"Bittersweet" was the sentiment of the evening on April 26 as the Olds Grizzlys recognized their best from the 2013-14 season and announced the team’s leaders for the season to come.
"Bittersweet" was the sentiment of the evening on April 26 as the Olds Grizzlys recognized their best from the 2013-14 season and announced the team’s leaders for the season to come.
The 2013-14 squad came together one last time at the Olds and District Evergreen Centre for the Grizzlys’ annual awards banquet and following dinner and a jersey auction, head coach Brett Hopfe announced the winners of 10 team awards, as voted on by the players.
Spencer Dorowicz, the team’s 20-year-old captain who hails from Olds and led the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in scoring this season, was honoured with the team’s most-valuable player and leading scorer awards.
He thanked his family and the team’s administration for helping him achieve so many successes this season and also honoured his coaches.
"I don’t think there’s a group of coaches out there who cares more about an organization than them," he told the gathering. "It was pretty easy for us players to get up each and every night and play for those guys. It was always an honour to play for those coaches. I’ll never forget everything that we’ve been through and it was a fun ride."
Dorowicz also received a huge laugh when he offered words of inspiration to his teammates, quoting a Netflix commercial where a coach motivates his team by referencing an inspirational speech from a movie.
Rookies Cale Brown and Chaydan Lauber received the team’s scholastic awards and Lauber also received the most-improved player award.
Austin Kernahan received the new Tammy Moritz community player of the year award that honours a longtime team supporter who passed away in November.
Nikolas Koberstein received the most-dedicated player and top defenceman awards and Kyle Moore was named the team’s top defensive forward.
Chris Gerrie, who was named the AJHL’s rookie of the year this season, was also named the team’s rookie of the year.
It was also announced on April 28 that Gerrie is one of the 10 finalists for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s rookie of the year award.
The winner will be announced during the week of May 5 to 9.
After Dorowicz received his award, he named Koberstein as the team’s new captain.
"He will do anything for anyone on the team at any time," he said. "He’s the first guy on the ice for practice and the last guy off the ice."
Dorowicz also announced the team’s new assistant captains, Kernahan, BJ Duffin and Reid Wilson.
The team also took a moment to say farewell to the 20-year-old players who are leaving the club, Dorowicz, Ethan Jemieff, Taylor Bilyk, 21, Tyler Kerner and Matt Hangar.
Rob Kerr, Sportsnet’s play-by-play broadcaster for Calgary Flames games, was the evening’s keynote speaker and after sharing tales of his career in broadcasting, he asked all the Grizzlys players to stand so the gathering could toast them.
"Thank you for representing the Olds Grizzlys, thank you for representing Olds," he said. "Thank you for giving a kid who comes out to a game somebody to look up to."
He ended his speech by asking two things of the players.
The first request was for them to, before the beginning of the next season, thank those "who made that little difference and got you where you are today."
"We are what we are because of those who mentor us. We are who we are because of those who came before. So please, seek them out, thank them."
As for the second request, Kerr asked the players to "be good to the game."
"It will be good to you. Play as long as you can possibly play. Go as far as you can possibly go. But when it is time, when it is over, please give back."
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