Ron Toigo, the Vancouver Giants hockey team majority owner, governor and president, will receive the W.A.C. Bennett award from the B.C. Sport Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, the hall announced Toigo will be presented with the award next year at an induction gala on May 23.
“I wasn’t expecting it,.” Toigo told Black Press.
“It was a pleasant surprise, to be sure.”
BREAKING:
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) November 14, 2018
Vancouver Giants Majority Owner, President and Governor Ron Toigo will receive the 2019 @BCSportsHall's W.A.C. Bennett Award! pic.twitter.com/Ev3PlWuXg0
Toigo, a long-time Tsawwassen resident, has been involved with junior hockey since the 1990s, when he owned another Western Hockey League franchise, the Tri-City Americans.
After selling the club in 2000 he became the majority owner and president of the Vancouver Giants.
Toigo played a major role in bringing the 2006 World Junior Championships to Vancouver.
He served as both head of the bid committee and later the tournament chair for what is regarded as one of the most successful world junior hockey tournaments in the history of the event.
Fittingly, the news of his W.A.C. Bennett Award and BC Sports Hall of Fame induction takes place one month short of the start of the 2019 World Juniors (Vancouver and Victoria BC) – an event that Toigo is co-chairing. Under Toigo’s leadership, the Vancouver Giants also hosted and captured the 2007 Memorial Cup Championship.
He also continues to serve on the Executive Committee for the WHL’s Board of Governors.
Toigo said his hockey accomplishments were result of many people working together.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it,” Toigo said.
“I’m just the lucky recipient.”
READ MORE: ‘Giant’ in the B.C. hockey world inducted into hall of fame
Some of Ron Toigo’s additional sports honours include his induction into the BC Hockey Hall Of Fame in 2017 and an induction into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
In 2016, the team moved to Langley and the Langley Events Centre.
READ MORE: A Giant move for Langley
Other previous winners of the W.A.C. Bennett Award include:
Alex Nelson (2018)
David Sidoo (2017)
Arthur Griffiths (2016)
Pat Quinn (2013)
May Brown (2012)
Marty Zlotnik (2011)
Gordon Shrum (2008)
John Wilson ‘Jack’ Poole (2005)
John Furlong (2004)
Nat Bailey (2003)
Peter J.G. Bentley (1999)
Franz Wilhelmsen (1998)
Frank Griffiths, Sr. (1997)
Eugene Reimer (1993)
Jack Diamond (1989)
Rick Hansen (1987)
Charles N. ‘Chunky’ Woodward (1986)
Bill Cunningham (1983)
Terry Fox (1980)
