Barrie native named OHL Humanitarian of the Year

NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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Jacob Ingham of the Kitchener Rangers is the 2019-20 recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy awarded to the OHL Humanitarian of the Year presented by Kia.

Ingham joins Ben Fanelli (2012-13) as the second player in Rangers franchise history to be recognized with the award, spearheading a movement that has inspired the hockey community to become more involved in donating blood and stem cells in support of Canadian Blood Services.

Inspired by his grandparents' need for blood donations following a car accident in August 2018, Ingham became the first-ever Player Ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood and subsequently received the inaugural Dayna Brons Honorary Award as a result of his charitable efforts. He raised upwards of $26,000 for Canadian Blood Services through a combination of his 'Jake Saves' campaign in addition to extensive work in the community.

Ingham, who wears the number 68 (6-Give, 8-Blood), organized a 68 Day Blood Drive that resulted in 40 blood donations between January 24 and March 31. Through Jacob's influence both in the community and over social media, 14 Canadian Hockey League players followed in becoming Hockey Gives Blood Player Ambassadors throughout the course of the season.

"The Kia Humanitarian of the Year award is a recognition of players who have devoted their time to the communities they represent," said Michael Kopke, Director of Marketing at Kia Canada. "We would like to congratulate Jacob Ingham for winning the OHL Kia Humanitarian of the Year award. Kia Canada is committed to Powering the Future of Hockey and is honoured to acknowledge and reward players like Jacob who display their commitment to community."

Ingham's charitable spirit was also evident in his regular provision of signed memorabilia for community fundraising events, his frequent presence at Rangers community appearances and autograph sessions as well as school and hospital visits. Even in his spare time, Ingham was in constant contact with the Rangers front office, actively pitching new ideas to shed further light on the importance of blood and stem cell donation.

"I want to express my gratitude for the honour of being named the OHL’s Humanitarian of the Year," said Ingham. "I am proud to play a small part in the incredible community response to supporting the need for blood in Ontario and throughout Canada.

Thank you to the Kitchener Rangers organization and the greatest fans in the OHL for all their support," he added. "I also want to send a sincere thank you to Hockey Gives Blood, Canadian Blood Services, and the Brons family for all their inspiration over the last two years. As a hockey community, we can make a difference.”

The 19-year-old from Barrie, Ont. was the team's backbone on the ice, leading the OHL in wins (33) and saves (1,501) while posting a 2.96 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts over 46 games. Ingham earned the Rangers' Jim Malleck Memorial Trophy as the club's Most Valuable Player and signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 198Ib. goaltender owns a career OHL record of 93-61-9-8 with a 3.23 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and five shutouts over 177 regular season games spent between Kitchener and Mississauga. He was originally the Steelheads' second round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection from the Barrie Colts minor midgets.

"Jacob is an extremely deserving recipient of this award and we are very proud of him," said Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie. "It was impressive to see him have such an impact off the ice and in the community. He put in a lot of time and effort throughout the year and it’s great to see him get recognized and rewarded for it."

Each year the OHL awards a player that has demonstrated outstanding qualities as a positive role model in the community with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy. The Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors announced in 2004 that the OHL Humanitarian of the Year award would be renamed in recognition of the former Owen Sound Platers captain, who was twice named his team’s Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his tremendous efforts in supporting community activities.

Past recipients include Chris Terry and Ryan Hayes who represented the Plymouth Whalers with back-to-back awards in 2009 and 2010 respectively, before Jack Walchessen and Andrew D’Agostini of the Peterborough Petes won in 2011 and 2012. Ben Fanelli (Kitchener 2013), Scott Simmonds (Belleville 2014), Nick Paul (North Bay 2015), and Will Petschenig (Saginaw 2016) are also among recent award recipients before Garrett McFadden of the Guelph Storm became the first player to be recognized twice in 2017 and 2018. Nicholas Canade of the Mississauga Steelheads was the 2019 award recipient.

Ingham will be the OHL's nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Humanitarian of the Year Award to be announced in the coming weeks.

From Canadian Blood Services CEO Dr. Graham Shier:
"The difference that Jacob has helped make in the lives of patients across the country since joining the Hockey Gives Blood movement and Canada’s Lifeline has quite literally been game-changing. His significant fundraising achievements and efforts to mobilize the hockey community to donate blood and stem cells will have a huge and lasting impact for patients who rely on these life essentials.

"Jacob’s commitment to patients has made him an inspiring role model within the Canadian Hockey League and we are so grateful to see how his efforts have started a lifesaving domino effect among his fellow players and hockey community. Congratulations on this very well-deserved honour, Jacob – keep making saves and saving lives!"

From Hockey Gives Blood President Stu Middleton:
"We appreciate the OHL taking the time to recognize Jacob Ingham for the work he has done this past season. The acknowledgement of peer influencers and community advocates like Jacob is essential to the sustainability of volunteerism nationwide.

Jacob has far exceeded the basic responsibility we all share and has inspired both young and old to be better people and better citizens. We continue to wish Jacob the best of luck in the next chapter of his career and congratulate him on winning the Ontario Hockey League Humanitarian of the Year."

2019-20 Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Nominees:
Barrie Colts - Aidan Brown
Erie Otters - Jack Duff
Flint Firebirds - Jack Phibbs*
Guelph Storm - Cam Hillis
Hamilton Bulldogs - Kade Landry
Kingston Frontenacs - Braden Haché
Kitchener Rangers - Jacob Ingham
London Knights - Hunter Skinner
Mississauga Steelheads - Nicholas Canade*^
Niagara IceDogs - Ivan Lodnia
North Bay Battalion - Nick Grima
Oshawa Generals - Mitchell Brewer
Ottawa 67's - Noel Hoefenmayer
Owen Sound Attack - Mark Woolley
Peterborough Petes - Hunter Jones*
Saginaw Spirit - Blade Jenkins
Sarnia Sting - Sam Bitten
Soo Greyhounds - Cole MacKay
Sudbury - Quinton Byfield
Windsor - Connor Corcoran