AJHL Announces League Award Winners

Press Release

Calgary, AB, February 23rd, 2010 – The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced today the League Award Winners for the 2009-2010 AJHL Season. The 2009-2010 League Awards will be presented at the home arenas of each recipient throughout the 2010 AJHL Enerflex Cup Playoffs.

Most Valuable Player – Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy

Cody Kunyk of the Sherwood Park Crusaders is the recipient of the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2009-2010 Alberta Junior Hockey League season.

Kunyk (Sherwood Park, AB) led the Crusaders in regular season scoring with 87 points and completes the season 5th overall in the AJHL Scoring Race. Kunyk scored a league leading 5 shorthanded goals. Kunyk recorded three or more points in 14 games during the 2009-2010 season and was selected as the Player of the Game nine times. Cody Kunyk also received the honour of Source for Sports AJHL Player of the Week twice (September 2009 and November 2009).

Cody Kunyk was a member of Team Canada West at the 2009 World Junior A Challenge (WJAC) in November. Kunyk and Team Canada West captured the silver medal and Kunyk was named to the 2009 WJAC Tournament All-Star Team. Kunyk was a unanimous selection to the 2010 North Division AJHL All-Star Team in January 2010.
Kunyk has recorded 169 points in his three year career with the Crusaders and is committed to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for the 2010-2011 season.

Kunyk becomes just the third player in franchise history to receive the League MVP Award, most recently awarded to Crusader Mike Palichuk in 1989.

Jarret Granberg of the Brooks Bandits and Connor Hardowa of the Spruce Grove Saints were selected as the co-recipients of the 2009 Most Valuable Player Award. Notable past recipients of the Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy: Darryl Sutter, Brent Sutter, Mike Comrie, Lanny McDonald, Mason Raymond.

Scoring Champion – Ernie Love Trophy

Zahn Raubenheimer of the Grande Prairie Storm and Bryce Williamson of the St. Albert Steel are the co-recipients of the Ernie Love Trophy as the regular season scoring champions. Raubenheimer and Williamson recorded 107 points, an average of 1.8 points per game.

Zahn Raubenheimer (Smoky Lake, AB) scored 47 goals and 60 assists, including 14 powerplay goals and 7 game winning goals. Raubenheimer recorded three hat tricks and 31 multi-point games in the 2009-2010 regular season. He has set a new franchise record for Most Points in a Single Season, surpassing the record of 104 set by Dustin Sather in 2006-2007. Sather also captured the Ernie Love Trophy in 2006-2007. Raubenheimer has tied the franchise record for Most Goals in a Single Season with 47 (Ryan Carter 1997-1998).

Zahn Raubenheimer was a unanimous selection to the 2010 North Division AJHL All-Star Team. In his second consecutive AJHL All-Star Game, he tallied two points in a 14-9 victory over the 2010 South Division All-Stars. Zahn received the Player of the Game Award 11 times in the regular season. Raubenheimer received the honour of Source for Sports AJHL Player of the Week twice (November 2009 and January 2010).

Raubenheimer is in his fifth and final AJHL season with the Storm, during which time he has amassed 241 points in 251 regular season games. He is committed to the University of Nebraska for the 2010-2011 season.

Bryce Williamson (Seba Beach, AB) completed the regular season on a 21 game point streak. In 60 games played, he scored 41 goals, 66 assists and 8 game winning goals. Williamson received the Player of the Game Award 14 times in 2009-2010. He also received the honour of Source for Sports AJHL Player of the Week twice (October 2009 and February 2010). Williamson was voted to the 2010 North Division All-Star Team for a second consecutive year.

Williamson is the current franchise record holder for Most Goals (41), Most Assists (66) and Most Points (107) in a single season and the career record holder for Most Goals (102), Most Assists (136) and Most Points (238).

Williamson has committed to Bowling Green State University for the 2010-2011 season. Williamson amassed 250 regular season points with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders and St. Albert Steel (2006-2010), averaging 1.1 point per game in his AJHL career. Last season Bryce was the St. Albert Steel MVP and leading scorer.

Reese Rolheiser of the Sherwood Park Crusaders was the 2008-2009 AJHL Scoring Champion with 88 points. Notable past recipients of the Ernie Love Trophy are Dany Heatley, Mike Comrie, Fernando Pisani, Brent Sutter.

