Lucas Punkari
Grade 12 student Tarran Romyn did a little bit of everything for the Muskie boys’ hockey team during the 2011/12 NorWOSSA season.
Having spent time as both a defenceman and a forward, Romyn was a key contributor to the black-and-gold’s sixth-straight league crown and was rewarded for his efforts last Thursday night with the Barney Maher Award for the most valuable player during the squad’s annual awards banquet at the Adventure Inn.
“I’m really proud to receive this as I never really expected it,” Romyn said afterwards.
“I did help the team out a lot this year, but I thought that there were other kids that deserved to win it, too.
“It was probably a hard choice to pick me out of the bunch,” he added.
The award itself is voted on by the players, with Romyn’s teammates speaking highly of what he brings to the squad.
“He just always seems to be out there for the big events in a game,” team captain Nick Kaun explained.
“Off the ice, he’s a very reliable guy to have on the bench, in the dressing room, or wherever else we are, and I’m really happy for Tarran to get the MVP award,” he added.
When presenting the award, Muskie assistant coach Brad Gushulak expressed his pleasure in the decision the team made in giving Romyn the award, which was echoed by head coach Shawn Jourdain.
“It all comes down to Tarran’s heart,” Jourdain said.
“He has a big heart and he loves to play the game, and on the ice and on the bench he always has a positive attitude.
“He always asks, ‘What can I do?’ and those type of kids are very hard to come by, and I’m sure that’s going to lead him into big things later on in life,” Jourdain added.
The other big winner of the night was Kaun, who left the banquet room with his arms full of hardware.
The Grade 12 captain came away with the A.R. “Al” Freeman Award for most gentlemanly player, the Rod Cain Memorial Award for sportsmanship, morale, and teamwork, and the Danny Johnson Memorial Award for the player who best displayed his love for the game.
“It’s always exciting to be a part of these banquets, and even more when you win an award,” Kaun smiled.
“Just to have my name on a trophy with some of those other guys that have played for this team is a big thing, and I’m just happy to receive the honours.”
Also earning accolades last Thursday were Braden Webb (Billy Woods Award for rookie of the year), Nick Jourdain (Mrs. Bert Egan Memorial Trophy for outstanding contribution to the team), and Jeff Davis (Randy Roach Memorial Award for the team’s “unsung hero”).
“I’m really happy to see ‘Webber’ get his award as he deserved to get the rookie of the year,” Romyn enthused.
“He came in here in Grade 10 this year after not making the team last year, and he really could have been the unsung hero for our team, as well.
“But Jeff really deserved that award as he has improved a lot and is a great player,” Romyn added.
With as many as seven Grade 12 players (Romyn, Jourdain, Kaun, Davis, Ryan Windigo, Robbie Rea, and Cole Godbout) possibly departing the Muskie program along with returning Grade 12s Braedon Keast and Chris Bobczynski, last Thursday’s banquet also marked the last time those on the squad could share some of their memories from the past few seasons.
“There’s things that you always remember from the teams, though I think there’s a few that you won’t let the kids hear about some day,” Kaun joked.
“Going down to OFSAA was a lot of fun, along with the other tournaments, and it was just a blast to be a part of this team,” Romyn enthused.
