The Yorkton Terriers held their annual awards night Friday, and club president Lyle Walsh called it a time to celebrate and one to plan for the future.
"It's an evening to celebrate. And there are lots of reasons to celebrate. On and off the ice it was a great year. We got to enjoy one of the best seasons of home games in a long time. We saw a team that played hard and never quit. A team that could be down a goal or two in the third period and come back to win," Walsh told a large turnout of fans at the Nexera Flexihall.
"We enjoyed some of the finest play-off hockey that we'll ever see. Moving past Estevan, Melville and Humboldt to win the league. This was a team that had a goal and saw it happen, truly a season to celebrate."
Walsh said the year followed on several great years for the Terriers.
"Terrier hockey fans have been lucky to be able to enjoy so many continuous years of great hockey and good accomplishments. This franchise has done well and to a great degree is from the efforts of the GM, Coach, Scouts, and Players etc. This team is near the top, year after year," he said.
While Walsh looked at the successes the team has enjoyed, he also said the club must look to the future too, and to one project in particular.
"It's always nice to have a wish list of things to work towards and we too have that kind of list. This hockey club needs a new dressing room. Over the past few years we have given the old room a couple of face-lifts but everything has a shelf life and this one is all but over," he said.
"Over the past 10 years dressing room talk has come up and discussed but never really gets very far down the road. We must now work together to form partnerships and someone get the team what it deserves in the way of a new dressing room. We always say we're short of money or so many other excuses. But we need it We have to work closely with the Gallagher Centre to even get started on a project like this, but that can happen."
Here is a look at the player award results. Three Star Award - donated by Subway: 3 -Patrick Martens, 2 - Dawson MacAuley, 1 - Jeremy Johnson. Scholastic Award - donated by Yorkton Terrier Hockey Club - Dylan Baer. Dedicated and Serves Community - Ed Ruf Memorial - Brenden Poncelet. Mr. Personality - Jamie Standish Memorial - Austin Bourhis, John Neibrandt. Most Gentlemanly - Yorkton Terrier Hockey Club - Tyler Giebel. Unsung Hero - donated by Park's Jewellery - Chase Norrish. Most Popular - Amos Border Memorial - Kailum Gervais. Mr. Hustle - donated by Yorkton Co-op - Tayler Thompson. Rookie of the Year - donated by Dr. Roodt - Daylan Gatzke. Most Improved - Schoenroths & Wolfe Memorial - Dylan Baer. Top Scorer for Regular Season - donated by Yorkton Terrier Hockey Club - Nathan Murray. Playoff Top Scorer - donated by Fox FM/GX94 - Tyler Giebel. Playoff MVP - donated by GX 94: Estevan Series, Patrick Martens; Melville Series, Brady Norrish and Dawson MacAuley; Humboldt Series, Jeremy Johnson and Tyler Giebel. Coaches Award - The Josh Campbell Memorial Trophy - Kale Thomson. Most Valuable Defenseman - donated by Yorkton Terrier Hockey Club - Devon McMullen. Most Valuable Player - Guy Lamb Memorial Trophy - Brady Norrish. Presidents Trophy- donated by Gene Krepakevich - Nathan Murray. Volunteer of the Year - Gord Pritchart
The Terrier awards banquet was the last official team function for six 20-year-old players who have now finished their Junior hockey eligibility.
The 20-year-olds included Brenden Poncelet, Nathan Murray, Jeremy Johnson, Austin Bourhis, John Neibrandt, and Patrick Martens.
Murray was graduating after spending a rare four-year stint with the team.
"It should be a good night for everyone, a chance to see everyone one last time," he said as the evening got under way.
Murray said he hasn't spent a lot of time reflecting on the end of his Junior career, but added he knows the current group which won the Canalta Cup will "keep in touch" as it has been a close knit group.
As for being a four-year Terrier, Murray said three of the years were very successful with three visits to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League final.
Murray said it was because the team was successful on the ice that he was likely able to stay in a Terrier uniform.
"You're generally traded, or something, before that," he said, noting on poor teams veterans often get moved, or even ask for a trade.
That said the night was bringing to an end a long relationship for Murray and the Terriers.
"Obviously I've been here quite a while. It's definitely been a good time here. I've made some friends and advanced my play," he said, adding he sees himself fortunate having been able to play in a city he terms "the best place to play."
For both Murray and Johnson they say the highlight and greatest disappointments as Terriers came within a couple of weeks of each other.
"Obviously winning the league was a high point," observed Murray, calling it a fun run to the title.
Johnson was on the same page in terms of a highlight. He said winning the league in his final year "with this great group of guys," was something he'll never forget.
"It doesn't get any better than winning the league, other than getting to the RBC would have been."
