A look in from the Sharks' recent year-end team awards banquet. (submitted photos/Kristy Classen)

By Martin Martinson

Many Franchise Milestones

AAA Sharks celebrate season to remember with year-end awards

Apr 3, 2024 | 10:00 AM

The Battlefords AAA Sharks recently held their annual year-end team awards banquet to celebrate what was a season of many firsts for the local female hockey program.

Posting the season with the most wins in franchise history, the team finished fourth overall in the Sask Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) standings with a 12-15-3 record. They earned home ice in the opening round of the playoffs for the first time, on their run to the semifinals against the top-seeded Regina Rebels.

Though the team would ultimately fall 2-0 in the best-of-three series, both games were decided by just a single goal, going right down to the final horn. Head coach, Nolan Horbach, said that in itself is a perfect example of just how much the team grew over the course of the season.

“I’m just incredibly proud of the girls and where they’ve come over the course of the year,” Horbach said. “You look at how we ended up against Regina and you look back to December when we went there for the first time and it was an 8-3 and a 4-1 loss. To give them the run we did [in the playoffs] with a pair of 5-4 losses down to the last minute, I’m just so incredibly proud of the girls’ effort.”

Goaltender Cypress Classen, who was instrumental in the team’s success all season, took home Team MVP and Rookie of the Year honours at the banquet, finishing the year with a sparkling 2.69 goals against average and .928 save percentage (third overall) at season’s end.

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Classen said as she reflects back on the year, it’s the positive learning environment that really paved the way for the team’s success.

“What stands out most is the positivity and support not only from the coaches, but the players, billet families, and parents as well,” she said. “With our team being so young, the positive environment helped with the transition moving away from home, starting a new school, and making new friends. It really lifted the pressure and allowed us to be our best on and off the ice.”

Danika Dureau, who was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player, led the Sharks in scoring with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 30 games, to also finish second overall in league points amongst first-year players.

Blue liner, Tien Woo was named the Sharks’ Most Valuable Defensive Player for her dedication to playing hard away from the puck. Fellow first-year standout, Sophie Brecht was named Most Improved, as evidenced by her red-hot end to the regular season with three goals and seven points over her final three games.

Greir Slabaida, who captained the team as one of just two 18-year-old players on the roster, took home Most Dedicated and shared the Leadership Award with fellow veteran, Amber Renkas. She said it was a special year highlighted by its many milestones as a team.

“To have such a young team and reach so many milestones like attending the Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament, finishing fourth in the league, breaking the record for most regular season Shark wins, and making to the semifinals was something special,” Slabaida said.

“It couldn’t have been done without the amazing players, coaching staff, and parents, and it was a great way to end my Battlefords Sharks AAA hockey career. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the AAA Sharks under the guidance and leadership of head coach Nolan Horbach.”

Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, the Sharks’ organization is already preparing for next fall, with their spring camp coming up at the end of the month, April 19-20 at the Don Ross Arena in North Battleford.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1