The Empire B Junior C Hockey League teams gathered May 21 in Selby, Ontario to celebrate an exciting 20th season of hockey and some of the individuals who contributed to those thrills.
Napanee's Pete Sergeant took home the most valuable player honours in a season that saw him captain his team to a record 37-3 mark in the regular season. The overage forward had 41 goals and 56 assists in 37 games and added defence and physical play with his scoring prowess.
Sergeant is the league's nominee for the OHA player of the year award. The winner will be announced at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto June 12.
His Napanee teammates also had a lot to celebrate on the evening. Netminder Zak Vandenburg captured his third goaltender of the year award after a 28-1 season with four shutouts. He also led the league in goals against average, minutes, and save percentage.
Sergeant's linemate Andrew Halliday was unable to attend the ceremony, but earned the leading scorer award for his 60 goal, 60 assist season — the second highest in league history and the first player passing 100 points in 12 years.
The Raiders also claimed the Mason Budarick Memorial Trophy as regular season champions and the low team goals against award.
Defenceman Lucas Hooley was the only dual nominee, up for the rookie and defensive awards. The big, physical Campbellford rearguard claimed the honour as the Empire's best freshman after leading all defencemen in scoring with 34 points.
Mid-season Colborne pickup Adam Vandertoorn rounded out the regular season awards. A slick skater with a hard shot, he claimed the top defenceman award after returning from Tier II hockey.
Amherstview Jets overager Marshall Huband delivered a clutch performance in his team's run to the Tod Trophy as Empire B champions and, thus, earned the Sgt. Jason Boyes Memorial Award as the most outstanding player in the playoffs.
He had 10 goals and seven assists within the league and added another seven points in Schmalz Cup play. Huband scored some timely goals as the Jets defeated the Raiders in the final and also drew key defensive and shorthanded assignments.
The Jets were also recognized for their Tod Trophy championship and their run to the OHA semifinals. It was the furthest their franchise made it in a quest for the Schmalz Cup and the Empire's second berth in the semifinals in two years.
The league also recognized finalists in each category — Brock Patterson (Amherstview) and Kyle Brooks (Colborne) for MVP; Jory Fuller (Colborne) and Jacob Hartman (Frontenac) for goaltender; Jeff Carroll (Frontenac) and Liam McFall (Picton), and Hooley, Mike Londry (Amherstview), and Dan Stone (Napanee) for defenceman — and its players of the month: Halliday (October), Andrew Johnson (Amherstview, November), Hooley (December), and Patterson (January February) that night.
Pictured (from left) are Hooley, Huband, Sergeant, Vandenburg, and Vandertoorn.
