Tisdale Trojans defenseman Landon Kosior (left) being presented the inaugural Adam Herold Memorial Award by SMAAAHL presiden Lloyd Friesen. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Trojans Awards

Trojans host Awards Banquet before Telus Cup

Apr 15, 2019 | 12:30 PM

Nine nights before they begin competing in the 2019 Telus Cup national midget hockey championship in Thunder Bay Ont., the Tisdale Trojans hosted their annual Awards Banquet at the Tisdale Civic Centre April 13.

For Trojans players, staff, families, billets, and partners, it was one final night to get everyone together and look back at a season which saw the Trojans finish with their third best record in franchise history, fall in the second round of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) playoffs, and come back to win the Telus Cup Western Regionals on home ice.

Darrell Mann, Trojans head coach, told northeastNOW the season so far was amazing.

“It’s a dream come true to host regionals in Tisdale and to be able to win it,” Mann said. “We were able to accomplish that, and it gives us an opportunity to play for a national title. There’s nine of these guys that have been with us for two years, they’ve become sons to us. We love being around them, they’re great character players and they really deserve this.”

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Although it was a night of reflection and relaxation, there were still awards to hand out.

Lloyd Friesen, president of the SMAAAHL, made the trip to Tisdale to present the Trojans who had won league awards.

“It’s always special to come to Tisdale,” Friesen said. “It’s a community spirit; everybody’s involved and engaged with the hockey team. The guys, you can tell by their reaction they appreciate that, and they’ll certainly have the support going to the Telus Cup.”

Forward Cade Hayes, defenceman Landon Kosior, and goaltender Tanner Martin were given plaques for being named SMAAAHL First Team All Stars, Martin received plaques for being named Top Goalie and Goalie MVP, but the most emotional SMAAAHL award came at the end.

Kosior was awarded the inaugural Adam Herold Memorial Award, given to the SMAAAHL’s top defensive defenceman who best exemplifies superior leadership both on and off the ice. Kosior and Herold were defence partners playing Bantam AA with the Prairie Storm.

“It definitely means a lot,” Kosior said. “Adam was a good friend of mine and I always looked up to him when I played with him. Just to win the award in his name was a huge honour and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Attendees gave a standing ovation when Friesen presented the award to Kosior, as it was also an emotional moment for others.

“I felt honoured,” Friesen said. “It was probably a little more emotional in the fact that Landon and Adam were close friends, and you know what close friends mean in our relationships. When that gets destroyed it takes a little longer to heal.”

“It’s really special, especially for Landon,” Mann said. “We played against [Adam] for two years, he’s one of the best defencemen I’ve ever seen at this level. Him and Landon are good, close, personal friends. It’s just an honour for the Trojans organization and for Landon to be presented with the first Adam Herold Memorial Award.”

After league awards were presented, it was time for team recognitions.

Kosior was named Trojans MVP after season which saw him lead all SMAAAHL defencemen in scoring with 52 points (nine goals and 43 assists) in 44 games, along with winning the Adam Herold Memorial Award.

“It was amazing, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” Kosior said. “They were always there for me this year and helped me out lots when I made a mistake.”

(left to right) Tisdale Trojans goaltender Tanner Martin, defenseman Landon Kosior, and center Cade Hayes were presented with plaques by SMAAAHL president Lloyd Friesen for being First Team All Stars in the league in 2018-19 (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

Mann said there were numerous candidates for Trojans MVP, such as their leading scorer Cade Hayes or goaltender Tanner Martin. But when he and the coaching staff looked at what kind of player they couldn’t have played without, it was Kosior.

“Landon Kosior has just been kind of our quarterback all year,” Mann said. “How he goes, we go. He’s one of those guys you can’t afford not to have in your line-up.”

The Trojan who walked away with the most team awards was the captain: Luke Arndt. The shutdown defenceman was named the Trojans’ Most Dedicated Player, Hardest Working Player, and won the Scholastic award.

Mann was at a near loss for words when describing Arndt this season.

“What a leader,” he said. “He’s like another coach in our dressing room and on the ice. He makes it easy on the coaching staff because he looks after the boys and he makes sure everybody is ready to play every night. I can’t say enough about him.”

List of Trojans Award Winners

MVP – D Landon Kosior

Playoffs MVP – F Jayden Wiens

Rookie of the Year – F Jayden Wiens

Most Improved Player – F MacKenzie Carson

Old Dutch Crunch of the Year (Biggest Hits) – F Liam Rutten

Most Points – F Cade Hayes (23 goals, 35 assists, 58 points)

Best Defenceman – Landon Kosior

Top Goaltender – Tanner Martin

Community Service – D Dylan Ashe and F Kalen Ukrainetz

Most Dedicated – D Luke Arndt

Hardest Worker – D Luke Arndt

Scholastic – Luke Arndt

Most Gentlemanly Player – F Trenton Curtis

Most Popular Players – F Liam Rutten and D Zac Robins

The Trojans will practice at Northern Lights Palace in Melfort throughout the week before they travel to Thunder Bay, Ont. for the Telus Cup which begins April 22.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow