February 11, 2015
This Friday (Feb. 13) will be a very special day for the MJHL, and its former commissioner Frank McKinnon, who will be officially welcomed to the Member of the Order of Canada. You can watch it live on www.gg.ca. Feb. 13th at 10:30am EST.
Earlier this summer it was announced that Mr. McKinnon had been selected to this prestigious group.
McKinnon served as commissioner for 10 years (1992-2002) and was known for his charisma and vast knowledge of MJHL history.
“This is a tremendous honour for Frank,” said MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis. “We are all very proud of him. After leaving the office of commissioner Frank always followed our league closely. He’s a true gentleman and deserving of this honour.”
McKinnon served two decades on the executive of the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Manitoba), including five as president in the 1970s. He was also president of the Carman-Dufferin Minor Hockey Association.
He also left his mark beyond Manitoba. As a trustee, he helped create the Centennial Cup (now RBC Cup) in 1971. He was a member of the congress of the International Ice Hockey Federation and part of the committee that organized the first IIHF World Junior Championship in 1974.
In 1979, McKinnon became the first chairman of the board of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada), a post he would hold until 1982. His contributions to growing the game at the grassroots levels weren’t unnoticed. In 1981, he was awarded the Gordon Juckes Award for efforts in developing amateur hockey at the national level. Two years later he was named Hockey Canada’s Volunteer of the Year. He received a third award from Hockey Canada, the Order of Merit, in 1991.
McKinnon also made a difference beyond hockey, serving two years as director of the Sports Federation of Canada and four years as vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Association. In 1993, McKinnon was named a Life Member of Hockey Canada.
He’s also been made a Life Member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Manitoba, and been inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
To see a full list of other Canadians named to the Order of Canada go here: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/
