Bernie Shantz awarded 2021 OHA Gold Stick

Each season the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) awards the Gold Stick to a worthy candidate nominated by OHA membership.

The Gold Stick is an order of merit in hockey awarded by the OHA for outstanding service to the game other than as a player. Such outstanding service must have been for a period of not less than 10 years continuous duration. The award may be made to any person who has rendered such service to any organized hockey Association or its member clubs anywhere in the world.

This season, the OHA presented the Gold Stick Award to  Bernie Shantz of the New Hamburg Firebirds (Provincial Junior Hockey League) at the virtual OHA AGM on Sat., June 19. Shantz will be presented with the Gold Stick Award at a later date.

Shantz’s tenure with Junior C Hockey in New Hamburg dates back 40 plus years and he is seen by his peers as someone who personifies what hockey should be all about. Shantz has an unrelenting passion for Junior hockey and the Firebirds, where he currently serves as the team’s Past President.

As a young boy who could not afford to play the game, Shantz always knew that he wanted to be involved in some capacity. It wasn’t until he was a teenager that he was able to skate in an industrial league with his friends, and that’s when he caught the hockey bug. In 1983, the then New Hamburg Hahns’ outlook for the organization was looking pretty grim. That’s when the club turned to Shantz and two locals who approached two major sponsors to revive junior hockey in New Hamburg. Shantz and his counterpart’s efforts were successful, and the New Hamburg Spirit of 83 was born.

From that point on, Shantz has held many positions including Director, President, Governor, General Manager, and Past President.

In 1992, Shantz stepped away from the game to take care of his late wife, Ginger. During this time the team would periodically call Shantz to ask for advice and he would always answer the call and provide feedback.

With the game always on his mind, Shantz stepped back into the forefront, taking over as the President of the New Hamburg Firebirds in 2005.

Firebirds’ current President Gord Mills describes Shantz as someone whose focus is on player growth and experience. Mills says Shantz takes great pride when a former player comes back to New Hamburg and reminisces about a great experience he had as a member of our team.

Shantz has represented the Firebirds organization team at the former Midwestern Junior C loop and was a driving force in the formation of the PJHL.  His vast experience and knowledge are a treasure to the organization and the PJHL. When there is a task to be performed, he is always there to get the job done. Shantz also played a large role with the two PJHL Prospects days hosted in New Hamburg in past seasons.

Shantz remains an important, active member of the Firebirds today. His commitment to the New Hamburg Firebirds, OHA, OHF and Hockey Canada over four decades certainly makes him a well-deserved recipient of the Gold Stick Award.

Congratulations to the 2020-21 OHA Gold Stick Award recipient, Bernie Shantz of the New Hamburg Firebirds.

– View the 2021 OHA Gold Stick video HERE

For a full list of Gold Stick Award winners visit our Gold Stick page HERE.