About Ken Davies

A native of Kendal, Ontario, Ken was born on September 8, 1971.  His outstanding athletic abilities allowed him to excel in many sports.  He was the MVP with the Darlington soccer team, MVP with the senior high school basketball team, MVP with the senior high school volleyball team, and Athlete of the Year at Clarke High School in Newcastle.  He was chosen to the Ontario Provincial Team for the Canada Games in Saskatoon in 1989 which, as he put it, “was the dream of a lifetime”.

Ken’s goals were “to become a national team player and a physical education teacher”, and to that end he worked very hard at both academics and volleyball.  According to his Provincial Team coach, “he was a quietly intense and dedicated worker.  He was one of the most unselfish and coachable players I have ever worked with.” Ken was a quiet individual with a rich inner life.  He liked “to play golf, soccer and read”, however, according to his own words, “it was competition” that was the driving force that led him to engage in highly elite and competitive programs.

Of course, Ken’s idea of playing sports was “to play 100% all the time”.  While returning from a tournament in the fall of 1989, Ken’s life was tragically taken from him by a drunk driver.  His example and memory will always be with us.

Note:  All quotes in bold are taken from Ken’s Provincial Team Athlete Profile form written by him in June 1989.

CRITERIA

The Ken Davies Memorial Award is presented annually to a male Age Division athlete who demonstrates the qualities of determination, leadership, athletic ability and sportsmanship as exemplified by Ken Davies himself.  We ask all coaches to forward a letter of nomination for an athlete who they feel is most deserving.

All player nominations must be received by February 29, 2024 in order to be included in the final award listing. To submit your nomination, fill out the nomination form below.

QUESTIONS: Contact Carrie Campbell, Manager of Indoor Programs at ccampbell@ontariovolleyball.org.