An evening to celebrate minor hockey took place recently at Evergreen Theatre, Powell River Recreation Complex. Awards were presented to players, coaches and officials in front of an audience of family and friends, avid supporters of the game.
Powell River Minor Hockey Association involves children from kindergarten through to grade 12, with house and rep teams for Atom, Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget and female divisions. Three stars are awarded to members of each team, with trophies to a select few. Warren Behan emceed the evening and special guest Brad Bombardir was on stage to present various awards to hockey stars.
Unless otherwise stated, the players’ trophies were awarded for sportsmanship, dedication and all around hockey ability plus academic achievement. The trophies were awarded as follows:
Dennis Clancy Memorial Trophy—Spirit of the Game award: Isaac Shelton. This trophy, donated by the Clancy family, is awarded annually to the Atom age player who best exemplifies spirit of the game.
Rick Hopper Pee Wee House Player of the Year Award: Keegan and Carter Chard-Hill.
Brandon Kremsater Memorial Plaque—Pee Wee rep player of the year: Keaton Mastrodonato.
Brad Bombardir Bantam House Player of the Year Award: Kent Gassen.
Gary Lupul Memorial Plaque—Bantam Rep Player of the Year: Jayden Saban.
Sokolowski Award—Graduating Midget: Richard Tattersall. Donated by Powell River RCMP detachment in memory of Constable Doug Sokolowski, this award is given to a graduating Midget hockey player who has demonstrated the most sportsmanship, desire for fair play and respect in the program.
Powell River Kings—Midget House Player of the Year: Keenan Wilson.
Don Smisko Memorial Award—Midget Rep Player of the Year: Bret Yungen. This was the first year the award had been presented, in honour of longtime hockey volunteer Don Smisko who died over the winter. In receiving his award, Yungen expressed his deep appreciation for the role the association has played in his life.
Coaches’ awards were presented to those who best demonstrated dedication, sportsmanship and leadership qualities:
Dustin Clark Memorial Trophy—Junior Coach of the Year: shared by Traci Abbott and Jodi Mastrodonato.
Harvey Small Award—Senior Coach of the Year: Geoff Jones.
Officials’ awards were awarded for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in officiating minor hockey games in Powell River:
Jack Hildebrand Plaque: Brett Kinley.
Mike Fraser Plaque—Junior Official of the Year: shared by Brett Martin and Bradley Ford.
Luke Bombardir Plaque—Senior Official of the Year: Ed Spreeuw.
Bill Dodsworth Memorial Plaque—Most Dedicated Official of the Year: Bob Nicol.
Frank Sutton Memorial Award—Volunteer of the Year: Patrick Devereaux. This award was donated by the Regals to the volunteer who showed most dedicated service to the promotion of minor hockey in Powell River.
