AAA Stars celebrate best of season with year-end awards

“I think an MVP has to be really consistent in all three zones and he was really, really good in the defensive zone, really responsible in the neutral zone and then just a terrific player in the offensive zone, so we’re really proud of how he’s developed,” Grayston said. “He’s come a long way in his two years and always was prepared to practice hard and learn, and then apply what he learned on the ice.”

Photos of the AAA Stars’ Team Award winners. (Facebook/U18 AAA Stars)

First-year AAA standout, Kash Alger-East was named the team’s Rookie of the Year, with 38 points (nine goals, 29 assists) in 43 games to finish second in Stars’ scoring while being one of the youngest players in the U18 ranks, as a 15-year-old.

Waylon Gardipy, who finished fourth in team scoring with 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 44 games, was named Most Underrated, starting the year to the left of Alger-East before transitioning to center late in the season. Jack Forrester took home Most Dedicated for his extra effort given consistently both on and off the ice.

“Jack was always just prepared to do anything we needed; he would always step up, hockey-wise and away from the ice,” Grayston said. “Whether unloading the bus or passing out meals on the road he was always willing to help out wherever he could, and then on-ice really dedicated himself to come back this year and become a real dependable player in terms of his checking game, coming back physically stronger than last year.”

More photos of the AAA Stars’ Team Award winners. (Facebook/U18 AAA Stars)

Assistant captain, Linken Fisher was named the Stars’ Top Defenceman, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coaches’ Award recipient, for his efforts on both sides of the puck leading all blue liners in team scoring with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 44 games.

A 13-goal, 15-point improvement from his first year of U18 AAA, Fisher said the experience gained heading into his second year in the program and the joy of coming to the rink each day played a big role in his taking the next step.

“I think the key was just confidence and being a second-year in this league,” Fisher said. “Both were huge things that helped, and skating every day and having a great group of guys made it easy to be at the rink day-in and day out too. It’s special to receive these awards, and especially from such a great coaching staff to learn from.”

A seventh-round selection (#81 overall) of the Battlefords North Stars in the 2022 SJHL Bantam Draft, Fisher’s play also earned the young rearguard a three-game call-up to the local junior team late in the year.

Brothers Trey and Tyce Penrod rounded out the Stars’ awards, as Trey was named Most Improved Player, while Tyce was recognized with the Alan Welykochy Memorial Award for Excellence in Hockey, Education, and Citizenship.

Trey finished third in team scoring with 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 43 games, building on his rookie totals of 11 points in 42 games set last year, while also cutting his penalty minutes in half from 101 to just 52 this season. Tyce finished fifth in team scoring with 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 43 games.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

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by Martin Martinson

AAA Stars celebrate best of season with year-end awards

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