ELK POINT – All six Elk Point Avalanche hockey teams were in the spotlight on April 15 as players, coaching staff and families packed the Elk Point Allied Arts for the awards banquet, with A. G. Ross Arena icemaker, caretaker and Zamboni operator Brian Poitras in his once-a-year role as master of ceremonies and hockey historian.
First on stage were Zach Mackinnon and his U7 crew, which he said learned “confidence and skills that will last forever. We were short in numbers but we could rise to the occasion.” Awards went to Most Improved player Bobbi Holthe, Most Team Spirit Krew Mudryk and Most Dedicated Player Rylan Allan.
U9
Aaron Aarbo, who is part of the Arena board as well as the U9 coach, thanked all the directors and volunteers who support minor hockey throughout the season, along with the referees, noting, “Hockey doesn’t run without referees.” After a season that included 44 skill-honing practices, he had a name and award for every player: Blue Line Standout Jaxtyn Krankowsky, Rookie of the Year Khaill Cook, Crossover King Mason Weir, Shutdown King Cayson Younghans, The Moose – Tucker Pankiw, The Flash – Knox Mudryk, The Grinder – William Farrell, Most Sportsmanlike – Junywe Chan, Most Improved Skater – Sunwoo Jung, Best Attitude – Mya Lorenson, Little Miss Sticks-to-it – Aspyn Paliwoda, Tow Shelf Sniper- Gavin Brousseau, Most Team Spirit – Gunnar Kelly, Most Dedicated – Axyl Aarbo, Most Improved – Winston Ung.
U11
The U11 Avalanche is a team with awesome scoring and assist statistics, Poitras said, Jase Malo with 96 goals, 32 assists, Aspyn Kelly the only female on the top scoring list, with 61 goals, 21 assists and Cohen Brousseau, 41 goals, 21 assists, before turning over the microphone to coach Matt Kelly. The team started in Tier 4 and ended in Tier 2, winning two tournaments, Kelly said. “An un-coachable kid becomes an unemployable adult.” Kael Large was the team’s slap shot specialist, Raden Savadra the most consistent, Brady Heathcote the most positive, Damian Ockerman the bruiser, Jay Large the unsung hero, Christian Yaremkevich the most versatile, Thomas Morris the goal screener, Maximus Laliberte the best playmaker, Blake Fontaine the most dedicated, goalie Benjamin Saddleback the most improved, Landon St. Arnault the most team spirit, Cohen Brousseau the Rookie of the Year, Aspyn Kelly the best offence player and Jase Malo the best defence player.
U13
Jeff Koppang’s U13 team includes glove-hand speed award winner Lee Barstad, Mikey L’Heureux with his hard shots, MVP Hudson Brousseau, offensive rookie of the year Tor Aarbo, Cadence Blacklock with the best attitude, Grayson Koppang with the best eye for opportunity and Rookie of the Year, Hunter Pankiw, Best Offensive award winner, Frank Killam, hardest shot and Team Spirit winner Jaydn Sakowsky the speed rocket, Hudson Krankowsky, scoring MVP, Delaney Swedgan, Ethan Lorenson, Best Defensive award. Stetson Reynolds, Most Improved, Lennox St. Arnault, backchecking MVP and Thomas Melnyk, best on breakaways and Most Dedicated.
U15
Shane Smith’s U15 Avalanche also added up some impressive scoring statistics, Wyatt Fontaine with 41 goals and 37 assists, Remington Reynolds with 23 goals and 25 assists, Cade Elliot 17 goals and 32 assists and Tristan Brousseau 25 goals and 19 assists. “We were in Tier 2 and we had a great year.” Cade Elliot was named Rookie of the Year, Wyatt Fontaine the top Offensive player, Grayson Skakun the top Defensive player, Jaxon Marcoux the Most Dedicated Player, Liam Swedgan the Most Improved Player and Tristan Brousseau winning the Team Spirit awards.
U18
“It was an honour to coach you guys,” Jeff Morgan told the U18 Avalanche. “After six tiering games, we ended up in Tier 2 and were up for a serious challenge. We ended up second in the league, with 11 wins, seven losses, two ties and won our first round of playoffs. When Whitecourt came here, we tied 2-2, when we went to Whitecourt we lost 8-3, and that hurt. But we stuck together as a team and made memories you’ll never forget.” He named Kaleb Flamand as the Most Dedicated, Timmy Cardinal as Most Team Spirit, Anton Braithwaite as Most Improved, Gunner Crawford, with 31 goals and 23 assists as top Offensive Player, Madden Flamand as top Defensive Player and Trace Morgan as Rookie of the Year.
Two more awards wrapped up the evening, with Lennox St. Arnault receiving the Alex Kurash Memorial Award and U15 goalie Owen Grykuliak winning the Goals Against Goaltender award after stopping 370 of 406 shots during the season.
Morgan added thanks to Margaret Bayduza, Jody and Shane Smith, and to all who were part of the fundraising for the new ice plant.
Brian Poitras had the evening’s last words, however, with thanks to everyone who made this another great hockey season to remember, including Sportshound and timekeeper Doug Bassett and this reporter.
