The Innisfail Minor Hockey Association honoured its best in coaches, managers and players at its annual annual awards night at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion.
“It's awesome to sit here and listen to all these coaches talk about their teams and all the successes they had this year,” said Stephen Bates, president of the association. “I think it was a very successful season for everybody. I think all our teams faired fairly well and they had good, solid seasons. I think all the kids had fun and I think a big measure of success is how many kids come back next year.”
Awards were presented to novice, atom, peewee, bantam and midget levels for both boys and girls hockey teams, as well to coaches and managers. One special award, the Vince Tedeschini Legacy Award, was presented to Frankie Bates in recognition of her many years of selfless volunteerism to the hockey association.
Bates said about 20 team awards were handed out, along with two for coaches of the year, two for managers of the year and one legacy award. Although there were many successes and accomplishments from all minor hockey teams this season, there was one moment that really stood out for Bates.
“The atom females hosting the provincial championships was a huge thing,” he said. “Any time an association is granted that, it's a feather in our cap as a community and as an association. I think those girls did us proud making it to the semifinals,” said Bates. “It was a tough loss but you have to be proud with that accomplishment. They were one of eight teams. That's pretty special just to be there.”
Winners at the IMHA Awards Night include:
Novice Awards:
IMHA Female Novice Team Award: Female Novice Player Award to Bryn Hill.
Novice Co-op Team: Novice Player Award to Kyle Dodd and Nate Smith.
Novice Steelcraft Team: Novice Player Award to Dallon McAllister.
Novice Century 21 Team: Novice Player Award to Tanner Harrick (2016).
Atom Awards:
Atom Provincial Commemorative Award: Atom B Player Award to Luke Dodd.
Atom Provincial Commemorative Award: Atom C Player Award to Quinn Clarke.
IMHA Female Atom Team Award: Female Atom Player Award to Hailey Jackson and Belle Smith.
Atom Provincial Commemorative Award: Atom A Player Award to Adam Westman.
PeeWee Awards:
1994 PeeWee Provincial Commemorative Award: PeeWee B Player Award to Chance Reay.
Dr. Bill Galloway Memorial Award: PeeWee A Player Award to Callie Cocke.
Mynarski Park-CFB Penhold Award: PeeWee C Player Award to Cade Lamboo-Smith.
IMHA Female PeeWee Team Award: Female PeeWee Player Award to Madison Howe.
Bantam Awards:
Herman Thorsen Team Player Award: Bantam A Player Award to Tyler Rude.
Bradley Moore Memorial Award: Bantam B Player Award to Joel Westman.
Midget Awards:
Cory Phillipoff Memorial Award: Midget B Player Award to Robin Wachter.
Larry Reid Family Award: Midget A Player Award to Ben Money.
Coach/Manger Awards:
Frank Risler Memorial Award: Coach of the Year to David Scott.
Warren Blair/ Johns Manville: Coach of the Year to Aaron Kitzul.
Don Poynter (Choppy) Memorial: Team Manager of the Year Award to Teresa Dodd and Dez Lorencz.
Vince Tedeschini Legacy Award: In recognition of many years of selfless volunteerism with IMHA to Frankie Bates.
Stephen Bates
"It's awesome to sit here and listen to all these coaches talk about their teams and all the successes they had this year."
