Rangers’ Bienkowski recognized with the Bill Long Award
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that former long-time Kitchener Rangers Chief Operating Officer and Governor Steve Bienkowski is the recipient of the Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service presented in recognition and appreciation of outstanding contributions to the OHL.
The award was presented Wednesday night at the annual OHL Board of Governors meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“Steve’s combination of knowledge, hard work and dedication to the Kitchener Rangers and the Ontario Hockey League cannot be overstated,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “His care, consideration and leadership have always been driven towards the ultimate goal of prioritizing the most important people in our game, and that’s the players. Throughout Steve’s time in Kitchener, the Rangers organization accomplished tremendous things on and off the ice, and much of that success can be attributed to his leadership in their day-to-day operations.”
Originally from Oshawa, Ont., Bienkowski served as Rangers Chief Operating Officer over 18 seasons from 2002-2020 following six years on the club’s Executive Committee. During his tenure as COO, Bienkowski oversaw tremendous success on the ice including an OHL championship and Memorial Cup title in 2003 along with another J. Ross Robertson Cup crown in 2008 paired with a successful bid to host the Memorial Cup, one that saw the Rangers reach the Championship Final. Additionally, Bienkowski spearheaded extensive upgrades and expansion to spectator seating, video scoreboard technology and player facilities at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in 2012. Under his leadership, the Rangers saw their average attendance increase from 3,500 to 6,800 and formed numerous new long term local and national brand sponsorships. He was named the OHL’s Executive of the Year in both 2003 and 2012, and was recognized with Kitchener-Waterloo’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2011 before being inducted into the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame in 2019.
A strong believer in contributing to the community, Bienkowski is a recipient of the Order of St. John from the Governor General of Canada in recognition of his many years of volunteer work with St. John Ambulance. His tenure as Rangers Chief Operating Officer also saw the formation of partnerships with community organizations such as the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association (Jr. Rangers and Lady Rangers programs), the Cambridge IceHounds, and the Kitchener Ice Pirates (inclusive hockey programs), the KW Poppy Fund (Remembrance Day jerseys), Grand River Hospital and numerous other not-for-profit initiatives.
Bienkowski’s Rangers involvement also extends to time on the ice. The former goaltender played for the Blueshirts over two seasons from 1979-81 after breaking into the League with his hometown Oshawa Generals. He was part of the Rangers’ first OHL championship team in 1981, one that also included the likes of Brian Bellows and Al MacInnis. Following his time in the OHL, Bienkowski attended Wilfrid Laurier University where he played for the men’s hockey program and would graduate to join Ernst & Young as a chartered (CPA, CA) accountant in 1986, eventually becoming Vice President.
The Bill Long Award now has 22 recipients since initiated in 1989 to commemorate the efforts and contributions of Bill Long during his days in the Ontario Hockey League, spanning over three decades as a coach and manager of the Niagara Falls Flyers, Ottawa 67’s and London Knights. The most recent recipients of the award have included late former Kingston Frontenacs and Belleville Bulls Coach/GM Larry Mavety (2018), former Peterborough Petes executive Pat Casey (2016) and long-time Owen Sound Attack Business Manager Ray McKelvie (2013).
For more information, please contact:
Josh Sweetland
Director, Communications
Ontario Hockey League
416-299-8700 ext. 327
[email protected]
