Trails West Hockey Association, to be selected from the U9, U11, U13 and U15 age groups as Ken’s grandchildren played at these levels. The award is to be given to the player who exhibits exemplary commitment and dedication to his or her team and the game of hockey. This is not meant to be a popularity contest or the top player award. It is to recognize:

• A player’s passion for the game
• The player who exhibits commitment and dedication to the game
• The overall spirit the player brings to the game of hockey
• The sportsmanship exhibited by the player

A $500.00 gift card to Play-It-Again-Sports Westhills, the winner’s name on the trophy displayed at the Flames Community Arenas, and a personal engraved water bottle are confirmed gifts for the Spirit Award recipient.

The second component of the award is recognized in the name of the award recipient and provides financial assistance to players of families in need within the Trails West Hockey Association. It is monetary assistance towards the registration fee for one season at TWHA and/or assistance for hockey equipment provided from Play-It-Again-Sports Westhills for one or more players with financial challenges. Recipients of this award component will be decided on a year-to-year basis. All TWHA families challenged with the cost of hockey can contact the TWHA Administrator to apply for this and other financial assistance opportunities.

Nominations

Nominations for this award can be submitted by Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Mangers for one player on their team. Please submit nominations by email to admin@trailswesthockey.com describing the reasons you think your nominee should be chosen for the award.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to Monday February 26th, 2024. Once all nominees are received, the Knudtsen family will choose the Spirit Award recipient and arrange with the recipient's team manager to present the award, ideally at the team's year end wrap up party.

The Spirit of Hockey as exemplified by Ken and Beryl Knudtsen

Ken Knudtsen: March 18, 1942 - September 4, 2009 
Korey and Kelly Knudtsen played hockey for Trails West Hockey Association for 5 seasons before the boundaries changed, moving them to the Bow River Hockey Association. Ken, who passed away September 4, 2009 after a very brief battle with cancer, was Korey’s and Kelly's Grandfather (PaPa). The Knudtsen family want this award to go to a Trails West player as this is where Ken was a part of his grandchildren's hockey.

Ken was dedicated to watching Korey and Kelly play hockey. He rarely missed anything to do with his grandchildren – especially their hockey. He would show up from the East side of Calgary during wicked winter conditions to help tie skates for any kid who needed help until his hands were raw and bleeding. He would pick them up after school and take them to the outdoor ice, check out new hockey equipment at the beginning of the year, take skates to be sharpened, take the kids to hockey schools, practices, games, tournaments, both in Calgary and out of town. If both boys had a game on the same night he would catch the first period of one game then travel across the city to watch the third period of the other game. He was nuts for his grandsons’ hockey and nothing would stop him.

One time, Kelly had a tournament in Canmore and Korey had a tournament in Sundre on the same weekend. First, Ken went to Canmore to watch Kelly then hopped in the car and went to Sundre the same night, during an ice storm, to watch Korey. That's DEDICATION! He made many sacrifices from the beginning of each season to the final year-end hockey party to support all of Korey and Kelly's hockey endeavors.

Beryl Knudtsen: May 5, 1942 – November 3, 2014 
Beryl Knudtsen (Ken's wife and Korey and Kelly's grandmother) passed away unexpectedly Nov. 3, 2014 after a brief illness. Beryl was the instigator and life‐force behind the Ken Knudtsen Memorial Spirit Award.

Beryl was always at Ken's side cheering on and supporting the boys and their teammates. Beryl was a very vocal supporter (hint‐typical hockey mom and grandmom). Beryl always had words of encouragement, consoling when needed, tending to injuries and whatever else was required. Beryl provided many tournament picnic baskets consisting of healthy, nutritious snacks, in‐room breakfasts and lunches prior to and in between out of town tournament games. Beryl always contributed to fund‐raising events. She was very proud of her grandsons' hockey accomplishments as well as having a love for the game of hockey.

Beryl put a lot of time, effort and love into this award and derived great pleasure from the joy it brought all those involved. Beryl was overjoyed to see this award grow beyond her expectations and continue past the time frame initially planned.

• 2023/24 Recipient - Connor Allen
• 2022/23 Recipient - Andrew Stevens
• 2021/22 Recipient - Charlie Hopkie
• 2019/20 Recipient - Cohen Snukal-Lyon
• 2018/19 Recipient - Cooper Choi
• 2017/18 Recipient - Austin Harford