The Battlefords North Stars' season came to an end sooner than the players, staff and fans would have liked, or would have expected for that matter, but with the end of the season the team handed out their final awards of the 2012-13 season.
Wednesday at the Civic Centre the team gathered for one final time to hand out the final two awards of the season and present a loyal organization with a cheque.
The presentation was made to the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club from the North Stars and CJV the Carpet People. North Stars graduating forward Braeden Johnson set up a campaign to raise money for the local club. For every point Johnson scored, CJV would donate $10 to the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club.
Johnson ended the season with 35 points and raised $350. Other donations and the recyclables from the Hot Stove Lounge upstairs at the Civic Centre brought the total to $1,760.
"The donation we received from the Battlefords North Stars will help us out tremendously with our future programming with our kids," said Boys and Girls Club executive assistant Shauna Kabler. "Every penny we get helps us out tremendously."
The North Stars also presented Josh Betinol with the team's playoff MVP award. Betinol had two goals in the North Stars' 4-3 game three loss to Melfort and was also the team's rookie of the year.
"This player elevated his game when he was called upon and we felt he was the most deserving of this award," said head coach and general manager Kevin Hasselberg.
"It is a huge honour, but it wasn't the playoff run we wanted," said Betinol.
The other award presented was no surprise as Kyle Hall was presented the team's top scorer award. Hall finished the regular season with 43 points after playing in all 54 games this season. He was also named the regular season MVP.
The other season awards were presented during the North Stars final home game of the season and Hasselberg said the idea was to include all the fans who support the team through the season in the process.
"The feedback in doing it this way has been phenomenal," said Hasselberg, as it is expected to be similar next season.
Looking ahead to next season, there is one thing the returning players will take from this year's playoff experience.
"That feeling you get when you are sitting in the room after the season knowing that it is all over. You never want to feel that," said Betinol. "Coming into next year, knowing that you want to win it all makes us that much better."
Hasselberg will soon be hitting the road to do some scouting and recruiting for the North Stars and expects to have 60 players at the team's spring camp April 12 to 14.
