When Doug Collins first introduced the Cowboy of the Year award in 1997, like so many other things about the Cowboys, he had no idea just what he was starting, having no really thought through the implications of such an annual award.

The award is given to the individual who best serves the Cowboys Hockey Club in that season, demonstrating the attributes and qualities etched on the award: "Heart, strength and dedication. A leader, a competitor, a gentleman."

Jeff Cruickshank was the unanimous choice of a committee of one, but this executive decision was made with the full understanding that everyone would agree that Jeff's contribution and commitment to the team, as long time coach, was well deserved. Jeff would be the leader in a parade of Cowboys of the Year to follow, growing one by one each year to form a sort of elite fraternity of Cowboys.

In the following year the committee grew to two, with Doug and Jeff getting together to elect Dave Fontaine as Cowboy of the Year. But come presentation night, Jeff spun the table and rather than announcing the expected Cowboy of the Year, he awarded Doug Collins, long standing team manager with the award. Of course, the following year, Dave Fontaine was given his deserved honour.

It was to be the mandate for the award for all previous and current Cowboys of the Year to decide together and unanimously who who be the succeeding Cowboy of the Year. Herein lay the problem and the enjoyment of the selection process. At the start, it was rather simple, a few Cowboys of the Year would gather briefly after a game, in the hall or the referees change room and make their choice. Later it went to a ballot that included second and third ballots until 100% agreement had been established. It was never that difficult a choice, except, because it had to be unanimous and no one would ever vote for themselves, it was somewhat impossible for anyone to be Cowboy of the Year more than once. This was probably a good thing, but as you can see, the committee would grow each year. A meeting it the referees room was no longer practical, so Doug Collins (again not thinking ahead) invited all the Cowboys of the Years and the wives to his home for a "Delegation Dinner" and vote. It was his full intention to do this every year, but someone wisely suggested that the task of hosting should be shared and be the responsibility of the outgoing Cowboy of the Year for the following year.

This worked very well and became a much look forward to evening each year for those so fortunate to be invited, but by the time the delegation and their wives reached more than 20 people, the vote became influenced to select the next Cowboy of the Year based on how big his house was! When it came to Cory May's turn, he had to build a new house just to fit us all in, and he barely got it done on time.

The following as the meeting spilled out onto the yard and common area of Lawrence Bourke's condo, and wise decision was finally made. It was time the Delegation Dinner went to a proper catered establishment and we would all share the cost. This was a timely decision. There was a bit of a delay awarding the Cowboy of the Year to Dave Harkness that year which eventually collided with a couple of tragic events. In the summer that Harkness would have received the award, our former goaltender and much beloved Bill Frame lost his life to cancer. The Dave Harkness' award of Cowboy of the Year would eventually be deferred to the following year and the 2008-2009 honour was bestowed posthumously to Billy. The next Delegation dinner was hosted in the Steveston Salmon House Restaurant, which worked out well consider that it would have been Billy's turn to host.

The following summer, another great Cowboy was lost. Duncan May, father of players Ron, Randy, Dave, Hap and Glen, uncle to a few other players and a dear friend to all Cowboys, passed away. Dubbed the "Cowboy Daddy" Duncan was loved by all and more a part of the team then he could ever understand. It was no secret that the inscribed attributes of Cowboy of the Year were in fact inspired by the very character of Duncan May. For that reason, it was most appropriate that the award was renamed to "The Cowboy Daddy Award for Cowboy of the Year".

For a Cowboy, this award is most prestigious. To earn it you will find yourself in good company and you must be humbled to be recognized to possess such emblematic characteristics. Plus, you get to go to a really good dinner party every year!