Outstanding Volunteer
Coach, Team Chiropractor and Team Trainer for various School and
Community Teams
1981-2015
David
Hewko was born in Wetaskiwin and grew up involved in sports. Hockey,
Swimming, Fastball, Football, Water Polo: he excelled at all of them.
His teams won Provincial titles, he was often “MVP” and he was chosen to
be on numerous “All Star” teams. Although his athletic achievements are
considerable and worthy of note, Dave is being recognized by induction
into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame for what he has given
back to his home community as a volunteer. As team chiropractor and
trainer for various school and community teams, Dave has put in
countless hours attending games and tournaments. His unselfish
commitment for over 30 years is worthy of acclaim.
Dave competed on three
teams that won Provincial titles; the 1970 Wetaskiwin Ivan’s Sheet
Metal Peewee Fastball Team, the 1973 Olympia Swim Team and the 1974
Wetaskiwin Sport Shop Juvenile Hockey Team. In 1972 Dave was Rookie of
the Year for the Wetaskiwin Composite High School Sabres Football Team
and in 1972 and 1973 he was chosen to be on the WCHS All Star Football
Team. In 1973 Dave was MVP for the Kinsmen Kings Midget Hockey Team, in
1974 he was MVP for the Sport Shop Juvenile Hockey Team and in 1981 and
1983 he was MVP for the Canadian Chiropractic College Hockey Team.
Dave’s
participation and achievements in such a variety of sports instilled in
him an appreciation for how sports can benefit an individual, a team and
a community and especially motivated him to offer his services and
abilities.
Multi-Sport Athlete Starts Volunteerism Early
Dave started his volunteer
career early, as a teenager he coached the Wetaskiwin Olympia Swim Team
from 1972-1974. He also coached the Wetaskiwin Kinsmen Kings Hockey
Team in 1983-84. As soon as Dave completed his chiropractic training in
1981 he put his expertise to work and volunteered to be the team
chiropractor and assistant trainer for the Wetaskiwin High School Sabres
Football Team. Dave has donated his time and knowledge to the Sabres for
an amazing thirty-three years.
Huge Demand of Time
Willingly Contributed
to Sabres Football for 33 Years
Besides his involvement
with the Sabres Football Team, Dave served as team chiropractor and head
trainer from 1981-1983 for the Leduc Riggers Jr. B Hockey Team, in
1983-84 for the Hobbema Hawks Jr. A Hockey team and from 2010-present
for the Augustana University Viking Hockey Team. Also, he was team
chiropractor and assistant trainer from 2010-present for the Battle
River Shock Midget Football Team, in 2010 and 2011 for the WCHS
Wrestling team and from 2011 to the present for the Wetaskiwin Icemen
Hockey Team. Other volunteer involvement includes acting as a member of
the Health Services Team in the 1988 Calgary Olympics and taking on the
responsibilities of tournament chiropractor for the 1991 Wolf Creek CPGA
Golf Tournament. All of this volunteer commitment means attending games
and tournaments, a huge demand on Dave’s time that he so willingly
contributes.
Volunteer of the Year
Honours
Dave’s contributions were
recognized in 2012 when he was named “Volunteer of the Year” by
Augustana University. Dave’s enduring service to his community through
the generous donation of his time and capabilities will be an
inspiration to everyone. Dave is indeed deserving of being inducted
into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.
Information
about an inductee is collected from published sources, sports
archives, scrapbooks, anecdotal information from family,
friends and fans, and the athlete.
However, sometimes
the best stories and personal insights are gleaned at the induction dinner from
the introductory comments or acceptance speech of the
inductee or their representative.
Where possible we have included this type of information for
your enjoyment.
Read
the introductory comments made by
Kristi Paukstat
when introducing Dr.
David Hewko.
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