Congrats are in order for Jonathan Bendorf '99 on winning the 2017-18 Community Service Award in the North American Hockey League! His dedication to giving back to the community is a terrific recognition, and all of us with Virtua Hockey are proud of this achievement! 

Below is the description about his award from the NAHL:

2017-18 Community Service Award: Jonathan Bendorf, Aberdeen Wings
Jonathan understands the value of giving back, and continues to go above and beyond for the team. He never has to be asked to participate, and often shows up when not requested. It is never a question when it comes to who to send to an event, as Jonathan always steps up and volunteers. He is truly unique when it comes to his passion for the community. He was acquired in a trade, which Coach Scott Langer hails as one of the best trades he has made in his career. He is a tremendous locker room guy, who excels in every way, and motivates his teammates to give back to the community. This season, the Aberdeen Wings have completed thousands of hours of community service between players, staff, and volunteers. One of the appearances the players do each season, is to the non-profit Aspire, an organization supports people with disabilities of all types. After one appearance there, Jonathan took it upon himself to organize a group of guys that visited Aspire every week. The difference this has made in Aspire client’s lives is tremendous. From throwing darts, doing spin art, playing BINGO, and just hanging out, the relationships developed are truly special. Each year the team focuses on spending a large amount of their time making a difference in the community, and Jonathan has been a driving force around growing this. The Wings have team appearances at the School for the Blind, Aspire, the YMCA, helping victims of domestic abuse, waiting tables for the community theater, and spreading awareness by participating in the Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention 5k. This season, they Wings also held a jersey auction for the Shriners, and were able to donate over $20,000 back into the community. "Jonathan is committed to being at as many community events possible and his compassion and heart in the community is a huge reason why he is a fan favorite in Aberdeen. Jonathan truly makes a difference each time he steps into the community, and the Wings are proud to have him wearing their logo and representing the team," said Wings head coach Scott Langer.

To see all of the NAHL awards, including Jonathan's, click here for the NAHL news story!