THUNDER BAY – A Thunder Bay football coach has earned a builder award from Football Canada.
Ryan Bliznikas, vice-president of the Thunder Bay Minor Football Association, was awarded the honour on Thursday.
Football Canada said Bliznikas has been “instrumental in bringing learning, coaching and playing opportunities to teams in Thunder Bay through his extensive networking with other provinces and organizations.
“It could be said that Ryan saved the 2020 season by introducing flag football in the spring, which resulted in a record number of participants, and notably, a record number of first-time female players.”
The builder award was one of four given out.
Calgary’s Melissa Roth, the director of the Calgary Bantam Football Association, was named volunteer of the year. Organization of the Year went to Saskatoon Minor Football, while the community MVP was Isaac Pepin of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmuaure, Que., who has been leading the charge to get kids playing sports again.
