Following in the footsteps of the Fort St. John Huskies, the year-end Midget Trackers in Northeastern British Columbia and the Yukon were a relatively quiet affair – the Trackers decided to present their team at a weekend camp across the line in Alberta June 4-5.
Seven different prizes were awarded.
Forward Reid Arberry, who had 25 goals and 26 assists in 27 games, was chosen as the team’s most valuable player.
“He’s had a hell of a year. He’s really established himself as a team leader,” said head coach Gerard Dicaire.
“He was challenged this year to try to qualify for Junior A or Major Midget next year and I believe he did.
Sam Loewen was named Provincials MVP, a key part of the team’s silver medal win in Surrey at the end of March.
“It was (the award) really a combination of the whole year. Sam really grew as a person and as a player,” Decaire said.
“You know, we don’t come to that last game without him scoring that winner in overtime. He really stepped up his game there.”
The Best Defenseman and Best Defensive Forward awards resulted in ties.
Ethan Hofstrand and Kaden Arberry were co-winners for Best Defender.
“We couldn’t decide between the two. Very different styles of play. Kaden – tall, physical, uses his speed. Used in all sorts of situations, especially shorthanded,” Decaire said. “Ethan, on the other hand, we used him more in offensive situations like the power play.”
Mason Loewen and Landon Alexander shared the Top Defensive Award trophy for 2021-22.
“Same with these guys,” added Dicaire. “It could have gone to a number of guys, but we thought two 15-year-olds would come up. As soon as we got a penalty, I wouldn’t look any further than those two to get us into that penalty. They got it. did a hell of a job.”
The most improved award went to Zack Ryan.
“Zack has been with us for two years. This one was more of a growth as a person than a hockey player. He was known to be a hustler, take bad penalties but this year he knew what his role was in the team and he did everything we asked of him.”
Kash Pittam was named Most Athletic Player.
“It wasn’t a question of who got the least penalties. It was about who was still on the ice. Seeing the game in a positive light, good with the other teams… always had a positive attitude,” said Dicaire.
And the Unsung Hero Award went to goaltender Evan Baker.
“As coaches, we leaned on him quite heavily as a 15-year-old goalkeeper. We knew he had the potential to manage the minutes. There wasn’t much praise at all. throughout the year. It was just planned, but he got the job done and he did it well. Well deserved!”
The Trackers, who tied for the top of the Northern Alberta Midget Hockey League standings with a record of 23 wins, four losses and five draws, will return to the ice for training camp at the end of August.