Ottawa Ice Lightning Hockey Club (OILHC), founded in 2014, is dedicated to promoting hockey within the local immigrant community, where many parents have limited familiarity with the sport. In addition to fostering a passion for hockey, the club emphasizes core Canadian values such as volunteerism, community involvement, and supporting those who are less fortunate. OILHC runs regular hockey programs and practices throughout the spring and summer seasons, providing players with opportunities to develop their skills while strengthening their connection to the community.
Community Leadership Award
Presented to the Ottawa Ice Lightning Coaching Staff in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Ottawa Ice Lightning Hockey Club community. Through their dedication, leadership, and commitment to advancing both the sport of hockey and community engagement, they have not only helped develop young athletes but also fostered a culture of teamwork, inclusion, and excellence. Their efforts have made a lasting impact on the lives of players and families, helping to build a strong, supportive, and vibrant hockey community. They are truly role models for the next generation, inspiring young athletes through their character, sportsmanship, and commitment to giving back to the community.
Community Leadership award 2024 (October 15th, 2024)
A special acknowledgment goes to Daniel Nie (Queens University Health Science). Daniel’s tenure with OILHC has been marked by significant growth and development. Starting as an on-ice helper at age of 8 in 2014, Daniel has been with the club every year, progressing to Head Coach in 2021 and Coach Advisor in 2024. Throughout this journey, Daniel has consistently fostered a positive and inclusive environment for all players, parents, and coaches. His effective communication skills and ability to build strong, trusting relationships have played a pivotal role in creating a culture where young athletes feel comfortable and motivated to perform at their best.
A special acknowledgment goes to Simon Yang (University of Ottawa Biomedical Science), an experienced Junior B hockey player who joined the Ice Lightning in 2018. Simon has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and ability in his role as Head Coach and Coach Advisor of the Ottawa Ice Lightning Hockey Club, further enhancing the success and development of the club and its members.
Community Leadership award 2025 (October 15th, 2025)
A special acknowledgment goes to Owen Chen (Gr. 12, Merivale High School). Owen has been a part of Ice Lightning for nearly a decade, beginning as a player and progressing through roles as an on-ice helper, assistant coach, and now head coach for past two years. His journey reflects a deep belief in hockey’s power to build strong, healthy communities.
The leadership skills he developed with Ice Lightning have also shaped his work with Spark Youth Robotics Club, helping him grow while expanding community outreach. He remains committed to inspiring the next generation to find the same passion for hockey that has shaped his own path.
A special acknowledgment goes to Justin Yuan (Gr. 12, Merivale High School). Justin has been a member of the Ottawa Ice Lightning Hockey Club for ten years, beginning as a young player. His passion for hockey led him to become an on-ice helper during summer training sessions, later advancing to assistant coach and serving as head coach for the past two years.
Through this progression, Justin has developed strong leadership and coaching skills. He studied drill videos from Hockey Canada and prepared practice plans weekly for OILHC training seasons. He has also volunteered four times as an on-ice assistant instructor for the KMHA-hosted NHL First Shift program. In 2024, he independently led a drill station during the KMHA U11 sort-out—demonstrating how far his skills have grown through his involvement with OILHC. He has contributed to his community by sharing his passion for hockey and helping younger players develop their skills.
Community CONTRIBUTION award 2026 (September 15th, 2026)
Presented to the Ottawa Ice Lightning Coaching Staff in recognition of the recipient’s valuable contributions to the Ottawa Ice Lightning Hockey Club community. Through the recipient’s dedication, commitment, and support of both hockey development and community engagement, they have helped create a positive and welcoming environment for young athletes and their families. The recipient’s efforts have contributed to fostering teamwork, inclusion, and a strong sense of community, enriching the experiences of players, and supporting the continued growth of the club.
A special acknowledgment goes to Benyang Fu (Gr. 12, Merivale High School). Benyang has been a part of Ice Lightning for nearly a decade, beginning as a player and progressing through roles as an on-ice helper, assistant coach, and now head coach for past three years. His journey reflects a deep belief in hockey’s power to build strong, healthy communities.
Besides his role as Head Coach, Benyang is also the founder of Scuola Ottawa, Team Captain of FTC Team 24760, and a Brand Ambassador for Run Ottawa. A strong advocate for community involvement, he believes that meaningful and lasting change is achieved through collective effort.
A special acknowledgment goes to Mason Wu (Gr. 12, Earl of March High School). Mason joined Ice Lightning in 2024 as an on-ice helper, progressed to assistant coach, and now serves as head coach for 2026. Since joining the club, he has set the standard for attendance and consistency, maintaining the highest attendance rate in every training season, including a perfect 100% attendance record in 2024, a testament to his exceptional reliability, dedication, and remarkable commitment to supporting the Club and its athletes. Passionate about hockey, Mason enjoys helping young players develop their skills and a lifelong love of the game, while also volunteering as a math tutor at his high school.
A special acknowledgment goes to Austin Liao (Gr. 12, Merivale High School) in recognition of his many years of service with Ice Lightning and his high attendance record across every training season. Austin has been a part of Ice Lightning for nearly a decade, beginning as a player and progressing through roles as an on-ice helper, assistant coach for past five years. His path reflects the conviction that hockey extends beyond the game itself, helping to create stronger, healthier communities.
Besides his role as Assistant Coach, Austin is teaching in Chinese School after school math class, volunteering in Carleton University Engineering Summer Camp and SYRC robots Club, playing in Merivale Varsity soccer team.
