Wilkie Outlaws' Derek Keller and Brock Harrison (left) and Edam 3 Stars' Taryn Kotchorek (right) have been recognized for their play this season with SWHL year-end awards. (Submitted photos)

By Martin Martinson

Senior Hockey Hardware

Outlaws’ duo, Edam goalie headline SWHL Awards

Feb 13, 2024 | 5:28 PM

The Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) recently announced its year-end awards for the 2023-24 season, headlined by the Wilkie Outlaws’ dynamic duo of Brock Harrison, who was named League MVP; and Derek Keller, who took home Top Defenceman honours; and Edam 3 Stars standout Taryn Kotchorek, named Top Goaltender.

Brock Harrison – MVP

This is Harrison’s second straight MVP Award, after leading the league in scoring for a third straight year with 49 points (nine goals, 40 assists) in just 16 games this season.

The award adds to what’s already been a milestone year for Harrison, who earlier this season became the SWHL’s all-time leading scorer. A veteran of the senior ranks, Harrison said it’s always special to be recognized for an award voted on by others around the league, while also speaking to the role his teammates have played in his success.

“It’s definitely a huge honour to be named [MVP], just because the other teams in the league vote on it, and it’s nice that even though I’m over 40 and on my way out, they still realize I can contribute a little bit,” he added with an audible smile. “But I also want to mention that when you’re playing with a team full of superstars like us [in Wilkie], we’ve got four or five guys that could easily be named MVP of the league, and nobody would bat an eye.”

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L-R: Wilkie Outlaws standouts Derek Keller and Brock Harrison, pictured postgame, with Keller donning the team’s ‘Player of the Game’ hardhat. (Submitted photo/Brock Harrison)

Derek Keller – Top Defenceman

Coming off another stellar season as the benchmark for two-way play in the senior ranks, Keller racked up 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 17 games this year on his way to a ninth consecutive Top Defenceman Award, having also taken home the distinction in each of 2015, ’16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘22, and ’23.

However, never one to let his past success go to his head, Keller – like his longtime teammate, Harrison – was the picture of humility when asked about the award and what it means.

“Anytime it’s your peers that are recognizing you for something like this it means something, and it’s something I think that everyone cherishes and doesn’t want to take for granted and is appreciative of,” Keller said. “Our main goals are team goals but individual accolades, when it’s coming from your peers, also mean a bit more.”

That emphasis on ‘team first’ is a big part of what led the Outlaws to a franchise-best 18-0-0 record this season, as the team looks to continue their reign as the benchmark of success in the SWHL, having won six of the last seven league championships, dating back to 2015.

Taryn Kotchorek – Top Goaltender

From a pair of veterans of the senior hockey ranks, to a first-year standout between the pipes, Kotchorek is coming off a big rookie campaign suiting up for the Edam 3 Stars, just 40 minutes north of his hometown in the Battlefords.

Kotchorek started 17 of his team’s 18 games, posting an 8-8-1 record with a league-high two shutouts. His 2.59 goals against average and .924 save percentage were also best among goaltenders to play double-digit games.

Edam 3 Stars goalie, Taryn Kotchorek, pictured here after being named Player of the Game earlier this season. (submitted photo/Taryn Kotchorek)

Kotchorek said it wouldn’t have been possible to see the success he did this year, without the whole team’s commitment to playing strong defence.

“It’s pretty awesome and I’m pretty honoured to win [Top Goaltender] my first year in the league, but I’ve got to give a lot of credit to our team,” he said. “We lost a few imports earlier in the year, so we were kind of struggling with scoring goals, but we really focused on defence and I think had the lowest goals against all year. Following that philosophy as a team helped me with that award and I like to think of it more as a team award.”

Other SWHL award winners include: Rookie of the Year, Wyatt Versluis (Biggar Nationals); Coach of the Year, Colter Zarabiak and Kyle Laturnus (Biggar Nationals); Defensive Forward of the Year, Cody McKinnon (Macklin Mohawks); and Most Gentlemanly Player, Jeremy Boyer (Hafford Hawks).

Wilkie’s Rick Cey became just the second player to be recognized with the Bill Cey Memorial Award, given annually to “an individual deemed the hardest working local player in the SWHL.” Ken Kernorhan (Biggar Nationals) was recognized with the Harvey Somerville Memorial Award “in recognition of years of service to senior hockey and the SWHL.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1