Twillingate Resident Craig Clarke Honoured as 2010 RBC Local Hockey Leaders For Newfoundland & Labrador

When you want something done ask a busy person. Craig has a full-time job, and is also the Local Volunteer Fire Chief, but yet he is always the first at the rink for practice. He always carries a little portfolio which has everything he needs to make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone is accounted for. He will also accommodate anyone that ask a question while he is there at the rink and will gladly run over to his place of business if anyone wants their skates sharpened ( Something he does at his place of work). He routinely arranges tournaments for the girls and during the tournament keeps everything running smoothly, yet still working an eight hour shift at his place of employment. He never says “no”. I don’t think he knows what that word means.

Ask anyone who Craig has come in contact with, either player, coach, executive, co-workers, etc. and no one will have a bad thing to say about this person. Craig is very organized and always goes the extra mile for every member of his team as well as any other team that may be visiting at the local rink. Craig is a tireless worker as a volunteer with the local girl’s hockey team. Always in the background, but never far away. He goes about his business as manager in a very organized and thoughtful process making sure that everyone receives the attention they deserve. At his place of employment he does sharpen skates and many times during practice or a tournament you can see him running off with a pair of skates to get sharpened for his own team or any other team, and always with a smile and a person who wants no recognition for doing it. He displays the same attitude as the Local Fire Chief with the town’s volunteer fire department. There is no one who leaves the girls hockey team that does not respect Craig and all that he does. However, most only know what he does on the surface. His endless hours of arranging and organizing things is never seen only enjoyed. For example, during a recent hockey tournament he had all the medals, plaques, drinks, etc. donated. He found sponsors and took the time to go to each one and get a donation. He made sure everything was in place with the hospitality room, the door for admission, the referees, the visiting teams, etc. etc. etc. He carries his little red portfolio and in that he keeps everything in a well organized system that keeps him on track with what he needs done. He never leaves “any stone unturned” to make sure everyone is accommodated and looked after. Then when everything is done for the day he runs home with the girls sweaters to make sure they get washed for the next time they need them. Then when everything was over he was the one thanking everyone for their help when he was the one who did the majority of the work. He’s has never asked for a “thank you” and has never asked for any recognition. In fact, when he gets singled out he tends to turn red and shy away. He is what I classify as a “doer”. Some people “talk the talk” but this man “walks the walk” and he doesn’t need to talk about it, he just does it. Our team would be lost without him. I feel that he is very deserving of this award as a volunteer that always goes the extra mile. Many volunteers do their jobs but this man goes way beyond that and at times he is too busy with his job and the fire department, but will never say “no” to anyone, he will always find a way to do what he is asked to do.

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