One of the trophies handed out last Friday (April 21) at the Grizzlys annual awards banquet didn't go to a guy who laces up a pair of skates before each game.
Instead the Bob Hill Memorial Award went to the team's chiropractor, Dr. Michael Lentz.
Before presenting it, the Grizzlys head coach Dana Lattery said there were three ways to qualify for the award.
"It can be given to somebody who volunteers a lot of time. It can be given to somebody who volunteers a lot of time. And it can be given to somebody who volunteers a lot of time."
Turns out, Lentz qualifies for all three. He has been volunteering his time and services with the team for 17 years, showing up at the rink weekly to treat every last player.
"It actually blows my mind how much he is here literally to serve our players," said Lattery as he presented the award. "And I don't even think our guys know how much good he does for them."
Lentz was born and raised in Didsbury. After studying chiropractic in Missouri, he opened up Lentz Chiropractic in Olds in 2000. He played some minor hockey when he was younger, and was interested in sports and treating players, so in his first year of practice he contacted the Grizzlys team coach. They didn't have a chiropractor, and Lentz has been with them ever since.
"I just enjoy it," he said. "Hopefully I can help them out a little bit and be part of the team in some way."
But Lentz says this team is built on volunteers, and there are many other deserving people that could have received this award.
"I was really surprised and shocked and don't feel like I deserve it, because there are so many other people that put in so many hours and so much time to make this team work."
Lattery might have predicted that response, saying the best way to describe Lentz is that he just wants to serve.
"If you spend five minutes with Dr. Lentz he won't tell you anything about himself, but he'll ask every thing about you.
"You think human nature is to always ask the question what's in it for you, and he defies the odds in that question.
"There's very few people like that left and I just wanted to honour him at the award banquet and say ëthanks for doing what you do and to know we appreciate you.'"
"It actually blows my mind how much he is here literally to serve our players and I don't even think our guys know how much good he does for them."DANA LATTERYGRIZZLYS HEAD COACH
