Lakers lead list of award finalists

Joey Payeur

If there’s any question about how superb a season the Fort Frances Lakers had as a group, take a look at the lengthy list of players who could bring home some SIJHL hardware in the coming weeks.
Each of the eight categories for the league’s year-end awards features a nominee from the Lakers—the first time head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan can recall that happening.
“It’s a great honour . . . it shows what the team put into the season,” said Strachan.
“I’m not high on individual awards but I know they come with the territory,” he added.
“The guys are very deserving of the nominations, and I hope they bring at least a few of them home because it will be a good source of pride for the organization and themselves individually.”
Strachan is one of those up for consideration as a finalist for coach-of-the-year honours, along with Kurt Walsten (Dryden GM Ice Dogs) and last year’s winner, Jeremy Adduono (Thunder Bay North Stars).
“It’s an honour that other teams recognized me,” said Strachan, who is in line for what would be an unprecedented fifth such award after guiding the Lakers to their third-straight regular-season title by tying the franchise mark for wins (46).
“But I wouldn’t be there without the team we have and the guys who go out on the ice,” he stressed.
“This award goes hand-in-hand with the guys that battle every night, and I thank them for that and for all their hard work.”
When it comes to Laker players, it’s no surprise that captain Dylan Robertson leads the pack with two nominations.
Robertson is in the running for the Amyotte’s Awards & Promotions MVP award, as well as for best defensive forward.
The 20-year-old from Atlanta burned up the SIJHL to capture the scoring title with 88 points in 53 games, including the most assists (57), after scoring just 39 points in 39 games last season.
“Team goals are most important, but you do set your own personal goals before each season,” noted Robertson, who had a 15-game point streak during the season.
“I play on a really good team with really good players,” he lauded.
“I had more confidence coming in and the coaches gave me more opportunities to contribute than I had last year.”
Robertson is up against Kyle
Pouncy (Ice Dogs) and goalie Riley Corbin (North Stars) for the MVP nod.
“Pouncy’s a really smooth puck-moving defenceman and the MVP of his team, for sure,” agreed Robertson.
“He’s tough to take on 1-on-1 and he leads by example.
“Corbin gives them [North Stars] a chance to win every night,” he added.
“His style is unorthodox, but he’s a competitor and he’s the backbone of that team.”
The defensive forward nomination, which Robertson said took him by surprise, sees him up against fellow forwards Eric Madison (Minnesota Iron Rangers) and Kenny Turner (North Stars).
“Madison’s ‘The Pit Bull,’ that’s what they call him,” he noted.
“He’s a workhorse and brings it every game, and loves to block shots.
“Turner is the best face-off man in the league,” Robertson added.
“He’s really strong and always thinks defence first and, to be honest, it will probably be him that wins it.”
Nick Minerva, meanwhile, will look to ride a terrific second season with the Lakers to the Gongshow Gear best defenceman award after compiling the second-most points in the SIJHL behind Robertson (73).
That also gave Minerva the most points of any blueliner in the entire CJHL.
“Coming back here was always an option, and I ended up having a break-out year and the best year of my hockey life,” said the 20-year-old from New Brunswick, N.J.
“I have to thank [Strachan], the coaches, the community, and everyone,” he added.
“And I want to help win another SIJHL championship, then the Dudley Hewitt Cup and go to the ‘Bank’ [RBC Cup].”
Pierce Dushenko topped all league netminders in victories (28), and was second to teammate Brandon Bodnar in GAA (2.68) and save percentage (.920), to put himself in contention for the top goalie award against Corbin and Taylor Unruh (Ice Dogs).
“Unruh is young and very talented, with a good future ahead of him,” noted the 20-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C.
“But Corbin’s put that team on his shoulders and I think he’ll be my biggest competition for the award.”
Fort Frances native Cole Tymkin appears to be the best bet to grab the CCM Rookie of the Year award after his 48 points in 49 games put him ninth overall in league scoring.
Tymkin, who doesn’t turn 17 until April 5, easily outdistanced all first-year players in points—finishing well ahead of fellow finalists Brad Thrower (North Stars) and Nash Dabb (English River Miners).
“Thrower really impressed me, moreso in the second half when he got quite a bit of points against us,” said Tymkin.
“Dabb is someone I notice every time we play English River,” he added.
“These guys are two top-end players in this league.”
Lakers’ forward Andrew Willner not only racked up the points (fourth overall with 58), but also the respect from around the league as he was nominated for the most sportsmanlike player award along with Turner and goalie Kyle Carignan (Iron Rangers).
“I just try and play the game the right way night in and night out,” said Willner, a 20-year-old from New Brighton, Mn. who spent just 10 minutes in the penalty box this season.
“I can’t help the team if I’m in the penalty box, but I am helping if I’m on the ice and doing what it takes to win,” he reasoned.
In a case of better late than never, Lakers’ defenceman Roshen Jaswal didn’t rejoin the team for his second tour of duty until Nov. 27.
But he still ended up making enough of an impression to garner a nomination for most improved player, alongside Turner and forward Tristyn Sabina (Iron Rangers).
“I put in a lot of work this summer on my strength, protecting the puck, and seeing the ice better, as well as my shot,” said Jaswal, a 20-year-old from Burnaby, B.C. who had just four points in 20 games last season before notching 26 in 25 games this year.
The award winners will be announced gradually over the next couple of weeks, along with the SIJHL’s CCM First and Second All-Star Teams, the RBC Junior ‘A’ Scholarship winner, and the recipient of the CCM Gary Cook Memorial Award.
In related news, the Lakers paid tribute to their own top performers this season at the team’s annual awards banquet Saturday afternoon at La Place Rendez-Vous.
Robertson and Minerva were chosen team MVP and best defenceman, respectively, while Robertson also captured the team’s Leadership Award.
Goalie Brandon Bodnar was picked as the top rookie over Tymkin, who instead garnered the P.I.T.A. Award for irritating opposing players the best.
Willner was chosen as the most dedicated player, and also won the most gentlemanly award, while forward Christian Ripley was named most improved.
And defenceman Robbie Bonthron won the inaugural Bev Kotnik Memorial Award for volunteerism.
Kotnik was the Lakers’ vice-president, treasurer, and head of fundraising before she passed away of natural causes last May at age 64.