Battlefords AAA Stars hand out awards at team banquet

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(Image Credit: U18 AAA Stars/Facebook)

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On top of co-winning the MVP award, Coquet also took home the top scorer and top plus/minus award. In 44 games played, Coquet had 65 points (31G-34A) throughout the season. 

“He was a huge part of our team,” said Stars head coach Martin Smith, who got to see Coquet in action with the Battlefords North Stars in the 2024-25 season. “I knew a lot of his good assets and one being his speed. I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a player that’s from A to B as fast as he is.” 

Coquet had a 53-point jump from his rookie season with the Saskatoon Contacts to this year with the Stars. “A remarkable season,” said Smith. 

Lukamus Lehman – MVP, Bruce Yockey award for top defenceman 

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Sharing the MVP award with Coquet was Stars defenceman and captain Lukamus Lehman. The Stars captain had 31 points (9G-22A) in 44 games this season. 

“He was our offensive catalyst on the back end, and our top defenceman this year,” said Smith. 

Late in the regular season, Lehman committed to the North Stars for next year, which seemed to give him a confidence boost for the rest of the year. 

“When you sign at the junior club, where you’re going to play the following year. It does a lot for your confidence. It helps you relax a little bit more. Lukamus was a guy who just got better as the season went on, but his confidence jumped after signing with the North Stars. He really took off after that.” 

Jaxon Brabant – Rookie of the Year, Playoff MVP

(Image Credit: U18 AAA Stars/Facebook)

Like the MVP award, the Rookie of the Year was awarded to two people, one of which being forward Jaxon Brabant. Brabant was a part of the Stars top line last season, scoring 42 points (20G-22A) in 43 games.

“It’s his work ethic, he doesn’t quit. If you’re going to go and try to battle for a puck, he’s not going to quit,” said Smith. “I thought he was probably our best complete forward, one that could score kill penalties. And he was one of our hardest workers and just had an excellent season.” 

In the playoffs, Brabant had a pair of goals in three games against the Moose Jaw Warriors. 

“Moose Jaw’s power play was, you know, first or second in the league, on any given night. And Jackson killed off a lot of those penalties. So not only is he a good offensive player, he’s a good defensive player and logs a lot of minutes as well.” 

Cody Marciniuk – Rookie of the Year 

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The other rookie of the year winner was Stars goaltender Cody Marciniuk, who split starts with Luke Norman throughout the season. 

In 23 games, Marciniuk had a 10-8-1-0 record with a .905 save percentage (SV%) and 3.15 goals against average (GAA).

“Worked really hard in practice. He’s that goalie that when you think you have an open net, you don’t because he doesn’t give up on pucks and just had an excellent season,” said Smith.  

“Obviously caught the eye of the North Stars and he’s on their radar now. So, it’s excellent. Both winners of the Rookie of the Year, both North Stars prospects and, that’s a feather in their caps for how hard they’ve played and how well they’ve done.” 

Chance Regush/Graydon Neumeier – Most Underrated Award 

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Every team has unsung heroes and players that make an impact but may fly under the radar a bit. For the Stars, that was Chance Regush and Graydon Neumeier this season. 

Regush had 32 points (13G-19A) in 37 games on the top line during the season.

“He went to the tough areas. He was that player that went to the front of the net, that player that gets under an opponent’s skin,” Smith said. “He’s the guy that does a lot of work in the corners and then goes to the front of the net, and complimented Brabant and Coquet really well. 

Neumeier put up 23 points (9G-14A) in 44 games throughout the year. “(He) is a defensive forward, but he has a lot of skill, very good in tight with the puck. (He) was one of our top penalty killers as well, but he took a lot of important face-offs,” Smith said. 

“You can’t underestimate the value of having good face-off players, and he was one of them. He was a gritty forward as well, but still had a lot of finesse and really, comes under the radar.” 

Rylee Belyk – Most improved, Mike Reynolds Award 

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Rylee Belyk was the co-winner of the most improved award, as well as the Mike Reynolds award/scholarship which was handed out to a set of players in recognition of their off-ice work. 

The Stars defenceman turned forward had six points (1G-5A) in 29 games this season.

“I just saw him improve so much in his skating, his mobility and just his overall game got a lot better,” said Smith. “Playing forward helped his skating so much in terms of, using his size and working the corners and he’s a big player and he took a jump from his first year as well.” 

