Battlefords Sharks conclude the season with their year-end banquet

Aspaas finished the year with 38 points (18G-20A) in 30 games this season, leading the team in points and stepped up big when captain Danika Dureau went down with injury during the season.

“There was just no way she was going to be stopped at certain times this year and she just dragged us along,” said Sharks head coach Nolan Horbach. “As the year went on, just how consistent she was, was extremely impressive. She’s just somebody you could count on in every situation.”

“I just kind of go out there and do what I know and try to play my game and be the best player and person I can be and teammate I can be,” said Aspaas, who said the year was something special. “I don’t know if I could honestly ever be a part of that again. It was special and the three years that I’ve spent with this team meant everything to me.”

Aspaas was honoured to co-win the leadership award along with the rest of the leadership group.

“It’s really special to do it with this group and be surrounded by these people. They help me out and make me a better person every day.”

Danika Dureau – Leadership award, most dedicated

Sharks captain Danika Dureau won the leadership award alongside her assistants as well as the most dedicated award. Dureau missed some time this year but made a huge impact whenever she was on the ice and finished the season with 37 points (25G-12A) in 22 games this year.

“There’s so many good things to say about Danika,” said Horbach. “Doing whatever was needed for the team, but also for herself from the day she joined us. The young kid coming into a team full of other young kids, she just embraced the leadership role, but she didn’t change who she was.”

It was the second straight year Dureau won the leadership award, which is an important accomplishment for her.

“I’m really grateful for being recognized for that and that’s a big part of who I am. I want to be that person who’s recognized to really pushing people and holding people accountable and just being one who they can look up to.”

Horbach said that she may not have been an incredibly outspoken leader but led by example, which was a big reason she was the most committed player as well.

“Just stayed committed to her process and just led the way. It wasn’t extremely over the top vocal or anything. It was just everyday actions.”

“Hockey is a big part of me,” Dureau said. “It was really easy to be an example and lead by example for this team. There’s even some days like I don’t even need to be that big voice because there’s other girls stepping up.”

Ayden Kehrig – Leadership Award

Another player to take home the leadership award was Ayden Kehrig. Horbach praised not only her leadership, but her willingness to do whatever is needed to help the team.

“She just works… we had such a deep team, and she was just willing to accept the role and, in special teams, kind of moving what maybe had typically been a power play role into a penalty kill. We were so good on that kill, she has a huge reason why but that doesn’t happen if you don’t have people willing to accept that for the better of the team.”

Leadership is important not only at the rink but away from the rink as well, and Kehrig joked that a lot of her leadership came in driving her teammates around town.

“It was like a taxi for a little bit of the season,” she said. “It means a lot to me and I’m glad that I could help them on and off ice and be a key piece of that leadership group.”

It was important for Kehrig to help some of the younger players who were experiencing a new community.

“I know how hard it is for first years to come in and be away from home for the first time, so I’m just glad that I could be a support for them on and off the ice and just be someone they can come to talk to and be that kind of leader that people go to if they need help.”

Sarah McNabb – Leadership award

Rounding out the leadership award was assistant captain Sarah McNabb, who Nolan enjoyed seeing embrace that role throughout the years.

“Kind of grow into that leadership role and take on and embracing the opportunity to be a mentor to these young kids. She was so special for us, and I know she’s going to do the same at the next level.”

McNabb, who spent the last three seasons with the Sharks, is grateful to have been a part of a team of this magnitude.

“I think just this year was the most special, obviously being my last year,” said McNabb.

“Winning was incredible with this group, especially since I’ve been here all three years and I saw it building and building. But I think the thing that stayed the same was how great the coaches were and how great the girls were and how much fun I’ve had.”

Horbach said the leadership award could have gone to so many people, so he felt it was appropriate for everyone to wear a letter to receive it.

“I look back at it as like, well, who’s helping make sure that standard and the habits are being kind of driven on and off the ice all the time. I thought there was no better way to recognize that than to provide that to our leadership group.”

