With the season now in the books, the Humboldt Broncos handed out their year-end awards at the Pioneer Hotel on Mar. 8 before the players went their separate ways for the summer.
While the season did not go as anyone had hoped the theme of the evening was positivity and excitement because all the members of the Broncos organization who gave a speech saw a bright future for the team. No one was giving the team a pass for this season and made it clear that they expect better next year but they also admitted to being a very young team with a lot of opportunity for growth in the coming years.
There were many awards handed out on the night with the big winner being forward Logan Schatz who won four awards.
Schatz took home the award as the teams top scorer after finishing the season with 56 points in 57 games beating line mate Trevor Posch by 12 points for tops on the team.
Schatz also took home the award for having the best plus/minus on the team as well as the three star award for being the best player on the road this season for the Broncos.
The final award Schatz took home was the Most Valuable Player Award as he lead his team in assists, points and plus/minus as well as finishing the season as the captain after Corey Dambrauskas was lost for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Schatz was very happy to win the award saying it was a “big honour.”
“So many great players have come through this organization and to be named as one of the best players on the team this year from the coaching staff and my teammates, it really feels good to get noticed like that and I’m just happy that I was able to help my teammates out as much as I could.”
Another big winner for the team was defenseman Connor Swystun who took home both the offensive and defensive defenseman awards. Swystun called it “awesome” to be named as both the best offensive and defensive defenseman of the year.
“It’s a huge honour actually, I don’t know if anyone’s won both before this year. It’s a privilege to be named both offensive and defensive defenseman,” he said.
Injured defenseman and team captain Corey Dambrauskas was named the coach’s award winner as the best team player but was unable to attend the banquet.
During the announcement of the award Head Coach Darcy Haugan said when he was told there was a coach’s award the first player he thought of was Dambrauskas. Haugan recalled an exhibition game at the beginning of the year when Brody Doepker got hit from behind. Dambraukas was one of the first players to come to his teammates aid, said Haugan.
The award winners were:
Elgar Peterson Award (contributions on/off ice): Michael Korol
Roger Nielsen Hockey Ministries Award: Josh Bergen
Colony Motors Top Scorer Award: Logan Schatz
107.5 Bolt FM 3 Star Award (road games): Logan Schatz
Parobec Fitness and Performance Fitness Award: Logan Boulet
Quality Tire 3 Star Award (home games): Daniel McKitrick
Universal Sports Plus/Minus Award: Logan Schatz
Humboldt Home Hardware Fan Favourite Award: Trevor Posch
Alphonse Krakowka Memorial Trophy (defensive defenseman): Connor Swystun
Pioneer Hotel & Motel Offensive Defenseman Award: Connor Swystun
RONA Most Dedicated Player Award: Michael Korol
Humboldt CO-OP Hardest Worker: Laramie Kostelansky
Hergott Farm Equipment Rookie of the Year: Chris Van Os-Shaw
5-West Car & Truck Wash Unsung Hero Award: Trevor Posch
Dr. Terry Henning Most Improved Player Award: Matthew Parsons
Conexus Credit Union Most Valuable Player Award: Logan Schatz
Coach’s Award (best team player): Corey Dambrauskas
