The La Ronge Ice Wolves have handed out their year-end awards.
Forward Daylon Mannon and goaltender Liam McGarva are sharing the team’s MVP prize. Mannon, from Fresno, CA, finished fourth in league scoring this past season with 80 points and he led the SJHL with four shorthanded goals. Mannon also earned top playmaker and top scorer honours.
McGarva, a Fort Saskatchewan, AB product, came to the Ice Wolves early in the season and he was third in SJHL wins with 23. He also posted four shutouts, which tied him for second in that category. McGarva picked up La Ronge’s rookie of the year award and he was named the Sher-Wood Division Goalie of the Year in the SJHL.
“I’m quite glad that I can share it with Mannon too because there’s not (just) one person on our team that got us through the season we that had,” said McGarva. “Everyone steps up at different times.”
James Philpott and Ben Manson were named top defencemen. Manson, forward Spencer Kennedy and forward Aaron Greyeyes shared the fan’s choice prize.
Forward Jake Gudjonson and defencemen Logan Holm are the recipients of the community-minded award, which is presented by MBC Network Radio.
The Ice Wolves were in the middle of their first-round playoff series with the Yorkton Terriers last week when the SJHL playoffs were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. La Ronge and Yorkton were tied at two games apiece.
La Ronge posted a 33-19-6 record during the 2019-20 season and a .621 winning percentage, which was the second-best winning percentage in franchise history.
Award Winners 2019-20 Ice Wolves
Most Sportsmanlike – Grant Longtin
Top Defenceman – James Philpott and Ben Manson
Most Dedicated Player – Kevin Fillier
Fan’s Choice – Ben Manson, Spencer Kennedy and Aaron Greyeyes
Community-minded – Jake Gudjonson and Logan Holm
Rookie of the Year – Liam McGarva
Most Improved Player – Chad McIlwain
Mr. Hustle – Jake Gudjonson and Grant Longtin
Top Playmaker – Daylon Mannon
Top Scorer – Daylon Mannon
Diamond in the Rough – Kyle Ford and Aaron Greyeyes
MVP – Daylon Mannon and Liam McGarva
Coach’s Award – Whole team
(PHOTO: Daylon Mannon (centre) shows off his awards with his billet brothers Kendon (left) and Cooper (right). Photo courtesy of Curtis Skalicky, Facebook.)