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WLUHL14 Awards Banquet
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Once again, the WLUHL coaches/GMs gathered together in a small damp
virtual apartment (the best they could afford). Amidst chants of "We
Want Our Money", bickering about diminishing ROI, especially along with
the western coast, and skyrocketing costs of operations (also along the
western coast), the GMs were able to assess this year's award leaders.
Plenty of GMs grumbled at the lack of depth of this year's upcoming
entry draft. Also on tap were plenty of discussions of potential new
rules to be implemented for the new season. Having won the first round
of the goalie pad size debate, goalies face a new threat.Freak
Goalie-itis removal, limiting games played. Also on discussion was
removing the red line, and moving it closer to wherever the Meathead
goal is, and capping the number of press releases the Barn Burners were
allowed in a year.
Hart Trophy
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This award was never in doubt. The Hart trophy goes to the most valuable
player during the regular season: in this case, also the league's
leading scorer. He was also the league leader in assists...Sergei
Fedorov.
There was very little competition for Fedorov who improved vastly from
last year's respectable 66 points. With 107 points to the season, he
simply dominated the balloting. He scored 20 points more than last
year's surprise award winner, Andrew Brunette. This is Sergei's 2nd Hart
Trophy, tying him with Paul Kariya for most Hart Trophies since league
inception.
The competition for second place, however, was fierce. It took till the
final ballot cast before we knew the outcome. Alex Auld received many
first place votes for his final half of the season run for the Dragons.
If he had have played a full season, Fedorov would have had a fight on
his hands. Marian Hossa also garnished plenty of votes, due to his
league leading 51 goals. Last year's leader was Alfredsson at 42g. What
an improvement for a player that last year potted less than half that
(23 goals).
Winner: Sergei Federov, Screech (38V)
RunnerUp: Alex Auld, Dragons (25V), Marian Hossa, Crunch, (24V)
Conn Smythe
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It is no surprise that the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy is a member
of the Stumpy Cup Champions. It is a rare event that he is not. After a
respectable but quiet season for the 11th place Buster's, two members
turned it up, giving them their first Stumpy Cup. Both of those players
are represented here in the voting. Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned into
a demon in goal, defending against powerful teams like the Hawks and the
Screech. However, you also need to put the puck in the net to win, and
Mike Johnson stepped it up as well, averaging over a point a game.
Voting was close until the final day when Giguere pulled several big
votes to win this year's Conn Smythe!
Winner: Jean Sebastion Giguere, Goalbusters (45V)
RunnerUp: Micheal Johnson, Goalbusters (39V); Mats Sundin, Hawks (19V)
Norris Trophy
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In the most heated race of the WLUHL14 awards banquet, the voting was
evenly deadlocked between three players after fifteen votes had been
cast.
Al MacInnis of the Hawks, Runner Up for the Norris on two previous
occasions, led the defense in scoring with 50 points. Both Schneider
(Dragons) and Tomas Kaberle (Pylons), each first time serious
nominations, were also favourites for their +55 and sound defensive
play. Andy Delmore, despite leading the league in defenseman goals, was
perhaps still a relative unknown for many, and finished a surprisingly
distant fourth in the voting. However, his star is just rising, and
should become a bigger consideration for the award again next year.
Winner: Tomas Kaberle, Pylons (35V)
RunnerUp: Mat Schneider, Dragons (28V); Al MacInnis, Hawks (26V)
Vezina Trophy
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Another close race occurred in the ballot for Vezina Trophy. Alex Auld,
also a consideration for Hart Trophy played perfect hockey for the
Dragons during the last half of the regular season. Playing against him
as well for this award, however, was the fact he was absent the first
half of the season. Manny Fernandez played the full season for the
Pylons, and racked up near similar numbers, and perhaps was overlooked
for a Hart Trophy nomination. He was a previous Vezina trophy winner two
seasons ago as well, and this may have helped influence his vote. The
third heavy contender for this award was Patrick Roy, no stranger to the
Vezina trophy, having won four straight in the early days. He's been a
quality if not stellar performer since, and it was great to see him make
such a strong run in the balloting.
Winner: Manny Fernandez, Pylons (35V)
RunnerUp: Alex Auld, Dragons (28V); Patrick Roy, Earwigs (20V)
Lady Bing Trophy
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Awarded to the most gentlemanly player. There were two players that were
favourites to win this trophy this year.
Petr Sykora (Hawks), who won this trophy in seasons wluhl9 and wluhl10,
and commanded an early lead in the voting; And Joe Sakic (Goliaths), who
was a runner up in season WLUHL12. David Vyborny (Sea Lions) was also an
outside favourite, being the runner up for the award in season WLUHL13.
Several late round ballots gave the award however to Joe Sakic, and for
the second time in as many years, David Vyborny finishes as the runner
up.
Winner: Joe Sakic, Goliaths (28V)
RunnerUp: David Vyborny, Sea Lions (24V); Petr Sykora, Hawks (23V)
Selke Trophy
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Ballots didn't really need to be cast for this award. Sergei Federov of
the Screech was a clear winner with a 107 points, and +62, and most of
the first place votes. Interestingly enough, this was his first Selke
Award, and second award of the night.
