Rookie of the Year
Matt Bailey/Jordan Kwas
This choice came down to a battle of statistics for me. Is 4 goals and 20 assists somehow that much more valuable than 10 goals and 10 assists? I can't see answering that question either yes or no. So it's a Co-Rookie of the Year for me. These are two players that will have a lot to say about the level of success for the team next year. These guys are distinctly different hockey players as well, Bailey has speed and raw power where Kwas best tools are quickness and deftness with the puck. I'd imagine we might see them as linemates at some point next season.
Most Improved Player
Mitch Bruijsten
Nine goals and eight assists a year after scoring 2g-3a? That's a dramatic improvement. Much of that improvement is due to Mitch's smarter and better skating this season. He's more direct with shorter strides and has found himself on the good side of the puck more often precisely because of that change in style. He played with confidence for a large portion of this season as well which was a noticeable change from last season.
Heart and Soul
Craig Parkinson
If you don't know already, I think about Justin Johnson whenever I consider this award. J.J. had a unique intensity and energy that is mostly unattainable by your average human hockey player. So that's the standard. I loved that there was a group of players that all deserved consideration for this award but I chose Craig because every role he filled this season he did exceptionally well and he took on the mantle of quite a few. The number of draws alone that he completely stole by any means necessary. Craig was a leadership force on the ice, on the bench and no doubt in the locker room. In 37 games he went to the box for only 20 minutes. He also nearly doubled his 09-10 scoring with 8g-13a.
Most Valuable Player
Tommy Grant
Tommy led the team in scoring this season with 16g-16a in 37 games. Thirteen of those goals came in conference play which was the 7th highest total in the league. His five game winning goals was 1st highest in the league as well. That particular statistic made him a lock as the MVP in my mind. But it didn't end there. Tommy played in every situation all season long. He killed penalties and scored a shortie and on the power play he laid on 9 assists with 4 goals. He was a threat on nearly every shift in one way or another whether with his substantial speed or his hard shot. An MVP should be a guy that can raise the level of play by his teammates; Tommy did that.
7 comments:
Unrelated story that you may not have heard about:
http://kasenna.uaa.alaska.edu/~tnl/?p=8854
Stupid article. Look at the win/loss history between UAA and UA_ and then talk about who has the best collegiate hockey team in the state.
Not to mention UAF won the series in a ridiculous skills competition, did worse in the playoffs in an inferior conference, and finished the season ranked lower than UAA.
You might remember #8:
http://www.diebytheblade.com/2011/4/7/2096743/top-ten-nhl-secondary-scorers
Here's a little snippet from an article on BClocalnews.com that mentions Sam Mellor. I can't wait to watch him play this upcoming season!! :0)
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http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/119353224.html#
"Published: April 06, 2011 3:00 PM
A pair of Trail Smoke Eaters continues to stay on the radar as the 2011 NHL Draft approaches.
The latest report from the NHL’s Central Scouting listed the top-10 prospects for each North American hockey league including the Canadian Junior A ranks.
Trail native Joey Baker and Cranbrook’s Sam Mellor were two of six BCHL players listed as the top-10 prospects in the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.
Glen Sanders, a B.C. regional scout for the NHL’s Nashville Predators, said both players have strong qualities.
“They like Joey’s size,” said Sanders. “He’s a good skater and he finishes his checks.”
Looking ahead, Sanders said the 17-year-old Baker will have to take on a bigger role with the Smokies and add some statistical results to go with his physical attributes.
Mellor, who is headed to the University of Alaska Anchorage next season, will have to improve his foot-speed and quickness in the coming years, said Sanders.
However, he acknowledged that Mellor has an uncanny knack for putting the puck in the net.
“He’s a natural goal scorer,” said Sanders."
How about Scott Allen and his team? :)
@ 7:21 regarding Scott Allen... You are right!! :-O
~~ CONGRATULATIONS MVP SCOTT ALLEN!~~
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Edmonton Sun
By Con Griwkowsky, QMI AGENCY
Posted 1 day ago
SPRUCE GROVE — Snakes alive!
For the second straight year, AJHL champion Spruce Grove Saints will face the Vernon Vipers in the Doyle Cup.
Spruce Grove wrapped up the title Friday night with a convincing 5-1 win over the Camrose Kodiaks before 1761 fans at the Grant Fuhr Arena.
It was the most lopsided win in what had otherwise been a close series.
"They were ready to play," said Spruce Grove coach Jason McKee. "We knew we had a great challenge at hand. They're a good team, but the kids really rose to the occasion. It's a great feeling."
Even though the Saints did not have one playoff scorer in the top 20 heading into last night's game, they used their familiar formula to wrap up the series 4-1.
They outplayed, outshot and outhustled the Kodiaks. Their balanced attack did not give the Kodiaks any star player to key on as the Saints find the scoring touch from variety of players every night.
And even though the Saints were outplayed in the second period, the writing was on the wall when they answered Camrose's only goal to win going away.
"They get one there, they get a bit of momentum," said McKee. "That's been the strength of our team. We get a huge goal from Koper going into the break. The message was to keep going forward and we kept the momentum going in the third."
Friday night, the Saints got goals from five different players, including the winner from captain Bryce Van Brabant and series MVP Scott Allen.
"It's a full team effort," said Allen, who leads the team with seven playoff goals. "All four lines were going tonight. They all contributed, the all locked down defensively and they played a compete game."
Continued at: http://www.camrosecanadian.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3067963
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GooOOoO Seawolves (and in-coming Seawolves)!! :0)
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