A total of nine awards were handed out to seven players during the annual Grizzlys awards and appreciation banquet, held March 5 at the Evergreen Centre.They are: Cody Laskosky, MVP; Jack Berger, community player of the year and president's award winner; Quentin Greenwood, top scorer; Logan Bromhead, rookie of the year; Hayden Struik, top defender and most dedicated player; Aiden Mucenski, most improved player; and Parker Ward, most sportsmanlike player.
Greenwood "had a great year, amassing 51points in his final year as a 20-year-old," head coach and general manager Adam Redmond said.
Associate coach Joe Murphy presented the top defender award to Struik.
"I had the privilege of being on the back end for a lot of the year and the top defenceman award wasn't easy to pick," Murphy said.
"I think at certain times, this award could have gone out to a number of guys, but the winner this year we leaned on quite heavily; a lot of minutes, a lot of key minutes, a very coachable kid, super positive a lot of the time."
Redmond said it turns out Mucenski was injured most of the season.
"He battled through adversity, got better and better each day," Redmond said.
Murphy said due to trades and other circumstances, a lot of rookies ended up in the dressing room this season. However, Bromhead stood out.
"Here's a guy who plays seven feet tall even when he's not," he said. "(He) worked his butt off all year. We never had to question what he was going to bring to the table every game, ever practice."
Redmond said the most sportsmanlike award tends to go to "the guy who has the least amount of penalty minutes, but I think it's more synonymous with someone who plays with respect and honour." Thus, he was happy to present it to Ward.
Murphy, a former Grizzly player, noted he grew up "just down the road (in Didsbury)."
"I've been lucky to be part of this community as a player and now to come back as a coach is pretty special for me," he said.
Murphy noted one of the most important things for the Grizzlys is how they're received and perceived in the community, so volunteering is a big emphasis for the team.
"This year, when we put out texts to the guys to do community service or volunteer for any number of the things that come across the desk we never had a shortage of people willing to do it, and that's pretty special. That says a lot about the guys and that's great to be a part of," Murphy said.
"This year's winner of the community player award was one of those guys, obviously, but there's a lot of honourable mentions here, and that's a great problem to have," he added as he presented the award to Berger.
Redmond said the most dedicated player award goes to the player who is committed to the organization and the community "not only on the ice, but off the ice."
"This player, day in and day out, gave it his all," he said as he presented the award to Struik.
Redmond said the MVP award goes to the player who "makes our team not only the best team on the ice but off the ice as well."
Unfortunately, Laskosky was unavailable as the team made its push for a playoff spot. Redmond said that's likely a big factor in why they weren't able to obtain a playoff berth.
"He was deeply missed. I felt that was a big reason why we came up short," he said.
"But in the end, like I say, I want to say that this player here is one of the players that I feel can come back and be one of the most dominant players in our league and help this team move in the right direction."
Darcy Dallas, another former Grizzly, handed out the president's award.
"This award is for pretty much what you want in your players – players who try every shift, tough to play against, role players. Obviously they're not the scoring leaders – usually anyways; I wasn't when I won it," he said to some laughter.
"But they're the people that you want as the base of your team – well spoken, will show up and do whatever you want them to do and just always in a good mood; always friendly," he added.
"This award (recipient) is an easy choice for me, and that's Jack Berger."
Dallas thanked all those who attended – especially the parents, some of whom travelled a long way for the event.
He also thanked all those who helped the Grizzlys in any way this season, including sales and marketing manager Raphi Buergi.
"Raphi probably did about a hundred jobs actually this year. He kind of stepped into a role that needed (to be) filled. Whatever we needed done he took care of. So great job, Raphi," he said
"We look forward to the years to come – next year especially -- and hopefully we'll be involved in a few playoff rounds (in the coming years)," Dallas said.
"They're the people that you want as the base of your team - well spoken, will show up and do whatever you want them to do."
DARCY DALLAS
PRESIDENT
OLDS GRIZZLYS
