Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith earned the Norris Trophy at last night’s NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas. The annual award is presented to the top defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.

During his acceptance speech, Keith thanked Okanagan Hockey School / Academy coach Rob McLaughlin for helping him develop as a player.

“I want to thank all my coaches for believing in me,” Keith said during his acceptance speech. “A special thank-you to a couple coaches: Trent Yawney and Rob McLaughlin for everything they’ve done and taught me over the years.”

McLaughlin is the Head Power Skating instructor with the Okanagan Hockey School and Head Coach of the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s Bantam team. He coached Keith for two years, from ages 14-15 in Penticton.

"When Duncan moved to Penticton [at 14] he was very agile, had great mobility," said McLaughlin. "He wasn\'t a big kid by any means, but he worked very hard and he had that passion to win. I saw great, great potential in him, but to see how far he\'s come, the great accomplishments he\'s made ... I feel blessed to have coached a great person like that. The precision with which he uses his stick and the way he sees the ice...there\'s just no one else in the NHL quite like him. "

Keith credits McLaughlin with improving his skating stride, a trait that Keith is well known for today.

"I wouldn\'t be here today without the help I got from Rob McLaughlin, who helped me improve my stride using plyometrics,” Keith said in an interview with NHL.com. “I noticed improvements on the ice right after just a week with Rob. It was like I\'d gained an extra step or two I didn\'t have before.”


Click here to watch Duncan Keith’s acceptance speech.

Click here for information on Rob McLaughlin’s Power Skating camps.