Tom Korpolinski Award

(The Tom Korpolinski Award recognizes an individual who has served at the grassroots level within the district and exudes the qualities and class of commitment to the sport that Tom so humbly possessed.)

Tyler Wagenet
Ithaca Youth Hockey Association

Tyler Wagenet has been involved with Ithaca Youth Hockey for the past 13 years as a parent/coach, and 11 years as a board member, including the previous three years as the association’s president.

In addition to serving as president, Wagenet has served as the Association Initiation Coordinator, 8U Coordinator and ACE Coordinator.

He has coached players at all levels from 6U through 16U. In 2023, he was responsible for bringing the IHS varsity girls’ hockey team back into existence after a potential removal of the program post-Covid.

Wagenet served as the head coach of the tournament-bound 12U AA team and the IHS Varsity Girls' Hockey Team, which meant spending many consecutive days in a rink, sometimes multiple times a day.

He revitalized Try Hockey for Free Day in Ithaca, making it an annual community event and keeping the Learn to Play program free for skaters by soliciting donations from local businesses to offset costs. These efforts have successfully brought new skaters into the Ithaca hockey community.