OLDS — Former Olds Grizzlys defenceman Josh Zinger has won an award for his character on and off the ice.
Zinger, 20, who was traded to the Brooks Bandits in December, received the 2022 Stewy Stewart Memorial Award.
That trophy is awarded annually to the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) player in the South Division who best exhibits character, dedication, perseverance, integrity and sportsmanship.
Stewy Stewart was a long-time Calgary area fan who supported hockey at all levels. He died in 1997 and the award was created to honour his support and commitment to the game.
“As a rookie I was getting scratched every second game and I knew then the only way to get back in the lineup was to simply practise as hard as I could to show the coaches how bad I wanted to play,” Zinger said in an AJHL news release.
“This was a big lesson for me because it started to carry over into every practice, even when I started to play regularly. Every single game I always want to prove that I deserve to be in the lineup.
“I am grateful that the game of hockey taught me that lesson because I think that's how life outside of hockey will be as well.
“Taking the opportunities to learn and grow have allowed me to become a versatile athlete. In hockey and any sport I don't think there are any excuses. There's always more you can do and resources you can use to better yourself every day.
I've also been lucky with the teams I've played for as the coaches and my teammates have provided all the support and opportunity to help me get better and all I had to do was to do the work.”
Zinger, who hails from Red Deer, racked up 49 points (13 goals and 36 assists) during the 2021-22 regular season, second among AJHL defencemen behind Bandits teammate Zach Bookman.