Top Goaltender – Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey League Trophy

Goaltender Travis Rolheiser of the Regular Season Champion Spruce Grove Saints has earned the Top Goaltender Award for the 2009-2010 AJHL Season. The Top Goaltender Award is awarded to the goaltender who demonstrated the greatest ability in his position throughout the season as voted on by the League General Managers and Coaches. In past seasons, the award was designated for the goaltender with the lowest goals against average.

Travis Rolheiser (Edmonton, AB) set two new AJHL Records with a 1.58 goals against average (GAA) and .934% save percentage (SV%). The previous record for Lowest Goals Against Average was 1.64 GAA; the League Record for Highest Save Percentage was .933%.

Rolheiser finished the regular season at 26-3-0 (W-L-T). The Saints allowed only 99 Goals Against in 2009-2010, a new League Record for Fewest Goals Against. The goaltending duo of Travis Rolheiser and Vince Marozzi led the Saints to a record setting 11 shutouts in 2009-2010, a record they will now share with the 2005-2006 Fort McMurray Oil Barons.

The 20 year-old goaltender has played in 122 games over four seasons in the AJHL with the Canmore Eagles and Spruce Grove Saints.

Chad Carder of the Grande Prairie Storm recorded a League leading 2.02 GAA to earn the title of Top Goaltender in the 2008-2009 AJHL Regular Season.

Top Team Goaltenders – Reebok / CCM Top Team Goaltenders Award

Goaltender Vincenzo Marozzi and Travis Rolheiser of the Spruce Grove Saints are the recipients of the 2009-2010 Reebok / CCM Top Team Goaltenders Award. The Top Team Goaltenders Award is an annual award given to the goaltenders of the team with the lowest goals against average (GAA) in the regular season.

The Spruce Grove Saints completed the regular season with a 1.70 GAA. The Saints allowed only 99 goals in 2009-2010, a new League Record for Fewest Goals Against. Travis Rolheiser (Edmonton, AB) and Vince Marozzi (Edmonton, AB) led the Saints to a record setting 11 shutouts in 2009-2010, a record shared with the 2005-2006 Fort McMurray Oil Barons.

Goaltender Travis Rolheiser of the Regular Season Champion Spruce Grove Saints has earned the Top Goaltender Award for the 2009-2010 AJHL Season. Rolheiser (Edmonton, AB) set two new League Records with a 1.58 goals against average (GAA) and .934% save percentage (SV%). Marozzi finished the season second overall in both categories with a 1.67 GAA and .931 SV% and will enter the League Record Book in third position for both accomplishments.

Chad Carder and Matt Milne of the Grande Prairie Storm were the recipients of the 2008-2009 Reebok / CCM Top Team Goaltenders Award with a 2.20 GAA.

Rookie of the Year – Dick White Trophy

Defenceman Dillon Simpson of the Spruce Grove Saints is the 2009-2010 recipient of the Dick White Trophy as the AJHL Rookie of the Year.

Simpson (Edmonton, AB) tallied 41 points in his rookie season and ended his rookie campaign tied for second place in scoring amongst all rookies. Simpson was 4th amongst AJHL defensemen in scoring. Simpson was selected to participate in the 2010 AJHL All-Star Game in Fort McMurray.

“He’s a very special player and we expected him to have a very real impact with our club,” says Saints Head Coach / GM Steve Hamilton. “He has the poise and confidence that you don’t generally see from players at that stage.”

Dillon Simpson has committed to attend the University of North Dakota to play for the Fighting Sioux. The 17-year old defenseman spent last season with the Southside Athletic Club Midget AAA program prior to joining the Saints.

Corban Knight of the Okotoks Oilers was selected as the 2008-2009 AJHL Rookie of the Year. Past notable recipients of the Dick White Trophy: Dany Heatley, Mike Comrie, Stu Barnes, Dave Babych.

Outstanding Defenceman – W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy

Matthew Register of the Bonnyville Pontiacs has captured the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy as the League’s Outstanding Defenceman for 2009-2010. The award is given annually to the defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.

Register (Calgary, AB) led all AJHL Defencemen in scoring and was 16th overall in the AJHL Scoring Race with 45 assists and 61 points. Register averaged 1.1 point per game in his third and final season with the Pontiacs. The 20 year-old AJHL veteran is committed University of Alabama-Huntsville for the 2010-2011 season.

