Mustangs celebrate awards banquet, win against La Ronge clinches second

To start it off, Mathieu Pigeon won the Scholastic Achievement Award, later collecting Rookie of the Year.

Austin Shepherd followed that up with the Community Involvement Award, also receiving the Family Crunch Award for most hits later on, as well as co-grabbing the Golden Mini Stick and Silver Puck Award for most volunteer hours by a player this year.

Grabbing the Most Improved Player after that was Kristian Coombs.

It was then the team captain who was named the Most Spirited Player, while later also being named a co-winner of the Most Valuable Defenceman, in Leith Olafson.

Ryan Duguay would then pick up a couple, starting off with the Most Popular Player award, which was chosen by his teammates, before collecting two more in the 3 Star Selection for most Player of the Game awards during home games, along with the Joel Dennis Memorial award.

The Most Dedicated Player award was the next to be handed out, which went to James Venne, as his dedication also led to him being named the Most Valuable Player.

Newcomer to the Mustangs midway through this season, Clay Sleeva, also won an award, as he grabbed the Hardest Working Player.

Aidyn Hutchinson was the next guy to grab an award, collecting a couple, first for the Top Scorer, and then for the Plus/Minus Award.

Former long-time WHL player, Chase Friedt-Mohr also left the night with some hardware, first with the Kyle Johnson Memorial Award and second as Co-Most Valuable Defenceman with Leith Olafson.

Another mid-season acquisition in Nolan Henderson, also picked up an award, being named the recipient of the Dylan Ashe Memorial Award.

As for the Hardest Hitter Award, that went to Nolan Roberts who also received the Fan Choice Award, and was a co-winner of the Golden Mini Stick and Silver Puck Award for most volunteer hours with Austin Shepherd.

The only award of the night given to a player who is unfortunately no longer able to lace up the skates was Ty Thornton.

While Thornton is injured the rest of the way, he did walk away with the Top Defensive Defenceman award.

A local also collected some hardware, as Melfort native Zac Somers received the Top Defensive Forward.

And finally, a new award which was handed out this year was the Shawn Mason Unsung Hero Award, as the man himself collected the big trophy.

For the future, the award will be given to the man or woman who gives the most time and sacrifices the most for the club, making the biggest impact on the team each year.

Now, for the Blue and Green, they’re hopeful to celebrate once more on Sunday.

They will host the La Ronge Ice Wolves, with a win clinching second place in the SJHL standings.

“I think everyone’s got this marked on their calendars, it’s going to be a fun one, early afternoon $5 game, so I think there’s gonna be a lot of fans there and I think it’s gonna be bumping in the Palace, so I’m excited to get it done and clinch second,” Olafson told northeastNOW.

The Stangs are entering the game, winners of their last eight.

“Just gotta keep doing what we’re doing, we’re playing simple and we’re playing smart, so keep it that way,” added Hutchinson.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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by Ben Tompkins

Mustangs celebrate awards banquet, win against La Ronge clinches second

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