Capping off the 2018-19 season, Airdrie’s AAA minor hockey teams recognized the efforts of its players April 4 at the teams’ year-end awards gala and banquet.
The event was held at the Town and Country Centre and included players, coaches, sponsors and family members of the Airdrie Xtreme (AAA bantam), Airdrie CFR Chemical Bisons (AAA midget) and the Airdrie-Cochrane (AC) Avalanche (AAA minor midget).
This year marked the first year the three teams held their year-end banquets together – a positive change, according to Avalanche head coach Terry Sydoruk, considering many players in Airdrie suit up for all three teams as they move through their minor hockey careers.
“It’s the family of teams that you progress through, if you want to play at the AAA level,” he said. “By bringing them together formally, in a banquet like that, it starts to stimulate the connection between all the teams.”
For the Bisons, head coach Dustin Taylor said there were nine awards distributed to players.
Two athletes who were recognized multiple times were 2003-born players Tristan Zandee and Ty Mueller, who shared the Top Scorer Award, after notching 34 points apiece this season. Zandee and Mueller were also co-honoured with the Rookie of the Year Award.
Mueller earned two further plaques, when he picked up the Top Defensive Forward Award as well as being named Most Valuable Player.
Taylor said Mueller and Zandee stood out this season for the Bisons, which finished the season just outside the sixth and final playoff spot in the Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League South Division. The athletes’ impressive play came despite being first-year midget players.
“I think, first and foremost, it’s just their drive to want to be hockey players,” Taylor said. “They're both very dedicated to their craft and getting better. And, they're both physically dominant, which is kind of crazy.
“It’s neat to see kids that young be that good.”
While Zandee and Mueller each attracted interest from Western Hockey League clubs, the athletes have committed to National Collegiate Athletic Association teams in the United States.. Mueller will play for the University of Nebraska after he graduates from high school, while Zandee received a scholarship to Colorado College.
Though Mueller and Zandee have two more years of midget eligibility, Taylor said he expects the players to progress to the Junior A level next year, before moving to their respective university teams in 2022-23.
“It’s unlikely we’re going to see them [with the Bisons] next season,” he said.
Two Bisons players left the banquet with more funding for their post-secondary education – Jackson Wade was honoured with the Markus Lavallee CFR Chemicals Memorial Scholarship, while Ben Nemish was awarded the AMHL Scholarship Award – both scholarships are for $2,500.
The Most Improved Player honours went to Owen Lugowski and Ben Lake.
Top Defenseman went to future Medicine Hat Tigers player Damon Agyeman, while the Mark Norman Hardest Working Bison Award was given to the team’s captain, Jett Jones.
Wade also picked up a another recognition, being honoured for the second year in a row with the Neil Glionna Award for Dedication, Perseverance and Sportsmanship.
For the Avalanche, which features first-year midget players, four players were recognized for their efforts during the Alberta AAA Minor Midget Hockey League season. Shaw Cathcart was named the team’s MVP, Caden Stephenson earned the Heart Award, the Most Improved Player honour went to Noah Goodwin and the Coaches’ Choice Award went to Alex Bend.
Seven Xtreme players collected awards. Goaltender Zach Zahara was named the bantam team’s MVP, while Riley Westlund took home the Top Forward Award and the Hear and Hustle Award.
Jace Moffat received the Top Defenseman Award, Thias Bessey was honoured with the Harry Smart Memorial Award and Grady Hauk received the Most Improved Player honour.
Three players shared the top scorer award – Westlund, Aiden Doornbos and Owen Jones, who all garnered 21 points.
