By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Longtime Hurricanes board member honoured with WHL Distinguished Service Award

Mar 17, 2017 | 9:21 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Western Hockey League Commissioner Ron Robison made a special trip to Lethbridge Friday (Mar. 17), to recognize a longtime supporter of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the WHL.

Herman Elfring was given the WHL Distinguished Service Award, prior to puck drop between the Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers.

Before retiring from his position as Governor of the Lethbridge Hurricanes ahead of the 2016-17 season, Elfring served as a board member for the team for 23-seasons, club president for three seasons – which included a WHL championship in 1997 – and as a member of the WHL Finance Committee for 10-years.

Speaking with the media, Robison outlined what makes Elfring stand out as a recipient.

“It’s an award we introduced a few years ago to recognize people who work tirelessly behind the scenes as volunteers – in many cases whether they’re an education advisor, a minor official, or in this particular case, a long-time board member and a member of our board of governors of our Western Hockey League – and Herman Elfring is well deserving of this honour,” stated Robison.

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“I think when you really look at it, obviously there’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes to make franchises and to make the league work, and Herman was one of those dedicated volunteers,” he added. “Without contributors like Herman and others who worked so hard on the board, really the franchise would not exist.”

From there, the conversation shifted briefly to the fact that the Hurricanes remain a community owned team, two years after Robison himself suggested the organization be sold to a private owner amid financial difficulties.

“We’re really excited about the turnaround in the franchise, and I think when you look at the hockey team itself, being an exciting on-ice product is really the most important thing,” he explained. “Fans in the community want to rally around a successful team, and that’s what they’ve got in the last couple years… The building is full again, it’s a great atmosphere.”

The man of the hour also took some time to talk about the award, as Elfring warmly introduced himself to the assembled media.

“It’s very special and I’m truly humbled and honoured to have this award,” he said with a smile. “The board has been great to work with, I worked with a lot people over the last twenty-some years, any one of those people could have received this award.”

“I breathe, eat, sleep Hurricane hockey, and it’s been a part of my life for the last 25-years, and I’ll continue to support it as long as I can.”