WINNIPEG – Nominees for the MJHL’s six major awards have been finalized, Commissioner Kim Davis announced today. Four members of the Winkler Flyers organization have been singled out for their contributions this season.
“Each team submitted a nominee for the awards and the league’s 11 coaches subsequently conducted a vote,” explained Davis. “Each of the nominees should be very proud of their accomplishment.”
The respective winners will be announced later this week. The Mike Ridley Award, given to league’s top point producer, will be known when the regular season comes to an end.
Winkler Goaltender Cole Weaver has been nominated for both Rookie of the Year and Top Goaltender Award as the Champlin, Minnesota native sits near the top of the MJHL in wins, shutouts, save percentage and goals against average.
20 year old forward Scott Gall has been nominated for the Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship Award which recognizes skill and sportsmanship. The Morden, Manitoba product leads the team with 50 points through 44 games with 18 penalty minutes in his fourth season with the team.
Defenseman Lawson McDonald is one of three players up for the Top Defenseman Award. The Rosetown, Manitoba natives leads all Manitoba Junior Hockey League Defensemen with 45 points and leads the Flyers with 37 assists. He is also the team leader in plus/minus.
Flyers Head Coach and General Manager Ken Pearson has been nominated for the MJHL’s Coach of the Year Award for the second straight season after helping the team increase their spot in the standings consistently over the past few seasons.
The Flyers would like to congratulate all four men for their nominations and wish them the best of luck when the winners are announced this week.
The award finalists are:
MVP Award – Steve “Boomer” Hawrysh Memorial Trophy
- Mackenzie Graham – Steinbach Pistons
- Chase Brakel – Portage Terriers
- Brady Keeper – OCN Blizzard
Rookie of the Year Award – Vince Leah Trophy
- Riese Gaber – Dauphin Kings
- Will Koop – Steinbach Pistons
- Cole Weaver – Winkler Flyers
Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship Award – Lorne “Windy” Lyndon Memorial Trophy
- Jeremey Leipsic – Portage Terriers
- Scott Gall – Winkler Flyers
- Justin Metcalf – Neepawa Natives
Top Goaltender Award
- Hayden Dola – Selkirk Steelers
- Cole Weaver – Winkler Flyers
- Roman Bengert – Steinbach Pistons
Top Defenseman Award – Brian Kozak Memorial Trophy
- Brady Keeper -OCN Blizzard
- Tyler Anderson – Steinbach Pistons
- Lawson McDonald – Winkler Flyers
Top Scorer Award – Mike Ridley Trophy
- TBA at a later date
Coach of the Year Award – Portage Terriers “Muzz McPherson” Award
- Paul Dyck – Steinbach Pistons
- Ken Pearson – Winkler Flyers
- Doug Hedley – OCN Blizzard
-selections of this story taken from www.mjhlhockey.ca