The Nipawin Hawks held their annual awards banquet on Saturday. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
By Clark Stork
Celebrating the season

Hawks hand out hardware at annual awards banquet

Mar 13, 2023 | 11:58 AM

The Nipawin Hawks celebrated their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) regular season on Saturday with the teams’ annual awards banquet.

The event followed the Hawks final game of the season Friday against the Mustangs that Melfort won 3-0. The loss secured Nipawin a seventh overall finish in the standings and a first round playoff series against the Humboldt Broncos.

Prior to focusing on the club’s return to the postseason, eight players were honoured with 12 total awards for successful seasons in Nipawin. Third-year centreman Alex Johnson was the big winner of the evening taking home the leading scorer award, top forward, and most valuable player honours. The Calgary product was quick to credit his teammates for his success.

“It means a lot to have my peers think that way about me. It makes me feel good inside, it makes me feel like they always have my back,” Johnson said.

The SJHL season will conclude on Tuesday. Johnson currently sits tied for 13th in overall scoring. Last season he scored seven goals and added 11 assists, this year he scored 13 goals and set up 42 others. Johnson said he’s proud of himself for taking such a drastic step forward in his final junior season, but he added the playoffs is where the work begins.

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“I am for sure, it feels good especially to get some recognition which is always nice. As you know the job isn’t done, we still have playoffs and a lot to prove,” he said.

Maguire Ratzlaff was named the Third Star of the Year, Braxton Buckberger took home the Second Star of the Year while Carson Dobson was the First Star of the Year winner. Ratzlaff was also named the Clark J. Froehlich Community Service Award winner as well. Dobson took home the Unsung Hero Award alongside his other honour.

Reid MacKay was voted as the fan favourite award winner, Zander Stewart is the teams’ top defenceman, and 18-year-old defenceman Vito Biondo was named the teams’ rookie of the year.

Tre Fouquette was honoured with the Love of the Game (In Memory of Goobs) Award presented by Joel’s parents Lynn and Tim. The second year Hawk was honoured with receiving an award of that value.

“It’s an awesome award,” he said after. “It makes me super happy to get voted for that and noticed for that. Makes me happy.”

From the description of the award, the honour is presented to “the player who ultimately shows the most love for the game, always have a smile on his face, encourages teammates, has fun, and strives to win.” Fouquette said the sport brings those attributes out in him.

“It’s always a blast going to the rink with the guys, it’s always so fun. Hockey is the best sport; it takes your mind off everything. It’s always a great time at the rink,” he said.

The Hawks first round series will begin Friday in Humboldt at the Elgar Petersen Arena, game two will be Saturday, March 18. Games three and four will be in Nipawin on Tuesday, March 21 and March 22.

Playoff tickets will go on sale on Wednesday.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork
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