Congratulations to Gene Patterson on winning the 2025 OMHA Honour Award. The Honour Award was established to recognize a person who has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to minor hockey for a considerable period of time, doing so of their own free will and not as part of a job or position for which they receive monetary consideration.
Gene has been a fixture in the Welland Minor Hockey community for nearly six decades. He has served three generations of Welland Tigers in various administrative and development roles and still runs the skate shop at the rink to this day. Gene was inducted into the Welland Sports Hall of Fame as a builder and has also been recognized for his volunteerism by Hockey Canada. He is the living embodiment of commitment, leadership, and selflessness to minor hockey and his accomplishments have left an indelible impact.“Everybody in Welland Minor Hockey knows Gene, knows his smiling face. Everyone will say hi to him in the halls. He’s a staple in our community.”-Stacey Doan, President, Welland Minor Hockey Association
Watch the video here