The Smithers Minor Hockey Association held its annual awards ceremony last Wednesday at the Della Herman theatre, putting the finishing touches on another successful season of Smithers hockey.
President Dave Turko welcomed the crowd, beginning by thanking all the coaches, referees, division managers, players, parents and volunteers for the support, help and time.
The first set of awards was given to the most improved, most sportsmanlike and most dedicated players on each team in the peewee, bantam and midget divisions, boys and girls divisions.
After that, eight major awards were handed out.
First up, Roy Arnold presented the Lee W. Arnold Memorial award, given to the most inspirational player in the peewee division. Along with the trophy, the winner received a gift certificate to a hockey school of their choice. Ethan Tucker from the rep-team and Nigel Mortimer from the house team were announced as winners.
Following that, Michelle Logan announced Luke West as the winner of the Roger Logan Memorial Award.
“The Roger Logan Memorial Award is presented to the peewee house player who demonstrates that he or she is playing hockey for the love of the game,” she said.
“They are a team player, not necessarily the best player or highest scorer, but someone who is respected on and off the ice and in turn has respect for everyone around him/her.”
Dave Turko came back to the stage to present Dion Fowler from the rep team and Alex Periera from the house team with the Bill Robinson Memorial Award to the most sportsmanlike player in the bantam division.
Up next, Lucy Lorenzon presented the Pietro Lorenzon Memorial Trophy to the most coachable player in the bantam division.
“This award is in honour of Pietro Lorenzon who is remembered as being a fun loving, faithful and coachable player,” she said.
“This trophy was made by Warner Naziel who said it was an honour for him. The face is a wolf because Pietro belonged to the wolf clan. It represents the connection between Pietro, who was a First Nations person, and his love for hockey. “
This year’s winners were Kevin Fillier from the rep team and Brett McGregor and James Fallows from the house teams.
The Mark Greene Memorial was presented to Simon Kiskila and David Cresswell, the most inspirational player in the midget division.
“Mark was a well known player and friend of all in Smithers. He was killed in a motor vehicle accident in 1985,” Turko said. “The memorial was set up by the Bulkley Hotel in memory of Mark.”
Aaron William then presented the Warren William Memorial Award to the unsung heroes of the midget division, who demonstrated a positive attitude and dedication.
Wyatt Vanderheyden and Coletryn Michell were chosen from their respective teams.
The evening wrapped up with two of the biggest awards.
First, the female hockey player of the year, presented to the Rugged Edge’s Sarah Lazzarotto by Outback Promotions’ Otto Koldyk.
“This award’s recipient exemplifies a strongly positive, respected and admirable hockey player within the female hockey division. She is well regarded by her teammates on and off the ice for her sense of camaraderie and spirit.”
“Her gifted athletic ability allowed her significant improvement throughout the season and her spot on the team was never in question as she arrived to each team function with an encouraging smile, and an attitude that made each player on the team better,” Rugged Edge head coach Troy Larden said.
Finally, Bruce Elliott presented the Goalie of the Year award to the Midget Storm’s Clay Kiiskila.
“Clay is entirely desiring of this honor,” head coach Brendan Hutchinson said. “I have gotten to know, trust and respect him a great deal over the last three seasons as his coach. Through his own effort and perseverance, he established himself as our team’s backbone. I truly look up to and model myself after his amazing attributes; he is inarguably the greatest role model I can recommend for young athletes in our community.”
Hutchinson was later awarded with the Volunteer/Coach of the Year award and Bill Maskiewich was given the Rob and Belinda Layfield award for the SMHA member showing “hard work and perseverance for the good of the association as a whole.”
To finish off the evening, the graduating midget players came to the stage to say their thank yous.
Though the 2013-14 season is finished, the next one is approaching quickly. Smithers Minor Hockey will host its AGM at the Aspen on May 22 at 7 pm.
Team award winners:
Peewee division Dairy Queen Medal Winners: Most Improved Player – Connor Stewart, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Mackinley Unruh, Most Dedicated Player – JR Lecourt;
Peewee division, L.B. Paving Storm Medal Winners: Most Improved Player – Torin Cumiskey, Most Sportsmanlike Player- Russel Borrett, Most Dedicated Player – Keelan Frocklage;
Bantam Division Bassani Fuels Medal Winners: Most Improved Player – Ewan Morgan, Most Sportsmanlike Player- Liam Marshall, Most Dedicated Player – Joel Nikal;
BV Wholesale girls bantams Medal Winners: Most Improved Player – Hannah Pow, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Michael Kingston, Most Dedicated Player – Chloe Wray;
Bantam Division Hoskins Ford Storm medal winners: Most Improved Player – Nolan Watson, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Anthony Louie, Most Dedicated Player – Adam Kingsmill
Midget division BV Castle Home Centre medal winners: Most Improved Player – Scott Hawkins, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Sebastian Lowe, Most Dedicated Player – Linden Dykens;
Midget division Frontier Rams medal winners: Most Improved Player – Ryder Gale, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Branden Burnett-McCreary, Most Dedicated Player – Mathew Zemenchik;
Midget division Smokescreen Graphics Storm medal winners: Most Improved Player - Shawn Cote, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Braydon Karrer; Most Dedicated Player – Riley Coish;
Midget division Rugged Edge Female Medal Winers: Most Improved Player – Keely Williams, Most Sportsmanlike Player – Carli Wardrop, Most Dedicated Player – Sarah Lazzarotto.