Register is the first player in franchise history to receive the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy.

Connor Hardowa of the Spruce Grove Saints was the recipient of the 2008-2009 Outstanding Defenceman Award. Past recipients of the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy include: Chris Phillips and Dave Babych.

Most Dedicated Player – Don McNabb Memorial Trophy

The Don McNabb Memorial Trophy has been awarded to Nate Fleming of the Spruce Grove Saints as the Most Dedicated Player in the 2009-2010 AJHL Season. The trophy is awarded annually to the player judged the most dedicated to his team.

Fleming and the Spruce Grove Saints recently captured the 2009-2010 Regular Season Championship after an unparalleled season, which will enter the League Record Book in the categories of Most Wins, Most Points, Fewest Goals Against, Fewest Loses and Most Shut Outs.

Fleming (St. Albert, AB) was second in Team Scoring with 61 points and 7 game winning goals. He was awarded the Source for Sports AJHL Player of the Week honour in September 2009 and was recognized as Player of the Game five times in the regular season. Fleming has played 180 regular season games in a Saints uniform, recording 154 points in his three year AJHL career.

Michael Perry of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons was named the Most Dedicated Player in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the 2008-2009 Season.

Stewy Stewart Memorial – Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy

Evan Warner (Calgary, AB) of the Drumheller Dragons has been selected as the 2009-2010 recipient of the Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy.

The Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy is named in honour of a long-time Calgary area fan who supported hockey at all levels. “Stewy” died in 1997 and the award was created to honour his support and commitment to the game. The Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the AJHL player in the South Division that best exhibits the following attributes: character, dedication, perseverance, integrity and sportsmanship.

The 18 year-old Assistant Captain of the Drumheller Dragons has earned the respect of his teammates and Coaches through his dedication, strong character and perseverance. “Evan is unfailingly the leader of the group,” said Dragons General Manager and Head Coach Dan Price. “Evan handles his leadership role with the team, strong dedication to the game, and academic course load with pulse, energy and enthusiasm.”

“There are many parallels between the game inside the boards and life outside the rink that make hockey such a special game,” said award recipient Evan Warner. “In countless ways hockey contributes to the character of a player both on and off the ice. I believe hockey is not just a game, it is an illustration of what a player is on the inside, a test of moral character. Hockey is an exercise in bettering yourself as a human being.”

Chad Berglund of the Olds Grizzlys was the 2008-2009 recipient of the Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy.

Coach of the Year

Steve Hamilton is the 2009-2010 AJHL Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and the third time in his AJHL career. Hamilton received the honour for the first time in 2005-2006 as the Head Coach of the Fort Saskatchewan Traders.

The Spruce Grove Saints captured the Dave Duchak Trophy for the second consecutive year as the 2009-2010 AJHL Regular Season Champions. The Saints set five League Records as they completed the Regular Season on Sunday with a record of 52-4-1-3 and 108 points.

The 2009-2010 Spruce Grove Saints broke the League Record for Most Points with 108, previously set at 106 points. The Saints allowed only 99 Goals Against in 2009-2010, surpassing the previous record of 110 Goals Against. The Saints will also enter the AJHL Record Book for Most Wins with 52, tied with the 1999-2000 Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The Saints have tied the League Record for Fewest Losses with only 4 regulation losses, shared with the 1993-1994 Olds Grizzlys. The Saints also recorded 11 shutouts in 2009-2010, a League Record obtained by the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in 2005-2006.

The Saints have guaranteed themselves a first round bye in the 2010 AJHL Playoffs by securing 1st place in the North Division. The Saints completed the regular season 25 points ahead of their next closest rival in the North Division.

Five members of Hamilton’s Saints are recipients of 2009-2010 AJHL League Awards, including Dillon Simpson (Rookie of the Year), Nate Fleming (Most Dedicated Player), Travis Rolheiser (Top Goaltender), Travis Rolheiser and Vincenzo Marozzi (Top Team Goaltender) and Steve Hamilton (Coach of the Year).

Hamilton is in his fourth season as General Manager and Head Coach of the Spruce Grove Saints. Hamilton’s father, Al Hamilton, won the AJHL Coach of the Year Award in 1984-85 as Head Coach of the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)