Richard, Gallant receive acknowledgement

Karen Gallant, president of the Evangeline Recreation Commission, didn’t have to do a whole lot of scheming to make sure two volunteers would be at the arena on Boxing Day for a surprise presentation of volunteer appreciation awards.

The presentations were made just prior to the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings home game against the rival Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers, and one of the recipients was team manager, JC Gallant.

The other recipient was Louis Richard who, having logged more than 3,500 days of helping out at the arena, was a safe bet to be there, too, selling 50-50 tickets and helping out during the Island Junior Hockey League game.

“It’s my passion; that’s what I love,” Richard said in explaining his deep connection to the Evangeline Rec Centre and to hockey.

He has enjoyed the game as a player, coach, official and in various volunteer capacities.

“I love hockey and I love to be around,” he said.

“He’s a great overall volunteer. Louis will do anything, in any element that we ask him, and he’s got so much corporate knowledge, the history, the good vision of where things were, where things need to be as we progress with the rink,” said the commission’s president. JC Gallant has been manager of the Red Wings for six years, taking over when the team moved out of Tyne Valley.

He represents the team on the recreation commission, which he’s been apart of for about 15 years, and at Hockey P.E.I. meetings.

The Red Wings played their first season in Slemon Park while waiting for the new rec centre to be completed. “We built a good program here,” Gallant assessed.

“It’s a beautiful facility and I take pride in the rink, too.”