In 1990 the Sawyer family approached Mitchell Minor Sports regarding the setting up of a suitable award in the memory of Bruce Sawyer, a longtime Mitchell sportsman, coach, referee and an executive member of Minor Sports. He, along with his wife Ruth, sat on the early executives of Mitchell Minor Sports, and served as president of minor hockey, chairman of the Mitchell Pee Wee hockey tournament, coach and manager of several minor hockey and junior and senior hockey.

In 1988 Bruce Sawyer was diagnosed with leukemia and after battling for almost two years, died June 5, 1990.

His legacy lives on. Every year a number of young people are recognized for their involvement in Mitchell Minor Sports.

This article has been reproduced with permission from Mitchell Advocate.