If you ask anyone in attendance at the Battlefords North Stars' awards banquet Saturday, everyone would agree the season ended too early, but players, fans and coaches alike were willing to look ahead to the future.
The future for eight players; Mitch Galbraith, Cole Gibson, Keith Grondin, Tony Oak, Colin Phaneuf, Cris Neurauter, Cody Folstad and Kyle Birch, is no longer with the North Stars, as they graduate from the SJHL. According to head coach and general manager Ken Pearson, they all plan to move on to other hockey opportunities either at the semi pro level, NCAA division I or III level or CIS. The 13 players who could return next season will be expected to use this season as a learning experience and a stepping block for the future 2011-12 season.
Despite looking ahead to the future, there were some outstanding accomplishments by the North Stars this season and the players were recognized with 14 awards and a scholarship for their accomplishments on and off the ice.
Oak, the longest serving North Star in the past decade with 202 games played, was the big winner of the night. He collected two awards and a scholarship. Oak was presented with the Most Inspirational Award along with the Fan's Choice Award. Oak also was given the North West Hockey Development Scholarship, as he plans to attend a Canadian school and continue playing hockey at a Canadian university.
Blake Tatchell was also a multiple award winner, as he shared the top scorer award with Phanuef and won the team MVP award. Tatchell won the North Stars Rookie of the Year Award last season and after notching 26 goals and 48 assists he was the clear cut choice for the MVP this season.
Phaneuf, who shared the top scorer award in his one and only season in the Battlefords had 21 goals and 53 assists this season and is now fielding offers to play NCAA hockey.
Neurauter, the team's captain who started the season in Estevan, was named the Humanitarian Award winner. Neurauter played 49 games as a North Star recording six goals and 29 assists, but his instant leadership and calming influence on and off the ice was possibly his biggest attributes to the team.
Rookie forward Tanner Schwab was named the most gentlemanly player. Despite one fight this season, Schwab had 29 penalty minutes while chipping in 13 goals and 16 assists.
Another rookie who had a great year was Kyle Hall, who finished fifth on the team in points with 22 goals and 19 assists in 58 games. He was the team representative for the SJHL's Rookie of the Year Award. He earned an honourable mention in that category. Rightfully so Hall was named the North Stars' Rookie of the Year Award winner and should have a promising future in the Battlefords.
The Most Improved Player Award was presented to rookie forward Robbie Newton. The youngest player on the regular season roster, Newton had three goals and three assists in 41 games and earned 55 penalty minutes.
Grondin, who played just one season in the Battlefords was presented with the most dedicated player honour. Grondin, the North Stars' leading goal scorer, had 35 goals and 20 assists in 52 games.
Gibson, a trade deadline acquisition, was named the team's most underrated player. Gibson played 17 games with the North Stars, as well as 12 in Estevan and 20 in Melfort this season. He was the most consistent player on the North Stars' roster in his 17 games, as he had 13 goals and five assists.
The plus/minus award went to graduating defenceman Folstad, who was eighth on the team in points with eight goals and 27 assists and had 105 penalty minutes.
The defenceman with just one more point than Folstad on the season, Woody Klassen, earned the top defenceman award. Klassen was unable to attended the banquet, as he was already in Greenville, S.C. set to play alongside his brother Sam with the Road Warriors of the ECHL.
Boyd Wakelin, who played forward and filled in as a defenceman was awarded the Mr. Hustle Award. Wakelin had four goals and nine assists in 45 games in his second season with the North Stars.
Last but not least, was Birch, winning the playoff MVP award. Birch had a .910 save percentage in the series with Flin Flon. Had it not been for the amazing play by P.J. Musico in the Flin Flon net, Birch would still be leading the North Stars deep into the playoffs. But it simply wasn't meant to be this season. He played a total of 125 games with the North Stars in three seasons.
Pearson is now set to pack his bag, like most of the players, and head home, but before that he expects to dedicate nearly a month to scouting, hoping to find players to draw to the Battlefords for the spring camp April 8 to 10.
