The Battlefords North Stars gave their fans an opportunity to witness the 2012-13 regular season award winners in a different atmosphere than seasons past.
Friday, before the team's final regular season home game, members of the North Stars board handed out the awards to the team's recipients, as the players lined up along the blueline and the fans gave them an ovation.
The first award presented was to defencemen Dillon Forbes and Evan Ripley. The two players were co-winners of the most dedicated award. Ripley was named an assistant captain in his first season, and his last, as he graduates from junior hockey this year.
Forbes, a home grown player, was also an assistant captain with the North Stars this season. Those two were not only leaders on the ice, but led by example off the ice. They were two of the best conditioned players from training camp on and usually some of the first players at the rink to get prepared for practice and games.
The MVP award was presented to veteran centre Kyle Hall. Hall is known for his strong play at both ends of the ice and led the team in points with 43 points, a career high. He was one of three players to play all 54 games for the North Stars this season and played a total of 169 regular season games for the North Stars over three seasons.
The top defenceman award was no surprise, as it went to veteran defenceman Brody Luhning. Luhning had 40 points this season, which matched his career high, and was second on the team in points. He leads by example on the ice and is considered a great teammate off it. Luhning, like Hall also played all 54 games this season.
Josh Betinol was one of the many rookies to the North Stars' roster this season and was named the rookie of the year. Coach Kevin Hasselberg mentioned that the way the knowledgeable fans responded to his game and work ethic showed just one of the many reasons Betinol was chosen for the award. Betinol, who tried out for the Canada West team early in the season, finished fourth on the team in points.
The team's most improved player was Tanner Quinn. The second year forward had a slow start to the season and missed nearly 20 games with an injury. Since returning to the lineup in January, he has been one of the team's hottest players. He has a consistently strong work ethic and is a motivator on the bench, in the dressing room and on the ice.
Twenty-year-old forward Braeden Johnson won the humanitarian award. Johnson was third on the team in points and that production also translated into money for the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club. For every point Johnson scored this season, CJV the Carpet People will donate $10 to the local club. Johnson's 35 points produced $350 for the Boys and Girls Club.
The final award of the night went to the fans' choice and that was presented to rookie forward Blake Young. Young, a local product, has impressed at the midget AAA level and continued to do the same at the junior level. His size, style of play and nose for the net are some of the qualities that helped the fans choose him for the prestigious award.
The weekend's games also marked the final regular season games that graduating players Hall, Johnson, Ripley, Luhning and goaltender Connor Creech will play for the Battlefords North Stars.
