The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins placed the finishing touches on their 2018-19 season with their annual awards banquet Wednesday night at the Beefeater Plaza.
Graduating players took home the bulk of the awards. Turner Ripplinger was named the team’s most valuable player and also took home the Rocky award for the most aggressive player. He finished second on the team in goals (26) and points (59), and also had 150 penalty minutes.
Team captain Jake Heerspink was named the team’s top defenceman.
McGeady-Bruce also won the team’s most sportsmanlike player award.
Michael McChesney took home the Mark Cross Ethics Award. The award, which was previously named the Bill Shinske Ethics Award, has been renamed in honour of Cross, who spent three years with the Bruins from 2008-09 to 2010-11, and won the ethics award in 2010 and 2011.
Cross was among the 16 people killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in April 2018. He was an assistant coach with the team.
McChesney also won the award for the top scorer, thanks to his 61-point campaign.
Johnny Witzke walked out with multiple awards as well. He won Audrey Pierson/Bert Pierson scholarship, the awards for community involvement and most popular player, and he shared the ironman award with McGeady-Bruce and Isaiah Thomas.
Other award winners were: Will Koop won the Abe Berday Memorial Scholastic Award, TJ Irey won the most improved player award, Devan Harrison was named the most underrated player, Tristyn DeRoose won the Mr. Hustle Award, Jayden Davis won the training staff’s Heart Award, and goaltender Grant Boldt was the rookie of the year.
Gail Chilman won the volunteer of the year for her significant time committed to assisting the club with game day activities, promotions and day-to-day operations.
The club also recognized its graduating players: defencemen Heerspink, Witzke and McGeady-Bruce, and forwards McChesney, Ripplinger, Koop and Bryce Platt.
