The Darcy Haugan Memorial North American Coach of the Year Award has been named after the late Darcy Haugan.

The award will be presented for the first time this hockey season to Junior Hockey coaches in North America as the award will be presented in May to the Coach of the Year.

One Nominee is selected each month and is voted upon by five-panel members later on in May to decide who will receive the award. Coaches will be selected based on their ability to not only make a difference on the ice but as well as in their communities.

"We have good guys that are in this and they are identifying coaches from the history of the game and are still active and guys that have demonstrated the same ability or technique or concept the Darcy shared," Said, Stephen Heisler, one of the members of the panel.

one of the five-panel members includes Haugan's wife, Christina Haugan.