As sometimes happens, the fight for second place turned out to be the
more interesting. Federov's teammate Ryan Smyth and Peter
Forsberg(Dragons) were in a virtual deadlock with few votes outstanding
until the final ballots cast in, favouring. Ryan Smith!
Winner: Sergei Federov, Screech (39V)
RunnerUp: Ryan Smyth, Screech (23V), Peter Forsberg, Dragons (20V)
Golden Gloves Trophy
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Perhaps a spoiler, Bryan Marchment (Hitmen) failed to grasp his third
straight Golden Gloves award, and failed even to appear in the top five
considerations.
Perhaps a surprise to the panel was Sean Avery's lack of voting,
considering his low ice time, low GP, and high PIM.
However, the most notorious goon was an obvious choice. Bobby Boughner
gathered more than half the first place votes with his league leading
PIM.
He had this to say for his acceptation speech:
"Me got big penalties last year. 200. This year. 260. Me get 60 more
each year. That make 340 next year."
Barret Jackman (Hitmen) finished second in the GM voting in his rookie
year. One can only assume he had some midseason advice and encouragement
from Marchment and Jason Stumpf's wrestling entourage. :-)
Winner: Bob Boughner, Wingnuts, (38V)
RunnerUp: Barret Jackman, Hitmen, (29V)
Scotty Bowman Trophy: (GM / Team)
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The Scotty Bowman trophy was a very close fight between the two bests of
the WLUHL. Kyle Pinkerton(Pylons) formed the best regular season squad,
leading the 2nd place Winter Hawks by 11 points.
However, a failed playoff run left the door open for Regis Plamondon,
who took an 11th overall regular season team right through several
quality clubs on his way to the Stumpy Cup. Many other GMs were
considered, including Ted Wollnik who's Hawks lit up the American
Conference, but it was clear from the outset that the award would go to
one of these two gentlemen.
Winner: Regis Plamondon, Goal Busters (35V)
RunnerUp: Kyle Pinkerton, Pylons, (29V); Ted Wollnik, Hawks, (19V)
Overachiever Trophy: (GM / Team)
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The clear winner for this award was Eric Boguniecki (Screech). It may
have helped he had Ryan Smyth and Sergei Federov on his team, then
again, perhaps the rookie was the catalyst for Federov garnishing 40
more points than he did last season!
Dave Andreychuk (Dragons) and Andy Delmore (Earwigs) both played a great
season and fought a hard contest for second place. Delmore, perhaps
overlooked a bit for Norris, lead the league in goals by a defenseman by
a clear majority (21 goals). Andreychuk, despite questions of his age,
still proved he can play with the young guys. Andrew Brunette
(Meatheads) sadly didn't live up to his league leading status of
yesteryear.
Winner: Eric Boguniecki, Screech, (35V)
RunnerUp: Andy Delmore, Earwigs, (22V); Dave Andreychuk, Dragons, (19V)
Underachiever Trophy: (GM / Team)
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If only you could take away these guy's paycheques! Roberto Luongo, this
years Underachiever award winner was expected to be a key ingredient of
the Dragons cup bid. However, a half season of mediocrity forced the
Dragons to make a fortunate trade for Alex Auld, who, freak season or
not, turned the team around.
His most noticeable competition was from Bobby Holik of the Hitmen.
Playing lackluster hockey most of the season for the Slash, he was part
of a trade deadline deal expected to shake things up for the Hitmen.
Unfortunately, he found his game with only a handful of contests left in
the season. Once again, it took a final ballot to distinguish between
1st and 2nd. Also garnishing quite a few votes were Andrei Nikolishin
(Hawks), and Scott Gomez of the Awful (in this case!) Earwigs.
Winner: Roberto Luongo, Dragons, (23V)
RunnerUp: Bobby Holik, Hitmen, (21V); Gomez, Earwigs, (18V)
Weak As Water
Awarded to the weak. To the ones who keep our sports doctors fed. This
years weakest link.is Adam Deadmarsh (Meatheads) who dominating the
voting.
VanImpe of the Spiders made a strong.er weak. hm. Let me start again.
Van Impe was the Runner up for this non-prestigious award.
Winner: Adam Deadmarsh, Meatheads, (43V)
RunnerUp: VanImpe, Spiders, (28V); Tkachuk, Hawks, (19V)
Questionably Frivolous Awards
These awards were not included in this year's award voting. However,
talk still got around, and implementation for future years is always a
possibility.
Calder Trophy
Not voted on this year, but should be instituted for next season. Eric
Boguniecki of the Screech would have made a strong impression here, and
likely won the Calder for best rookie season. Aided by teammates Fedorov
and Smyth, he amassed great numbers and we expect to see him do even
better in his sophomore year.
Iron Man Trophy
Tony Amonte. He played 66 games this season!
A Canadian Team Won The Stumpy Cup So There Recognition Award
A completely biased award that will only be awarded when a Canadian Team
wins the cup. Congratulations Regis/Goalbusters! :-)
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