Dennis Coates, former Kamloops Blazers director and alternate governor, has been named a recipient of the WHL’s distinguished service award for the 2013-14 season.
The WHL Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution over an extended period of time at the club or league level.
Coates was a part of the group that brought the Blazers back to Kamloops in 1981. He worked with the organization for more than 20 years, forming the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society in 1987, and providing complimentary legal counsel during his time with the team.
Coates was a director and treasurer of the society, as well as a alternate governor, from 2003-2007 and help in selling the team to its current ownership group in 2007-08.
The WHL will honour Coates in Kamloops tonight (Feb. 7), prior to the team’s game against the Victoria Royals.
