Linden Keiver has been selected as the recipient for this year's Jerry Bancks Award, presented to an outstanding athlete in the Selkirk Hockey Academy, formerly known as the Selkirk Sports School.
"The award recognizes a senior student who excels in pretty much every area, so it's on the ice, off the ice, it's effort, it's attitude, it's community spirit and leadership," said Carson Loftsgard, who heads up the Academy. "Some years I don't give the award out, because I don't feel there's anyone worthy of that. This year is not one of those years, it's quite a strong group of grade 12s when it comes to all those areas, so it was actually quite difficult to choose somebody.
"Linden is a very well-rounded kid who, at the rink and away from the rink, consistently performs and he cares — cares about how he does, about how other people are doing, he's just a very unselfish, driven kid."
Keiver said he is very honoured to have received this prestigious award, but added it would not have been possible without all the valuable lessons he learned from Loftsgard during his time in the program.
"Being able to receive an award solely built off one’s character and leadership throughout the Sports School Program and community is truly honourable," Keiver said. "As for my plans moving forward with hockey, I’m going to be taking more of a coaching path. I’m going to continue being a counsellor at the Alpine Hockey School as well as getting back into the referring side of the game.
"Although I’m not playing on a competitive team next year, the lessons hockey has taught me over these last 14 years has shaped me into a better person and even though I’m done hockey I’ll always be a part of the game.”
Jerry Bancks founded the Selkirk Sports School many years ago, with Loftsgard taking over nearly a decade ago.
"It’s kind of changed into a hockey-only program, just because that’s where the interest lies and that’s where the area’s biggest talent was probably and that fits me too," Loftsgard explained. "So we keep on rolling and it’s a privilege for me to be a part of it and continue on the legacy that Jerry started out and in his name is really special to be able to do that I think.
"His fingerprints are all over this town, particularly in hockey circles. I know the coaching staff of the Dynamiters are all connected with him and consider him a mentor and then I just try to carry on some of the things that I learned from him."
Part of Bancks' massive and ongoing legacy with Kimberley hockey is his time with the Kimberley Dynamiters, coaching them to two championships: the Rocky Mountain Junior A Hockey League champions in 1998-99 and the Kootenay International Junior B Hockey League champions in 2014-15.
Linden's father Jeff Keiver has a deep connection with Bancks: he was taught by him in grade school, was coached by him and coached with him.
“I’m very proud of Linden for having won the Jerry Bancks award, as Jerry and I have a long history together," Jeff said. "He was my junior hockey coach back when I played and then when I moved back to Kimberley, I was his assistant coach with the Dynamiters. Linden and I both respect him very much so it is a very special moment for me.”
Mike Reid, who was also a coach and general manager of the Dynamiters, coached Keiver last season on the East Kootenay U18 Avalanche AA team.
"It’s a prestigious award and, like Carson said, it’s not an award that’s given out lightly," Reid said. "There’s not a better, more deserving recipient than Linden, just the way he conducts himself. I was so happy I got the opportunity to coach him this year, he’s just a tremendous young man and an absolute warrior on the ice and he’ll be the same off the ice.
"The runway he’s got in front of him to be successful is long and I don’t imagine there’s going to be any problem with him being successful in anything he does, he’s just a great kid."
The success of student athletes such as Keiver highlights just how special this academy is, in large part due to its accessibility.
"It was a trailblazing type thing and now as the trends are shifting — they put the name academy on something it usually means it’s tens of thousands of dollars to be a part of," Loftsgard said. "This program, I’d put it up against any other program as far as the quality of the instruction and how it supports kids as athletes and as students too.
"It still is a trailblazing thing. It still hasn’t been repeated, it’s really special and it’s awesome that it still exists here."
