Dishing out their hardware
Mario Prusina
Times Editor
The Wheatland Athletics Association honoured their three teams at the annual awards banquet April 5 at the Strathmore Civic Centre.
The peewee Braves, bantam Warriors and midget Chiefs teams presented their top scorer, top defenceman, rookie-of-the-year, most improved, most sportsmanlike and team MVP for this past season.
“I think we’re getting to a spot where the program is doing a good job perpetuating itself,” said WAA President Sandy Henry. “As a board, I don’t know if we can take any credit for that, but I know that we have good, solid coaching at every level. That has helped bring the players in.
“I don’t know how I could be happier this year – all of our teams were successful.”
The Braves won the SCAHL Championship, sweeping the Okotoks Oilers three games to none, while the Warriors made it all the way to the championship final at the bantam level. The midget Chiefs pushed the eventual champions, Sylvan Lake, to the brink early in the post season.
Lucas Muenchrath of the Braves and Liam Rycroft of the Warriors were presented the Craig Kletzel Memorial Award.
Meanwhile, three members of the Wheatland Braves took home SCAHL Awards, as Joel Krahenbil was named Most Sportsmanlike, Cole Clayton was selected the Top Defenceman and Ty Tarvyd was named Top Goalie.
The WAA also presented Colin Grant and Bryce Eidsness with the “Members of Distinction” award.
Here is a list of the award winners for each team.
Wheatland Braves
Peewee AA
Top Scorer – Isaac Benoit
Top Defenceman – Cole Clayton
Rookie of the Year – Kenny Holt-Stewart
Most Improved – Zach Suntjens
Mosts Sportsmanlike – Joel Krahenbil
Most Valuable Player – Ryan Ries
Wheatland Warriors
Bantam AA
Top Scorer – Sarah Lecavalier and Chris Rebeyka
Top Defenceman – Brad Hendricks
Rookie of the Year – Ryan Bell
Most Improved – Regan Kinley
Mosts Sportsmanlike – Matt Quigley
Most Valuable Player – Kody Hammond
Wheatland Chiefs
Midget AA
Top Scorer – Coltyn Herman
Top Defenceman – Brayden Biccum
Rookie of the Year – Tyler Sharuga
Most Improved – Brandon Russell
Mosts Sportsmanlike – Kristian Ayoungman
Exemplary Player Award – Jake Smith and
Dakota Taylor