Staff
Winning a regular-season championship is a surefire way to increase one’s possibilities at gaining some major accolades.
Five members of the first-place Fort Frances Lakers were announced on Tuesday as finalists for the SIJHL’s annual year-end awards.
Forward Lucas DeBenedet will get a second chance at the league’s top individual honour as he is one of three nominees for the Amyotte’s Awards & Promotions Most Valuable Player award.
DeBenedet was up for MVP last year, but lost to Daniel Del Paggio of the Thunder Bay North Stars, despite being named ahead of Del Paggio for the CCM Rookie-of-the-Year honour.
He will be in tough again this season as he goes up against SIJHL scoring leader Cole Golka of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Jason Reynolds of the Minnesota Iron Rangers.
Nathan Park will battle Dryden’s Tate Sproxton and Greg Harney of the English River Miners for the top goaltender award.
Wyatt Cota will take on Reynolds and Kris Kellaway of the Thunder Bay North Stars in the best defensive forward category.
Lakers captain Miles Nolan is pitted against Noah Anderson of Minnesota and Brett Wolframe of Thunder Baby for most improved player.
Finally, Fort Frances head coach Wayne Strachan will take on Kurt Wahlsten of Dryden and Jeremy Adduono of Thunder Bay for the coach of the year title.
Other categories include CCM Rookie of the Year (Troy Williams, Dryden; Alex Maticic, English River; Bradley Belisle, Thunder Bay); Gongshow Gear best defenceman (Williams, Anderson and Tim Cavar, Thunder Bay); and most sportsmanlike player (Kyle Pouncy, Dryden; Evan Erickson, Minnesota; Matthias Gardiman, Thunder Bay).
The awards will be announced gradually over the coming weeks.
