A stellar season for the Battlefords North Stars now includes some individual hardware for members of the North Stars organization.
It was learned Thursday that Matthew Fletcher was the winner of the league’s Defenceman of the Year award. He was one of three nominees up for the best defenceman award, the others being Alex Rondeau of Melfort and Devan Harrison of Estevan.
After winning the award Fletcher recorded two goals in Friday’s 5-4 win over the Kindersley Klippers. Based on the performance one might have thought the award recognition inspired him on Friday night.
“I kind of told myself before the game that I’ve got to show them they picked the right person kind of type deal,” said Fletcher.
He gave credit to the whole team for his own great season.
“It goes from our team out, our team’s been solid from our goaltenders out. I’ve got to complement my d-partner Seth Summers. He’s been a rock for me this year. Me and him play well together.”
But Fletcher also downplayed his individual award, pointing to the bigger picture.
“These individual awards, they’re nice but at the end of the day I want to be holding that championship trophy at the end of playoffs,” said Fletcher.
Coach Brayden Klimosko also shared coach of the year honors with Kevin Kaminski of La Ronge. But like Fletcher, he downplayed the individual recognition, noting the big prize was coming up.
“It’s obviously nice to get rewarded and stuff like that, but the real award is coming up, that’s the championship,” said Klimosko. “We’re looking for the playoffs for the fun to begin.”
Other league award winners were Yorkton’s Chantz Petruic who took MVP and Player of the Year honors; the North Stars’ Quintin-Loon Stewardson had been one of the Player of the Year nominees. Melville’s Berk Berkeliev took the Top Goalie award and Flin Flon’s Tristan Lemyre took Rookie of the Year honors.
