Five days after their season came to an end, members of the Estevan Bruins gathered for one final hurrah on March 26 before going their separate ways.
The Bruins recognized many of their players with hardware and gave their 20-year-olds a sendoff at their annual awards banquet.
Goaltender Matt Gibney and left winger Austin Daae shared the team's most valuable player award, which was handed out at the end of the evening.
Gibney was a workhorse between the pipes this season, playing in 43 games with a .912 save percentage and 2.99 goals-against average.
Daae, meanwhile, led the league in scoring with 71 points and was named the SJHL's player of the year. He also picked up the Bruins' top scorer award during the banquet.
Daae, 20, said it meant even more to him to share the award with his Gibney, a former teammate with Moose Jaw in midget AAA.
"I think I'd rather have it that way than have it on my own. Playing with Gib in Moose Jaw and then having our final year together, being friends before and good buddies throughout the year, I couldn't ask for anyone else to share it with. I think it's pretty cool."
For Gibney, the honour came as a surprise.
"I was pretty shocked, actually. When the coach started talking about how it was going to be a dual award, I thought it was going to be Austin and Tanner (Froese)," he said. "To be honoured with that is just beyond words and I'm extremely thankful and grateful."
Gibney was also named the Bruins' playoff MVP for a 10-game performance that saw him post a .943 save percentage, despite facing an average of 42 shots per game.
The netminder also received the Audrey Shinske Dream On scholarship, presented for the second year by Melodye Pierson. Shinske, who passed away in 2013, was the wife of the late Bill Shinske, a former general manager of the Bruins and an SJHL Hall of Fame inductee.
"I didn't know (the Shinske family) personally, but knowing Mel, if she says that it's a prestigious award to win, then I know 110 per cent it is. I'm really grateful for that," said Gibney.
Other multiple award winners included Nolan Nicholas (rookie of the year and community involvement award), Keegan Allison (most underrated player and the Estevan Bruins training staff heart award) and Froese (iron man and most popular player).
The Bill Shinske Ethics Award was presented to Corey Kosloski, while the Rocky Award was shared by Nick Egan and R.T. Rice. The Mr. Hustle award was shared by Austin Roesslein and Ben Johnstone.
Other award recipients were Zach Douglas (top defenceman), equipment manager Richard Winton (volunteer of the year), David Robertson (most improved player), Brett Lewchuk (Abe Berday Memorial Scholastic Award) and Keaton Longpre (most sportsmanlike player).
Gibney said it's tough to face the reality that his junior hockey career is over, but he added he will fondly remember his time in Estevan.
"It sucks, to be honest. It sucks. I've done a lot of things, I've done a lot of good things, and to not be able to come to the rink every day with this group of guys anymore, it's going to suck. It hasn't really set in yet, but I'm definitely going to miss it.
"I have nothing but good memories from my year in Estevan. I came in here, I didn't really know anyone and everyone just took me in and made me feel welcome. The community and fans, everything was just amazing."
