Kalen Ukrainetz (right) receives a Community Service Award at last season's award's banquet for the Tisdale Trojans. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Trojan Tuesday

Ukrainetz named to SMAAAHL First All-Star Team, Trojans take game one against Blazers

Feb 27, 2020 | 10:22 AM

The accolades keep piling up for Tisdale Trojans captain Kalen Ukrainetz.

Just over a week after the 17-year-old Wynyard native broke the Trojans all-time scoring record, Ukrainetz was named to the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) First All-Star Team.

“It’s a nice little reward at the end of the season that they let you know you’re one of the best players in the league,” Ukrainetz said. “And it’s definitely a great feeling and gives you some boost going into playoffs for sure.”

Ukrainetz had a massive year offensively for the Trojans. His 33 goals were tops in the SMAAAHL, and his 63 points were fourth in the league. It’s been a career year for Ukrainetz who said he knew he needed to have a big year, especially while being named captain.

“My job was to produce points,” he said. “And it went a lot better than planned, so that’s good.”

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Ukrainetz spent most of the season (when the Trojans were healthy), playing with Trenton Curtis (tied for tenth in SMAAAHL points), as well as Mackenzie Carson (third in SMAAAHL goals). He said playing with Curtis for most of last year and having Carson slide in helped them all put up good numbers.

Not only was it his line mates that helped Ukrainetz put up the massive numbers, but another year of growth and getting stronger as well.

“More confidence with the puck for sure than my 15, 16 year-old years,” Ukrainetz told northeastNOW. “And I think once you get confidence with the puck, it becomes a lot easier.”

Ukrainetz and the Trojans finished the year in seventh place in the SMAAAHL, drawing the Saskatoon Blazers in round one of the playoffs. Game one took place on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and saw the Trojans score first in the second period, courtesy of Ukrainetz. The Blazers however, tied the game late in the third and forced overtime. Then, in the double overtime frame, defenceman Zac Robins scored for Tisdale to give them the Game one win in Saskatoon. Game two will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27 in Tisdale at the RecPlex.

“[Tuesday] was a big game for us, and I think that we have to keep building off it,” Ukrainetz said. “They’re going to come, they’re going to be hungry tomorrow and I think we have to answer the bell.”

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6