Page 24 - The Brandon Sun - 2017 Community Leader Awards

24 • COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS THE BRANDON SUN • THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

» COACH AWARD

Blaine Moroz, of the
Westman Youth Football
Association, uses sport to
connect with kids who might
otherwise fall through the
cracks. He is the winner of
the Community Leader Award
in the coach category. (Tim
Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Moroz doesn’t shy away from ‘tough’ kids

BY TYLER CLARKE “I’m sure glad over the seven years on the field with him that Driving all of these efforts is his passion for both football and
I payed some attention between the jokes and the harassment,” helping area youths become the best versions of themselves as
One of the most rewarding moments of Blaine Moroz’s Moroz said. “He’s always going to be my hero.” they can.
volunteer coaching efforts took place off the gridiron.
The main lesson Moroz said that he learned from his late “Football, honestly, I think is the best sport for any kid of any
It was watching players cross the stage to receive their high friend was “don’t care.” calibre, size, shape, colour, creed, whatever you want to want
school diplomas that holds a special place in his heart. to call it, on the field in some position to build some self-
Not in an apathetic sense, but to not sweat the small stuff, confidence and some self-esteem,” he said. “We find kids every
“It’s the biggest win that I’ll ever get as a coach,” he said. which takes some pressure off in the midst of a big game. single year who use football as a tool.”
More than a coach and leader of Brandon’s football
community, Moroz is a mentor to area youths, with a special Another key lesson he got from Boyd was; “Always remember » tclarke@brandonsun.com
focus on those with rougher backgrounds. when you’re getting frustrated that there’s a young man in that » Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
“He’s one of the most dedicated coaches that we have,” equipment,” Moroz said.
Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School teacher and fellow
coach Robert Dinsdale said of Moroz. “He goes above and Moroz first got into coaching in 2001, when he helped a buddy
beyond to be at every practice, at all the events. He’s incredibly out with a soccer team.
committed to the program and just being there to coach kids.”
Kids seem to recognize that Moroz genuinely cares about As his eldest son, Brayden, became interested in football,
them and wants them to make the best decisions in life, Dinsdale Moroz shifted his attention in that direction and has been
said, adding that he’s had a “huge impact” with the kids he has coaching various local teams ever since.
coached.
Dinsdale said that he’s seen Moroz driving kids throughout Brayden now plays football for the Regina Thunder CJFL
the province to football tryouts and providing various supports team.
where the might have otherwise not had any.
“He was there almost as a parent to be there for him, and the Football is “a real family affair,” Moroz said, adding that his
number of kids who come with issues for guidance is pretty wife Michelle makes all of his efforts possible.
incredible,” he said.
Moroz said that he owes his coaching style to local football Between his work at a fabrication manager at a local steel
coach Kevin Boyd, who died last year. shop, time with family and his various volunteer duties it takes
a supportive wife to make things work, he said.

This spring, he coached 104 youths in a handful of teams and
served as president, commissioner and equipment manager for
the Westman Youth Football Association.

He has also been heavily involved in the Boyd Stadium
fundraising campaign.

Oakden humbled by CLA teaching nod

BY TYLER CLARKE Volleyball Club held four tournaments Dean Oakden is seen next to a memorial bench
during the season, at which 60 teams for his grandfather, Charlie Oakden, whose
Devoting both his professional and from throughout Manitoba played. love of golf helped inspire his own lifelong
personal time to the mentorship of passion for sport. (Submitted)
youths, Vincent Massey High School Their 17U girls team finished the
teacher Dean Oakden’s lifelong interest season third in the province and
in sport has been passed to countless Oakden said that he looks forward to
area youths. coaching them again for one last time
next year, having coached the team
As a high school coach and founder since they were 15.
of and coach for the Westman
Volleyball Club, Oakden has seen more Oakden said that his guiding
than 40 players go on to post secondary philosophy when it comes to coaching
teams. is that of American basketball coach
John Wooden, who said; “A coach is
“With club volleyball I certainly like someone who can give correction
the competition aspect of things and without causing resentment.”
to see kids move on to the post-
secondary level,” he said. “You get to “To be a fair coach and to be a good
guide kids and help them in their quest coach you need to be able to give
for education through their playing, so players feedback, and sometimes they
that’s always nice.” might not like it, but it’s for the best for
them to be able to improve,” he said.
Oakden first took an interest in sports
at a young age as a result of his With his coaching efforts
grandfather, Charlie Oakden, who contributing to time away from home
helped found the Boissevain Golf Club. alongside his teaching position at
Vincent Massey High School, Oakden
Golfing by the age of seven, Oakden said that he credits his wife, Rhonda,
went on to further his education in the with making it all possible.
United States under golf scholarships.
Without her, he said that he would
In 2002, he won a national university “not have had the opportunity to be
curling championship with Mike involved with so many fantastic
McEwen; a team that proceeded to athletes and special people over the
represent Canada at the World years.”
University Games in Italy without
McEwen. Oakden is the father of two; Hunter,
6, and Payton, 10.
As a mature student, he was too old
to participate, but said that he looks He said that while being nominated
back on his short time with the team for a coaching award was “humbling,”
with fondness, adding; “It’s certainly there’s a wealth of other volunteers in
a nice memory to have curled with the area who have also worked hard to
those guys.” make Brandon a “healthy community
of different options for kids to partake
While he excelled at golfing and in.”
curling, Oakden found his coaching
interests gravitate toward volleyball and Oakden remains busy, and plans on
basketball, which he found easier to co-hosting a summer volleyball camp
coach youths in. at Brandon University along with
fellow coach Mike Burchuk this
He started coaching about 17 years summer and coaching the varsity girls
ago and has kept at it ever since, at Elton Collegiate this autumn.
kicking things into a higher gear in
2011 by starting up the Westman Burchuk said that his friend and
Volleyball Club. colleague has a “very level-headed
style” of coaching and is “not overly
“I’ve coached with other clubs before loud but very deliberate in his
and it got to the point where I wanted instructions to players.”
to do something on my own, and it’s
just been a lot of fun,” he said. » tclarke@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
This past season, the Westman