Life-saving Rockets forward nominated for humanitarian award
A Kelowna Rockets forward is nominated for the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year Award after helping save a person’s life.
In December of 2023, 19-year-old Ty Hurley saw a man struggling in a hotel pool in Strathmore, Alta., and jumped into action, pulling the man out of the pool and performing life-saving CPR until paramedics arrived.
“I took off my shirt and leaned over the edge (of the pool) and grabbed him by his shoulders and ripped him out of the water,” Hurley recalled. “He was probably under there for at least 30 to 40 seconds. I got him out of there, flipped him on his back and he wasn’t breathing at all. It was pretty scary.”
Hurley had previously completed life-saving courses and has advocated that others do the same.
The Sherwood Park, Alberta native was awarded the Silver Medal of Merit and the M.G. Griffiths Award by the Lifesaving Society, B.C. and Yukon at the Commonwealth Award for Honour and Rescue in March.
WHL Humanitarian of the Year Nominees
B.C. Division – Ty Hurley (Sherwood Park, Alta.)- Kelowna Rockets
Central Division – Shane Smith (Cessford, Alta.)- Medicine Hat Tigers
East Division – Evan Gardner (Fort St. John, B.C.)- Saskatoon Blades
U.S. Division – Tyler Palmer (Fernie, B.C.)- Everett Silvertips
WHL Humanitarian of the Year Biographies
Forward Shane Smith (Medicine Hat Tigers)
WHL Central Division Humanitarian of the Year Shane Smith brings a veteran presence to the Medicine Hat Tigers, but the team says his most impressive stat may be time spent in the community.
The Cessford, Alta. product led his team with over 200 volunteer hours in the 2023-24 regular season.
Smith regularly visits schools in the Medicine Hat area to speak to students about leadership, goal-setting and mental health and to grab a stick for some floor hockey games.
The NHL Draft-eligible forward helped coach Medicine Hat Minor Hockey players in U19 to U15 age groups and took part in events like Skate with the Tigers, Canadian Armed Forces Family Skates at CFB Suffield and Tigers Adaptive Floor Hockey Games with the Special Olympics Medicine Hat team ahead of the annual Joey Moss Tournament.
Off the ice, Smith was a part of the Santa Claus Fund, an organization helping people in need select gifts for their families, and the Wild 94.5 Food Drive in support of the Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub.
The 19-year-old is already laying the groundwork for future projects in the 2024-25 season, mainly focusing on advocating for mental health awareness in children and youth.
Goaltender Evan Gardner (Saskatoon Blades)
In his first WHL season, Saskatoon Blades goaltender Evan Gardner is the WHL East Division Humanitarian of the Year.
Gardner has spoken openly about his type-1 diabetes diagnosis at the age of 11 in hopes of showing other people living with the condition that they can still chase their dreams.
The now-18-year-old partnered with Diabetes Canada for numerous events, including the Lace Up to End Diabetes initiative for Diabetes Awareness Month in November and the Unite the Circle challenge.
Unite the Circle saw Blades fans walk the concourse of the SaskTel Centre to raise money for Diabetes Canada.
Gardner met with participants after the game and hopes to grow the partnership with the national body for diabetes education, research, resources and service.
On top of putting together a fantastic rookie season on the ice, Gardner also volunteered his time at local minor hockey practices across the city and spent time with people living at Eden Care Home, a Saskatoon home for people living with diverse abilities.
Despite being one of the youngest players on the Blades, the team believes Gardner has shown maturity and leadership well beyond his years.
Goaltender Tyler Palmer (Everett Silvertips)
WHL U.S. Division Humanitarian of the Year Tyler Palmer has recognized need in the Everett community and has made a lasting impression on the city in his final season of major junior hockey.
The Fernie, B.C. product founded the Tyler Palmer Save Drive, which saw the netminder donate $2 of his own money for every save he recorded from American Thanksgiving to the WHL’s Christmas Break.
With 223 saves, Palmer’s $450 donation was matched by a local partner for a $900 gift to the Faith Food Bank.
Faith Food Bank’s Roxana Bouroujerdi says the group was able to buy 900 pounds of hamburger meat for a much-needed holiday boost. The organization typically sees more than 200 food pickups per week from those in need.
Palmer has connected with local minor hockey players through mentorship and participating in practices, as well as a surprise visit to young goalie Bentley Garlock-Heuer on his 10th birthday.
The second-year Silvertip helped organize a player visit to Providence Comprehensive Breast Center’s cancer treatment ward ahead of the team’s Pink the Rink game in October and garnered nearly $5,000 for the Navy Recruitment District Seattle Officer’s Fund during the annual Tip-a-Tip event.