Sask Prairie Hockey League presents year-end awards

This marks McDonald’s second straight year as Forward MVP, after taking home the award last year as well when he finished second in scoring with 16 goals and 30 points in just 11 games.

McDonald becomes just the second player in the last 12 years to win Most Valuable Forward in consecutive seasons and the first since Mitch Wall did so with the Edam 3 Stars during the 2015-16 and ’16-17 seasons.

Turtleford Tigers captain Austin McDonald is presented with the Dale Willick Award as the SPHL’s Top Scorer (left), and Most Valuable Forward Award (right). (Submitted photos/Georgia Penner)

The Tigers’ captain said it wouldn’t be possible without his teammates.

“The league has good competition every night, and I just try to give it everything I’ve got, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” McDonald said. “We were all clicking really well [right from the season’s start] and that definitely helped my success.”

McDonald also leads the Tigers in playoff scoring with 12 points in eight games, currently two games into their second straight SPHL Finals appearance against the Meota Combines.

He said the trophy at the end of the year is the big one he and his teammates are striving for.

“It was our goal to get back to the final and give ourselves a chance to win that championship, and obviously a tough start last weekend going down 0-2 in the series, but luckily it is a seven-game series. We’re excited to get back home and have a good Games 3 and 4 and get right back into it.”

Myles Baptiste – Most Valuable Defenceman

This is Baptiste’s first season taking home Most Valuable Defenceman, standing out on a loaded Combines’ blue line that also features last year’s MVD, Taylor Tatchell, to lead all at the position in scoring this year with 10 goals and 20 points.

Meota Combines defenceman Myles Baptiste is presented with the Most Valuable Defenceman Award. (Submitted photos/Georgia Penner)

Baptiste, who is from Red Pheasant Cree Nation, said he hopes the recognition can inspire others from his community to work hard for their goals.

“To get that and just put it out there for my people, to recognize a guy like me can do whatever’s possible if he puts his mind to it,” Baptiste said. “It’s a team effort and it’s not one guy that can do everything by himself, so if the team didn’t do their part and I didn’t do mine, we wouldn’t be where we’re at right now.”

Baptiste also played a key role in last year’s league championship for the Combines, who currently lead their best-of-seven SPHL Finals series with the Turtleford Tigers 2-0, heading into Game 3 Friday.

Zack Riemer – Most Valuable Goaltender

Riemer was an absolute workhorse in goal for Radisson this season, starting the most games in the league (13) and picking up the most wins (nine), while also sporting a 3.83 goals against average. That was good for third amongst goaltenders to play at least 10 games.

Radisson Wheat Kings puck-stopper, Zack Riemer is presented with the Most Valuable Goaltender Award. (Submitted photos/Georgia Penner)

Riemer said the heavy workload is something he relishes, that brings out his best.

“This was kind of my first full year fully taking over the starting job, and being able to play more definitely was a big thing for me,” Riemer said. “The more games I can get into, the more rhythm I feel I can get into, and the better I can perform.”

Riemer was also quick to credit teammates for their commitment to defense in front of him.

“Most of the credit should go to my team, considering I’m the last gas effort to keep the puck out of the net,” he added. “This year we definitely had a good team, so it’s a credit to my teammates, and every year that I’ve been there we’ve gotten a lot better so hopefully next year we can put it all together.”

Calvin Koczka – Most Gentlemanly Player

Koczka was named Most Gentlemanly Player after his first year as captain of the Glaslyn North Stars.

Glaslyn North Stars forward Calvin Koczka is presented with the Most Gentlemanly Player Award. (Submitted photos/Georgia Penner)

A six-year veteran of the SPHL, Koczka talked about what it means to be recognized for the award, as voted by his peers on other teams across the league.

“It means quite a bit that the rest of the league and all the teams voted for me, and it’s nice to be seen as a sportsmanlike player that still gives his all out there and tries his best,” he said.

“You tend to build a lot of relationships with every team [over the years] and I’m pretty sure I could go to every team and have a pretty good conversation with a good half of everyone on each [team],” he added with a laugh. “So it’s nice to be known and appreciated.”

One of the original founders of the SPHL, Troy Rookes was also presented with the Executive of the Year Award. (Submitted photos/Georgia Penner)

Games 3 and 4 of the SPHL Finals will be played this Friday and Saturday night in Turtleford. Puck drop will be at 8:30 p.m. both nights. The full finals schedule is available here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Sask Prairie Hockey League presents year-end awards

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