Ahead of the last weekend of the regular season, the Kelowna Rockets gave out their team awards at Prospera Place on Thursday.
In total, 10 out of 11 awards were handed out. The recipients were:
Scholastic Player of the Year - Tij Iginla;
Most Improved Player - Marek Rocak;
Top Scorer - Andrew Cristall;
Unsung Hero - Max Graham;
Hollis Pearce Award for Top Defensive Forward - Gabriel Szturc;
Top Defenceman - Caden Price;
Most Sportsmanlike - Kayden Longley;
Rookie of the Year - Hiroki Gojsic;
Humanitarian Award - Dylan Wightman and Ty Hurley;
Most Valuable Player (MVP) - Tij Iginla.
The three 20-year-olds on the team were also honoured as it害羞草研究所檚 their last season in the WHL - Szturc, Wightman, and Kayden Sadhra-Kang.
Fans could argue that the MVP award could be a coin-flip between Iginla and Cristall, and neither answer would害羞草研究所檝e been wrong. Cristall, who was named team MVP last year, has 106 so far this season with two games to go. While Iginla is second in points on the team with 83 but fifth in goals in the entire WHL.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really cool, a huge honour,害羞草研究所� said Iginla, regarding the MVP award. 害羞草研究所淚 thought [Cristall] definitely could害羞草研究所檝e been it but it害羞草研究所檚 really cool to be named it.害羞草研究所�
At 17-years-old, the Lake Country native is one of the youngest MVPs in team history, and he believes he害羞草研究所檚 come a long way in his first season with the team.
害羞草研究所淚 think I害羞草研究所檝e gotten a lot better over the course of the season, playing big minutes and lots of different situations has been good for me,害羞草研究所� added Iginla. 害羞草研究所淚 believe in myself and work as hard as I can and play as hard as I can and play my game out there.害羞草研究所�
Playing in front of his hometown team and having family and NHL hall-of-famer Jarome Iginla watching him all season has been a thrill for Tij, who takes pointers from his dad as well.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a great dad but a huge help to my game for sure, we害羞草研究所檙e always looking over video and working in the shooting area, he helps me a lot,害羞草研究所� Iginla added.
Cristall had high praise for the team害羞草研究所檚 newest MVP as well.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 so dynamic, everybody sees the shot,害羞草研究所� said Cristall. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 such a good player and so big for us getting timely goals.害羞草研究所�
The Washington Capitals prospect locked in the highest scorer award, despite having two games to go in the regular season but feels he害羞草研究所檚 taken a huge step in his overall game this season.
害羞草研究所淏etter all around for sure,害羞草研究所� added Cristall. 害羞草研究所淚 think for me, moving my feet and trying to get in on the forecheck more this season that害羞草研究所檚 helped me.害羞草研究所�
The two other NHL prospects on the team Szturc and Price also won awards. Szturc, who害羞草研究所檚 in his last season with the Rockets and recently signed his NHL entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning takes pride in being the complete package on the ice as he害羞草研究所檚 able to score goals and prevent them going into the back of his own net.
害羞草研究所淚 like to play a 200-foot game,害羞草研究所� said Szturc. 害羞草研究所淵ou have a better chance if you don害羞草研究所檛 get scored on, that害羞草研究所檚 why I like to play in the defensive zone, cause I want to win games.害羞草研究所�
Gojsic, who害羞草研究所檚 played on a line with Iginla for most of the year, has had a very well deserved rookie of the year campaign as he害羞草研究所檚 fifth on the team in points with 50 (21 goals, 29 assists).
害羞草研究所淚 just play my game out and game in and make sure I have a shot mentality,害羞草研究所� said the former Penticton Vee.
Dylan Wightman and teammate Ty Hurley split the humanitarian award for their outstanding efforts in the community. Back in December, Hurley saved a man drowning in a hotel pool in Strathmore, Alta. At the 112th Annual Commonwealth Awards for Honour & Rescue in early March, he was awarded the Silver Medal of Merit and the M.G. Griffiths Award by the Lifesaving Society, BC & Yukon.
The only award that wasn害羞草研究所檛 handed out was the team害羞草研究所檚 plus-minus award as the race is tight heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Going into the two games, Cristall leads the team with a +20 rating, followed by Szturc at +18 and Iginla at +15.
The Rockets control their own fate as they play a home-and-home game against the Vancouver Giants this weekend. They currently sit sixth in the west, just one point ahead of Vancouver. Kelowna can finish anywhere from fifth-seventh depending on the results of the weekend.
Friday night害羞草研究所檚 (Mar. 22) game is at the Langley Events Centre at 7 p.m. while Saturday night害羞草研究所檚 contest at Prospera Place begins at 7:05 p.m.
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