Monday, June 17, 2024

Vernon Junior Hockey Alumni Sparrow & Holland Nominated For Leadership In Sport Award:

Nominees from the Tim Hortons North Okanagan Sports Awards have been announced. Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow & former Vernon Vikings goaltender Ken Holland are two of six nominees up for the leadership in sport award.

Here is the story from Castanet.net,


Sparrow will be entering his fifth season with the Vernon Vipers as Assistant Coach.

Sparrow played four years at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks & University of Regina from 2014-2018 before signing his first professional contract with IK Guts in 2018. Sparrow played 7 games with IK Guts during the 2018-29 season before retiring from professional hockey. IK Guts Finspång is a professional ice hockey team based in Finspång, Sweden. The team competes in the Swedish ice hockey league.

Sparrow played four seasons with the Vernon Vipers from 2010-2014. In 188 games with the Vipers, Sparrow collected (32-goals-55-points-87-points).

Colton Sparrow's Player Profile:


Ken Holland is in his fifth season as President & General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers.

Holland started as an NHL Scout with the Detroit Red Wings in 1985. Holland was a Scout with the Red Wings from 1985-1987 before being named to Director of Amateur Scouting in 1987 until being named Assistant General Manager in 1994 then being named General Manager & Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations in 1997. Holland left the Red Wings in 2019 was named General Manager & President of Hockey Operations of the Edmonton Oilers May 7th 2019.

Holland was drafted 188th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 12 of the 1975 NHL Draft. Holland never played a game with the Maple Leafs, played four games with the Hartford Whalers and Detroit Red Wings before retiring from professional hockey in 1985.

Holland played one season in Vernon with the 1973-74 Vernon Vikings.

The Vernon Vikings were around from 1973-1978 before changing their name to the Vernon Canadians in 1978.

Ken Holland's Player Profile:

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1 comment:

Marty said...

With all due respect to these 2 fine gentlemen I do not think they belong in the consideration. It is the "North Okanagan Sports Awards". There are many examples of candidates doing long time things to coach & promote local North Okanagan athletes eg. Bill Tarr of Minor Football or Sean Smith of VSS Football. Ken & Colton may be higher profile due to their positions but other candidates have been in the trenches coaching, mentoring & promoting in their specific fields for lifetimes. Just my honest opinion.

Also my vote for Athlete of the Year is Shanda Hill. I do not think she gets half as much recognition or credit for her crazy accomplishments.

June 17, 2024 at 12:08 PM

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