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.
Community Contribution award 2026 (September 15th, 2026)
A special acknowledgment goes to Benyang Fu (Gr. 12, Merivale High School) for his many years of contribution to the club, both on and off the ice. From player to on-ice helper, assistant coach, head coach for the past three years, and website administrator for several years supporting club’s operation behind the scenes. 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.
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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.
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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.