Belyk missed the final stretch of the month with a heart issue, and his perseverance was a big reason for him winning the award. 

“He never quit, he came to the rink every day. You know, he was still able to practice. He couldn’t be in contact for a month, wasn’t able to get in any games. Just his perseverance was the was the reason why he got that.” 

Kaden Sperle – Most Improved 

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Sperle received the most improved award alongside Belyk after a 12-point (4G-8A) season in 35 games played.  

“He became a 200-foot player. Played power play on our second unit, killed penalties, something that he hadn’t done the year before. He has good speed,” said Smith.  “He created a lot of problems for opposition defencemen on the forecheck and he worked hard every night. He wore a letter for us, and he’s one of our leaders and really took a jump from the year prior.” 

Kobi Weber – Mike Reynolds Award, Coaches Award

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Kobi Weber took home the Mike Reynolds award alongside Belyk as well as the coaches award. Weber put up 15 points (8G-7A) in 44 games this season, though these awards highlighted his off-ice achievements as well. 

“He gives back to the community, and his school marks were excellent,” said Smith. 

“The same reason why he won the coaches award is just the fact that he played on all four lines up front. He played defence when we needed him just because of injuries. So he went back and forth. He went, you know, he played a bit of power play, killed penalties. It was like whatever role we needed him to play, he played that.” 

Luke Norman – Brian Wallin Memorial Award for Most Dedicated 

Splitting starts with Marciniuk, Stars goaltender Luke Norman played in 25 games, with an 8-13-2-2 record, an .879 SV% and 3.78 goals against average. Like other awards, this one was awarded to Norman for his work off the ice as well as in game. 

“He was involved in the community. He was helping out with younger goaltenders as well. A lot of the other things that people don’t see is when you’re you’re helping out teammates all the time,” said Smith.  

“Whether that’s helping out with the bus or with food. Although he was a veteran player, he was the first one off the bus to always help out… something that the players and coaches really appreciated. The fact that he was involved in the community, giving back to the younger players and then just his work ethic.” 

Lane Keyowski – Wade Belak Award, Top Defensive Player 

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Stars blue liner Lane Keyowski took home the top defensive player award. Keyowski was out for a period of multiple weeks during the season, and Smith said the team realized how big of an impact he makes during that time. 

“He’s a big body that is very physical and keeps players honest when they’re on the ice against them. He’s a defenceman that really takes pride in his own end first. That’s one of the criteria’s around the Wade Belak Memorial Award. I think that he exemplified all the things that that that attribute to the recipient of that award.” 

Belak’s dad, Barry handed out the award at the banquet and Smith pointed out some of what Barry mentioned about the defenceman that defines the award. 

“Barry said he’s a defenceman that plays tough and plays hard every night. If you’re going to go into the corner with him, you’re going to take a bump and you’re going to battle for that puck. He just took pride in his own end first and then everything else was a bonus.” 

Millar Kramer – Alan Welykochy Memorial Achievement Award, recognition of hockey, education and citizenship 

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Another award which highlighted a player’s dedication on and off the ice was taken home by Kramer.  

In 44 games, the Stars defenceman had 15 points (4G-11A) during the season. 

“Millar as well is a player that you know what you’re getting every night, gives you 110 per cent. He’s tough to play against. On the hockey side, he just goes about his business every night,” said Smith. 

“He takes education very seriously, has excellent marks and his citizenship. He’s involved in the community as well as giving back, helping out with younger teams, going out to their practices, those are the reasons why he won that award.” 

In the banquet, the Stars also paid recognition to their nine graduating players. 

• Ashton Harty 

• Lukamus Lehman 

• Chance Regush 

• Luke Norman 

• Kobi Weber 

• Kaden Sperle 

• Lane Keyowski 

• Millar Kramer 

• Corbin Nieman 

(Image Credit: U18 AAA Stars/Facebook)

“Some excellent human beings and really guys that really fit into our culture and help develop that culture and lead by example. We wish them all the best in the future,” Smith said. “We’re going to miss having them around because I thought we had a really tight team this year. We worked hard, but we enjoyed being around everybody and those graduating players were a big reason for that.” 

The Stars also hosted their spring camp recently as the page turns towards the 2026-27 campaign. 

— 

Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com