On Saturday, May 25th the Otters held their Year End Banquet & Awards Ceremony at the Active Living Centre. This was a great evening which saw players, bench staff, executive, volunteers, family members and guests join together to celebrate the past season. All in attendance were treated to an awesome dinner provided by the Algonquin Deli & Cafe.
Following Dinner, Brian Crozier (Otters GM) and Jason Farnsworth (Otters Head Coach) both addressed the crowd with a wrap up of the past season, highlighting the successes the Club experienced throughout the year. Among the year’s successes, Crozier noted the positive growth the Otters have experienced over the last couple of seasons, with the declaration of how the team is on a “moving up” trajectory that will continue in the upcoming season, along with thanking all of the volunteers involved in supporting the team and helping to make it successful. Farnsworth spoke of how proud he was of all the hard work and team effort this group put in day in and day out, which materialized on the ice and brought competition to our opponents in every game the Otters laced up their skates. He noted that the on ice successes were very important, but that this group came out of this season with something even more valuable – that the group became very tight knit, had each other’s back both on and off the ice and that the strength of those relationships will follow them not only through hockey, but for life and that type of comradery is a very valuable gift.
Brandon Janke was welcomed to the Otters organization as he will be joining the Bench as an Assistant Coach for the upcoming season. Brandon is a young man who played hockey both locally and beyond and has also coached in Huntsville at the Minor Hockey Level. We are thrilled to have Brandon join the team.
The evening continued with some awards being handed out for exceptional proficiency in a number of aspects earned over the last season.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt speech by our retiring (overage) Captain, Isaac Little. Isaac touched on what the team and the players meant to him and also emphasized that beyond even the hockey, the relationships made are forever and valued.
Many thanks to this past year’s exceptional group of young men we proudly call the Huntsville Jr C Otters – your dedication, hard work, team play and competitive style of hockey is so appreciated – thank you for entertaining us all season long!
The following is a list of the Awards, along with the Recipients:
Rookie of the Year: Jacob Jennings
Most Improved Player: Rhett MacFarlane
MVP: Isaac Little & Adam Dupuis
Manager’s Award – Unsung Hero: Aiden Hamelin
Best Defensive Forward: Adam Dupuis
Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Lyndon
Leading Scorer: Sam Litt
Most Sportsmanlike: Sam Litt
Barkey/MacPherson Award (recognizing the Season’s Overaged Players & all they have contributed to the Team):
Isaac Little, Nathan Markle, Adam Dupuis, Jack Lyndon
Congratulations to all Award Recipients!
Once an Otter, always an Otter!