INNISFAIL - It was another night to remember for the Innisfail Minor Hockey Association (IMHA).
The association held its annual awards night on March 26 at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion, with a total of 23 awards going to inspirational young hockey players, coaches, managers and the top referee.
The IMHA also posthumously awarded the late Dez Lorencz with the 2019 Vince Tedeschini Legacy Award. The award, which was accepted by Lorencz's family, is given annually to a deserving community builder to recognize selfless volunteerism with the IMHA. Lorencz passed away on April 2, 2018 at the age of 45.
Dan Falk, executive director of the IMHA, said the annual awards night is still an evening to celebrate league accomplishments. The association now features 21 teams and up to 300 registered young hockey players -- both girls and boys -- from its youngest Eaglet program all the way up to the midget level. This year's awards night was specifically for the association's novice to midget players, with 16 teams represented.
Most rewarding for the association was the continuing growth and popularity of girls' hockey. Falk said the IMHA ran a Discovery Camp for female players about three weeks ago and had 26 new players who were not registered with the association, and/or had never before played organized hockey.
"That is very encouraging. We do all we can to see the female program grow. It is nice to see the interest with the girls from the town and area," said Falk.
"They have put a lot of time and effort in for the kids. It is a way to wrap up the season and to say thanks to everybody for all the work they have done," said Falk, noting the annual event also serves to salute the community spirit of the association and its members. "They see the little guys all the way up to the big guys and makes us feel more like a family as an association, and that is important."
Below are the 23 award winners for 2019 that were announced by the IMHA on March 26.
UFA Tam Novice Player Award - Bentley Goodmurphy
Steelcraft Team Novice Player Award - Alleya Stott
Co-op Team Novice Player Award - Reed Howell
Atom A Player Award - Sam Hallman
Atom B Player Award - Kanein Baumung
Atom C Player Award - Andrew Nelson
Mynarski Park - CFB Penhold Award PeeWee C Player - Jackson Falk
Dr. Bill Galloway Memorial PeeWee A Player Award - Tevin Klassen
1994 PeeWee Provincial Commemorative Award PeeWee B Player - Keirin Grewal
Herman Thorsen Team Player Award Bantam A Player - Ethan Flath
Bradley Moore Memorial Award Bantam B Player - Adam Westman
Cory Phillipoff Memorial Award Midget B Player - Shay Styner
Reid Hockey/Scholastic Achievement Award Midget A Player - Liam Fagan
IMHA Female Team Award PeeWee Player - Lilly Howell
IMHA Female Team Award PeeWee Player - Madison Hunter
IMHA Female Team Award Atom Player - Sadee Howell
IMHA Female Team Award Midget Player - Jayde Armstrong
Frank Risler Memorial Team Award Coach of the Year - Lorne Harrison
Warren Blair/Johns Manville Coach of the Year - Ryan Dodd
Don Poynter (Choppy) Memorial Team Manager of the Year - Lisa Duke
Don Poynter (Choppy) Memorial Team Manager of the Year - Michelle Mooney
Bernie Haley Referee of the Year Award - Terry Hollman
Vince Tedeschini Legacy Award 2019 - Dez Lorencz
