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| Deeside Ducks' Gary Shaw received the Laidler Coach of the Year award from NIHL General Manager Haydn Hunter (Photo by RDG Digital) |
Shaw made the 3-name
shortlist along with Ian Weedall of Billingham Buccaneers who finished 3rd in
the Laidler Division and Ian Brown of Bradford Bulldogs who finished just above
the Ducks in 9th place.
The choice is notable
because there was no room for the coaches of the top two teams in the Division
– Sutton Sting, who were runners up, and Telford Tigers who went on to win the
league, cup and play offs – and clearly demonstrates that, at this level, the
development and progression of younger players is just as highly valued as
winning trophies.
The shortlist for the
Moralee Division comprised of Stephen Foster from Billingham Stars, Dominic
Osman from Blackburn Hawks and Andy Daintith & Mike Roddy from Hull Jets - and
the award eventually went to Foster, who guided his team to an historic treble
of league, cup and play off titles.
The award was presented
to Shaw at the NIHL Play Off Weekend in Sheffield and came as a complete surprise
to him, as he explains:
“When attending the NIHL
Play Offs on Sunday, I was asked to drop the puck for the Division 2 game for which
I was glad to accept the honour. While we were waiting, they announced that
there was a presentation award they had to give out.”
“They announced that
it was for Coach of the Year and I had no idea that I was there for the award as
they had kept it under wraps really well and I was shocked that the
announcement was made for me.”
“I never thought that
I would be nominated for an award like this - I have always maintained that
it’s always been about the players’ development throughout my coaching career,
and I have never been one to take the accolades for their accomplishments on
the ice.”
“I have coached at a
few different clubs and have had the enjoyment of starting kids at novice level
to players representing England and Great Britain, and this is why I have kept
coaching for so long in the game I love so much.”
“I am humbled and
proud to be named Coach of the Year, especially for representing my home club
at Deeside where I have played and coached for over 40 years.”
