West Jordan man honored by USA Hockey

Don Korth is a people person. He has given his time to others for over 30 years. Korth, a West Jordan resident, was recently awarded USA Hockey’s highest volunteer honor, the William Thayer Tutt Award. The award is generally given to an individual who displays a selfless dedication to the advancement of ice hockey. Korth has done that on many levels for decades.

Starting as an assistant coach for his son’s team in the late 70s, Korth worked his way through as many coaching camps as he could fit into his busy schedule. He was with Salt Lake County Fire Department almost as long as he has been involved in volunteer coaching. His love for the sport grew as did his resume and his accomplishments.

Korth worked with USA Hockey in 1993 to host the junior nationals. He has coached many teams, including women’s teams and traveling clubs. He is currently a USA Hockey Level 5 coach and the Coaching Education Program Director. Korth organizes nearly 15 coaching clinics a year in order to certify other coaches looking to enhance their skills.

The name Korth alone is synonymous with hockey in the Salt Lake Valley.

“Everybody who plays hockey knows the Korth Rebels; it was always a good organization,” former club player and hockey fanatic Grant Esplin said.

Just this year, Korth started a foundation to assist kids in getting into hockey at entry level called the Korth Rebel Foundation. He wants to focus on coaching education and even player education. “I am working on captains’ training, teaching people to communicate and work together, instead of just choosing team captains and letting them go,” Korth said.

Korth was honored for years of service spanning generations. He has seen his work grow on the ice and beyond. “It is nice to watch kids get older and eventually become adults,” he said. “It’s cool to see people at the rink who you’ve been involved with,”

Nearly a dozen players from a juniors team Korth coached in the early 1980s are still involved with hockey, some coaching high school and traveling teams. “It’s not just about hockey, it is really about people and players,” Korth said fondly.

He is proud of the award and his accomplishments, but quickly gives credit to all who have supported him in his ventures along the way. “I am humbled, but it would have never happened without support and friends,” Korth said. Through the Tutt Award, he has had many opportunities to work with others throughout the western United States and Canada. He was even honored by the Utah Grizzlies on Nov. 12 with Don Korth Hockey Night, being given the chance to drop the puck at center ice.

At 68, Korth still feels he has a lot to offer to the sport of hockey and those interested in the game. He wants to continue building player skills from the bottom up. He isn’t planning retirement from the ice, either; he wants to be involved for a long time, “Hopefully forever,” he said.