But losing to Brooks 1-0 in the survivor game at the Western Canada Cup keeping the Terriers from a berth in the Royal Bank Cup was also the greatest disappointment.
"It was tough," said Murray, but he added the level of play at the tournament was high.
"Here (in the SJHL) we always expected to win. Out there you really had to earn your wins."
Johnson said the loss was hard but added "most guys handled it pretty well. You know you're a champion no matter what."
That said a one goal loss has its sting.
"But the effort was there, so no one can be too disappointed," said Johnson. "We had a lot of chances. If we could have got a couple of bounces we could have won the game."
Still both players also said they were proud how the team played. They gave it their all in the final game, and just came up one goal short.
Neither player is sure where they might be this fall, although Murray wants to be playing hockey.
"I want to keep playing hockey as long as I can. I can worry about work when I have to," he said.
Both players are looking at post-secondary options which could include hockey on both sides of the 49 parallel.
Norrish turns heads
Brady Norrish has had an amazing run the last few weeks.
He was named co-Most Valuable Player in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs with teammate Dawson MacAuley.
Then at the Western Canada Cup he was named to the all star team, and earned tournament top defenceman honours.
Then Friday Norrish was handed the Terrier MVP Award at the team's annual awards banquet.
Norrish said the awards in Nanaimo came as a surprise.
"It's cool. I didn't expect it."
Norrish, in a quiet, modest way, said he just goes out to play his game every night.
So why when most defenceman winning awards are offensive minded, are people noticing Norrish?
"I move the puck around pretty good. I make the simple plays. I try not to screw up too much," he said with a grin.
While the awards were nice on a personal level, Norrish said the loss in the survivor final 1-0 to Brooks was a bitter one.
"It was a tough way to go out," he said, adding the team played hard.
And Norrish too was pragmatic about things.
"We had a great year," he said.
So what lies ahead for the talented 19-year-old rearguard who has been rumoured close to a college scholarship deal.
"The plan is to come back and play hockey for the Yorkton Terriers," he said, adding while both he and brother Chase have had scouts talking to them, no deal is imminent to alter their plan at this time.
"We want to try and do it (a league championship) again," he said.
When Team West heads to the World Junior 'A' Challenge in November a familiar face to Yorkton Terrier hockey fans will be on the bench.
Trent Cassan has been chosen as one of two assistant coaches on the team.
"It's a pretty exciting opportunity to be part of it," he said.
Cassan was involved with the team selection process last fall.
"I had the chance to go to the selection camp," he said, adding that experience proved to be "a foot in the door" toward a larger role this year.
As part of the process Cassan will attend a coaching clinic in Calgary in June, ran by Hockey Canada.
The Program of Excellence training will be provided by coaches already involved in Hockey Canada international teams, such as the World Juniors and Under-17 championships.
"That will be a pretty good opportunity to start with," he said, adding what he learns at such a camp will transfer to helping him coach in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League as well.
Cassan said while he has had a brief conversation with team officials after his selection, he expects more details to come as it gets closer to the June clinic.
In terms of what he might be doing as an assistant coach, Cassan said, "I'm willing to take on any role."
Team West's head coach will be Jason McKee of the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"He was one of the assistants last year," noted Cassan.
Ryan Smith head coach of the Selkirk Steelers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League will join Cassan as an assistant.
The Team West team will consist mainly of 18-year-olds, with five 19-year-olds allowed on the roster. The team will be selected at a camp in the fall and then head east to the actual event (Nov. 5-11), a process which will see Cassan away from the Terriers for nearly three weeks.
While the Yorkton Terriers were at the Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo a Western Hockey League trade took place which could impact the team this fall.
The WHL rights of goaltender Dawson MacAuley transferred from Calgary to the Regina Pats.
MacAuley said he will be looking to earn a spot with the Pats this fall.
"I've always said I want to play at the highest level I can. I want to play in the WHL," he said, adding "that's nothing against the Terriers."
MacAuley said he recognizes the Terriers gave him a chance to play, and said "If I end up back here," he will still be with a great organization.
As for the trade to the Pats, MacAuley said he is hoping it's a door opening for him, after past try-outs in Medicine Hat, and a brief stint on the Hitmen's player's list.
"I know the team (Pats) are going to give me an opportunity," he said, adding while nothing has been promised he is happy with an honest chance to compete for a spot.
"I see this as a really good opportunity for me," he said. "It's not going to be handed to one, but I have a chance."
A chance is more than he had with Calgary.
"I don't think the team knew I was part of their organization," said MacAuley with a smile.
He expects a better fate in Regina.
"I've talked to them briefly a couple of days ago, a bit about my plans for this summer and their plans for next fall," said MacAuley, adding he is looking forward to the Pats camp, but won't rule out a return to the Terriers either if that is what is required to keep playing hockey.