Aura Sembalerus – Rookie of the Year, playoff MVP

Sharks goaltender Aura Sembalerus won a pair of awards, co-winning rookie of the year and taking home the playoff MVP.

In 15 games this season, Sembalerus had a perfect 14-0-0 record with a .950 save percentage (SV%) and 1.22 goals against average (GAA).

“I’m not sure you can say enough about Aura,” said Horbach. “All the work that she put in behind the scenes that nobody really saw other than, maybe the girls at the gym or as coaches on the ice. But she was about as focused and dialled in as you could ask for.”

While a championship means more than anything, it was a special moment for Sembalerus to get recognized for her efforts throughout the season.

“It means so much to my heart being able to get noticed. As first year, just getting the award, it just felt really good,” she said.

Sembalerus played in all four playoff games for the Sharks, going undefeated with a .939 SV% and 1.50 GAA to lead her team to the championship.

“I think it was when I played the best I’ve played all season. I played my game. It just felt really good.”

Brooke Weber – Rookie of the Year

Winning the rookie of the year alongside Sembalerus was forward Brooke Weber, who had 31 points (16G-15A) in 30 games this year, and was another player that stepped up big in moments where they needed it.

“What was most impressive is just the team play that you saw out of her. You could see the individual skill set. With every level you play at, you have what feels like less time, less space to make those plays. It’s like she sped up, but the game slowed down for her,” said Horbach.

Weber said it’s an honour to win the award and gave credit to Sembalerus and the entire rookie class.

“I really appreciate it from my coaches,” said Weber. “Aura deserves her rookie of the year as well. She did absolutely amazing. Honestly, all our 2010s could have got rookie of the year because we all came in and gave it our best. Everybody had such a good attitude doing into it and all worked together.”

Weber mentioned that with most of the rookies moving to a new city, it takes a village to support each other through the process.

“Everybody was just so supportive of one another. So, I think it really takes a team to make sure that one person gets an award, even though everybody else could have won it.”

Savannah Mucha – Top defensive player

Sharks blueliner Savannah Mucha won the top defensive player on the squad as an anchor for the blue line.

“I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t a consideration for MVP. She’s just so important to us and she just takes control of the game,” said Horbach. “She brings some edge, she’s got grit to her game, she can fly, she can block shots, she’s willing to do everything.”

Mucha described it as “super special” to win the award.

“I play alongside some amazing defencemen so it makes my job a little bit easier,” Mucha said. “I like to block shots, play the body I also like play offensive, but keeping pucks out of our net…Just means a lot to be a top defenceman on this team.”

Like many player on the team, Mucha talked about how tight the team has been throughout the season which led to their success.

“Such an amazing group, such an amazing experience. Great coaching staff, great teammates. We’re all super close and (it’s) probably my favourite team I’ve ever been on. So, it’s sad to leave it behind, but the future is still bright and I’m excited for that.”

Elan Kramer – Most improved player

Taking home the most improved player award was Elan Kramer. The rookie defenceman had 13 points (2G-11A) in 30 games this season. Horbach said that he really saw a turning point in Kramer’s game during the Mandi Schwartz Memorial tournament in December.

“I just felt it was a perfect opportunity for her to take on a little bit more responsibility and kind of having the end goal in mind that by the time we got to the end of the season of playoffs, that it would provide her with hopefully a lot of confidence to know what she could do. She just embraced it.”

Horbach said he doesn’t think there’s a tougher position than defence to adjust at the next level but praised her ability to do so even with the inevitable mistakes. “The first few shifts of the Mandi Schwartz, she got run quite a few times, but all she did was bounce back up and keep going, and she was a huge part of her success.”

“It means a lot,” said Kramer on winning the award. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates and their support. I just love to come to practice, work hard and just show up every game to give my best.”

The banquet officially concluded the greatest season in franchise history which saw the Sharks lose just two games all season, win the Fedoruk Cup and come within just one win away of their first ever Esso Cup.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

Battlefords Sharks conclude the season with their year-end banquet

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