Former Chilliwack Chiefs president Glen Ringdal is heading to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame announced Ringdal as this year’s recipient of the W.A.C. Bennett Award on Tuesday morning (May 7.) The award is given to those who have made remarkable contributions to the sport community.
Ringdal took on the role of president, as well as CEO of the Chilliwack Coliseum, back in July 2011, following the original Chiefs moving to Langley to become the Rivermen with the Quesnel Millionaires of the PCJHL then relocating to become the new Chilliwack-based team.
It wasn’t the easiest of tasks for the former executive. He recalls his early days with the franchise in 2011 that saw him work countless 10-12 hour days.
“I was renting an apartment in Chilliwack for five years while my wife (Sherry) was still back in Coquitlam looking after her aging father,” he recalled.
“I had to drive back and forth a lot…too often I was almost falling asleep driving home in the evenings.”
During his tenure as president, he oversaw a successful stretch for the franchise which culminated in 11 playoff appearances in his 13 seasons including an RBC Cup Championship victory in 2018.
On the business side of things, the team saw an immense level of growth under Ringdal’s leadership. Potential that he believed was always there.
“The one thing I think is really important is where our attendance has gotten to relative to all other junior clubs in Canada,” he said. “We’ve always been in the top two or three, and several years we’ve been number one, and I think that’s a real achievement.
“I always thought there was a bonafide love for hockey in Chilliwack, and if we put the right package together people would come out and support it, and I think the numbers show that.”
Ringdal stepped down from his position as president of the team and CEO of the Coliseum back in 2019 to enjoy retirement in California.
READ MORE: Glen Ringdal retires as president of Chilliwack Chiefs and Prospera Centre
A total of 11 athletes, media members and teams join Ringdal in this year’s class.
The inductees are set to be recognized at the Honoured Members Reception taking place on Wednesday, May 15, at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in the B.C. Place Stadium.
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–from Chilliwack Progress Files