ROYALS ADD MINISTER
OF FINANCE TO AWARDS CEREMONY
The
Honourable, Michael de Jong to join event as special guest speaker.
For
Immediate Release
Tuesday,
March 10, 2015
Victoria,
BC- The Victoria
Royals are proud to announce that The Honourable, Michael de Jong, QC, Minister
of Finance and House Leader will join the fourth annual Awards Ceremony on
Sunday, March 22nd at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre as a special
guest speaker. Also speaking at the event is New York Rangers’ executive Mike
Barnett.
de Jong a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for
the riding of Abbotsford West has been the Minister of Finance and House Leader
for the Provincial Government since September 2012. The native of Abbotsford,
BC has served as an MLA representing Abbotsford for more than 20 years. De Jong
has served in cabinet in various roles since 2001.
An avid hockey player, de Jong is a former member of
the Abbotsford Pilots Junior B hockey team.
“Having Mike de Jong at the Awards Ceremony is a
perfect fit,” said Royals General Manager Cameron Hope. “The event is a
celebration of the achievements of the 2015 Victoria Royals, but more than
that, it’s an opportunity for all of us to recognize how hockey can shape the
lives of people in our community. Not every player finds his way to the
NHL, but everyone takes lessons from hockey that help enormously, no matter
what direction they take their lives. Hockey has been a life-long part of
Mike de Jong’s life, and along with Mike Barnett, these ‘two Mikes’ are exceptional
examples of great success, inside and outside of the sport.”
Barnett a native of Olds, AB is currently the Senior
Advisor to the President and General Manager of the New York Rangers.
Previously, Barnett spent six years as the general manager of the Phoenix
Coyotes from 2001 to 2007.
Prior to his career as a hockey executive, Barnett
spent 20 years as a sports agent, most notably for many top NHL players,
including Wayne Gretzky.
The annual event celebrates the personal achievements
of the Royals’ players and rewards both their performances on-and-off of the
ice. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. with guests being given the opportunity
to mingle and share appetizers with Royals’ players and staff. The awards
portion of the event will begin at 4:00 p.m.
The evening will see the following awards given out:
·
National Bank Most Valuable Player Award
·
Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenceman Award
·
Mayfair Optometric Top Scorer Award
·
Ron Neal Rookie of the Year
·
Wallace Driving School Most Dedicated Player
·
Live Virtual Help Desk Scholastic Award
·
Investors Group Community Service Award
·
2 Burly Men Hardest Worker Award
·
Coca Cola Unsung Hero Award
·
The Keg Fans’ Choice Award
Fans can place their vote for The Keg Fans’ Choice
Award at www.victoriaroyals.com/thekegsfanchoice
for the player that they believe is the most deserving.
The Royals are pleased to have Cliff LeQuesne, from
100.3 The Q!, once again join the event as a host. Tickets to this year’s
awards ceremony are currently on sale and are $33.00 for adults and $20.00 for
children 12 and under. All tickets include taxes and surcharges and can be purchased
by calling 250-220-7777 or by going online to www.selectyourtickets.com.
The Royals will cap off their
four game road swing with stops in Kelowna vs. the Rockets tomorrow and
Vancouver vs. the Giants on Friday. Victoria will return home the following
night for a two-game set against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, March 14th
at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, March 15th at 1:05 p.m. Get your tickets
today by calling 250-220-7777 or visiting at www.victoriaroyals.com.
Cheer your Royals on until the final whistle by
getting a 2015 Playoff Pack. A $75 deposit before March 14th will
guarantee you a spot at every home game, plus the season ticket holder rate of
up to 30% savings on your tickets. Full details are available at www.victoriaroyals.com/playoffs.
