The Yorkton Harvest Hockey Club wrapped up the past season with an awards banquet and ceremony at the Gallagher Centre Sunday afternoon.
Harvest head coach Jeff Odgers echoed president Garth Simms appreciation of everyone who helped the club with the past season.
Odgers says it was an interesting season despite missing the playoffs which were a team goal. He says he knew he had a young team and there were likely to be some mistakes. At one point he thought the team was starting to come along well after the new year.
Losing Kailum Gervais to the Terriers was hard on the team. "He was a leader and playing pretty well for us," Odgers admits.
Other trials along the way included Jake McMillen breaking his collar bone which took out one of the team's top two forwards.
Odgers lists the players who moved up to play in the SJHL, including Cody Thue, Tanner LeSann, Dakota Odgers, and Blake McMillen. Dakota also got a chance to play a game in the WHL. "I think we have a lot of guys on our roster who are going to be protected and are going to have a chance to move on. As a coach you look at that," he suggests.
In his first year in the SMAAAHL Odgers says he has learned a lot and will make adjustments and do differently next year. "I'm looking forward to that," he states.
The Harvest stands to lose five defensemen. Only Brayden Park will be eligible to return if he doesn't make the jump to junior hockey, says Odgers.
Up front there will be possibly four spots open up. "We're going to have some spots open for training camp," he notes.
At camp Odgers says he'll be looking for players who want to compete, play hockey and want to be a Yorkton Harvest member. The biggest thing to him is finding players who want to live in Yorkton and be part of the team along with some skill, he closes.
Harvest 2012 team awards were presented to: Tanner Lesann, Top Scorer, Allan Harrison Memorial Trophy; Dakota Odgers, Most Dedicated Player, Doug Hansen Memorial Trophy; Josh Lees, Leadership Award, Joel Dennis Memorial Trophy; Spencer Bomboir and Taryn Phaneuf, top goaltenders, Reg Kachanowski Memorial Trophy; Josh Lees, Team MVP, Cambrian Cup of Excellence.
Performance awards (Sponsors named in parenthesis) were also presented to: Brayden Parks, Top Defenseman (McDonalds); Dakota Odgers, Top Forward (A&W); Lynnden Pastachak, Rookie of the Year (Norm Lutcher); Nicholas Pouliot, Most Improved Player (GX 94); Dakota Odgers, YRHS Scholastic Award (YRHS); Kody Thue, SHHS Scholastic Award (SHHS); Jeffrey Ness, Sportmanship Award (Source Embroidery); Jake McMillen, Hard Luck Award (Hometown Cycle); Jaden Kreklewich, Unsung Hero Award (Park's Jewellery); Levi Morin, Coaches Choice Award (Wayne Henley).
