Three Sharks were recognized by the SFMAAAHL with league recognition following the 2019-20 season. (Twitter/B'fords AAA Sharks)

By Martin Martinson

Shark pack standouts

Trio of AAA Sharks recognized with league year-end honours

Mar 20, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Three local hockey players have been recognized for their on-ice excellence by the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League (SFMAAAHL) following the abrupt conclusion of the hockey season due to COVID-19.

Goaltender, Haylie Biever was given the Brittony Chartier Top Goalie Award (along with Swift Current’s Amaya Giraudier); while forward, Ryder Milne took home the Carol Scheibel Scholastic Player Award.

Biever was also named as a First Team All-Star, while forward, Kiana McNinch was named as a Second Team All-Star.

The 2019-20 campaign was a bit of a rebuilding year for the AAA Sharks, who finished sixth with a 7-20-3 record, but the team did feature some standout performances which should ensure a bright future ahead for both the players individually and organization, alike.

Biever was a workhorse for the Sharks this year, finishing second in both games played (19) and total minutes (1,075) amongst netminders.

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Making the most of those minutes, Biever’s 3.52 goals-against average and .908 save percentage helped keep her team competitive throughout the season as well, earning the 17-year-old the opportunity to commit to Minot State University for the coming fall, for the 2020-21 season.

Up front, Milne earned the Scholastic Award, after a standout season that saw the Turtleford, Sask., product, make a sizable impact both in academics and on the ice. Milne picked up 12 points on the season to go along with the key intangibles and leadership shown by the veteran.

While both Biever and Milne will graduate from the Midget AAA league come the fall, McNinch is amongst the biggest reasons for excitement heading into next season.

At just 15-years of age, McNinch is eligible to return to the Sharks next season, after exploding out of the gate through her first two years with the team.

Following a 15 point rookie season in 2018-19, McNinch jumped out to a team-leading 14 goals, 20 points through 30 games, to earn her Second Team All-Star nod in this, just her second season.

The Battlefords AAA Sharks will look to build on their late season momentum moving forward, as the team will enter the fall of 2020 looking to make some noise once again in the SFMAAAHL.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1