Siddall wins two of SMMHA’s major awards
Pat Payton, Sports editor By stature, he isn’t the biggest player on his team, but he certainly plays big on the ice.
Firefighter Peewees’ centre Mike Siddall was rewarded with two of St. Marys Minor Hockey Association’s most coveted awards at its Senior Awards Night last Wednesday evening at the community centre.
Siddall, 13, accepted both the Terry Crisp Award and the Bob Searles Award, capping an outstanding 2007-08 season for the team captain. The Crisp award is presented to the SMMHA’s most colourful and hardest-working player, and the Searles award is given to the most outstanding player in the association.
“I’m proud of myself, and I just hope it keeps on going,” Siddall said as he accepted congratulations at the end of the night.
“It’s pretty exciting to win two big awards like this; I’m very happy,” he added.
Siddall collected over 40 goals and 100 points, helping Firefighters capture the OMHA ‘BB’ championship. Along with linemates Tyson Baker and Jared Zufelt, the high-scoring trio combined for well over 300 points this past season.
“To win major awards as a Peewee is pretty amazing,” Firefighters’ coach
Jamie Baker said.
“They’re well-deserved. He’s always been that kind of player who works hard.
All his teammates are happy for him.”
Altogether, Mike Siddall made three trips to the podium. Earlier in the
presentations, he received the Dutch Moses Award for most dedicated Peewee
‘BB’ player.
10 major awards
There were a total of 10 major awards presented last Wednesday night.
Bill McPhail won the Ferris Stewart Memorial Award. It recognizes a coach
for excellence and dedication to the players in the SMMHA. Ferris’s son
Allan made the presentation.
McPhail coached two Bantam girls teams this winter. Starting in Tyke, he has
coached in the association for the past 10 years.
McPhail also serves as OMHA rep. for the association.
“I’m speechless,” an emotional McPhail said after the presentation. “It’s a
true honour and I can’t put it into words what this means.
“To be recognized by your peers is something special, and I want to thank my
family and (wife) Kathy for letting me spend all this time doing it. And
thanks to minor hockey; it means a lot . . . it really does.”
Other Stewart nominees this year were Dale Leonhardt and life member Ray
‘Fid’ Fowler.
Winner of the Pethick Memorial Award was Don Gibson. It’s given to an
individual for their outstanding contribution and dedication to St. Marys
minor hockey. Wayne Pethick made the presentation.
Gibson wore several hats for the SMMHA this season. He was Local League
convener, web-master, second vice-president, skills clinic coordinator and
OMHA clinic coordinator.
“To look at all the names on this trophy, it’s a real honour to be included
with this bunch of people,” Gibson said.
Other Pethick nominees this year were Cindy Bilyea, Brian De Groote and Paul
Mitchell.
Three first-time awards
There were three first-time major awards presented last Wednesday, and
members of the Hubbard Pharmacy Midget girls won all three.
Forward Sarah Kennedy received the Lindsay Atkinson Memorial Award, given to
the SMMHA’s most sportsmanlike female player—both on and off the ice. Three
of Lindsay’s sisters—Maggie Gregory, Pat Craigmile and Mary
Atkinson—presented the award.
Lindsay Atkinson, a long-time volunteer in St. Marys, passed away last
October after a lengthy illness.
The Ernie Little Trophy went to Midgets’ netminder Sarah Edye. It’s for the
SMMHA’s outstanding female goalie, and Little made the presentation.
Forward Brittany Sterkenburg won the Dixies Award. It’s for most skillful
and hardest-working female player in the association, and Dixies’ Andrea
McCurdy and Janet Thomson made the presentation.
Bantam girls’ centre Julie McPhail received the Doug Hicks Memorial Award.
It’s given to a female in the SMMHA for outstanding leadership, and it was
presented by Doug’s brother Geoff.
Tristan Dundas took home the Donald K. Mossip Memorial Award for the second
consecutive year. It’s given to the most outstanding male goaltender in the
association. Nelda Oliver made the presentation to the Cement Midgets’
netminder.
Teammate and centre Brandon Boyd picked up the Mike Mattuissi Award. It’s
presented annually to the SMMHA’s most sportsmanlike male player, on and off
the ice.
31 individual awards presented
Altogether, there were 31 individual awards presented to Peewee, Bantam and
Midget-aged players and volunteers last Wednesday.
In Peewee, Adanac Images Flyers’ Douglas Plain received the Tom Monteith
Award for most dedicated Local League player. The Les Skipper Award, for
outstanding Local League goaltender, went to the Foodland Wild’s Hunter St.
Louis.
The St. Marys Minor Hockey Award, for most dedicated Peewee female player,
was given to Ann Marie Nairn of the Norampac team.
On the Home Building Centre Additional-Entry Peewees, Scott Munro and Ryan
Fennema were the trophy recipients. Munro picked up the Meadowridge
Properties Award for most dedicated A-E player, while Fennema won the Claude
Electric Award as most improved player.
On the provincial champion Firefighter Peewees, forwards Mike Siddall and
Nolan Pearson took home the individual awards.
Pearson accepted the Land O’Lakes Award as most sportsmanlike Peewee ‘BB’
player.
In Bantam, Action Medical Kings’ Jake McCallum received the St. Marys Police
Association Award as most dedicated Local League player. The Solis Panthers’
Devon Leonhardt was given the Kinsmen Award as most outstanding Local League
goaltender.
Renee Tomkins and Julie McPhail won individual awards on the McPhail’s
Bantam ‘C’ team.
Tomkins was selected best defensive Bantam female player and was given the
United Steel Workers of America, Local 9235 Award. McPhail also won a United
Steel Workers of America, Local 9235 Award, as most outstanding Bantam
female player.
On the Frayne Cabinets Additional-Entry Bantams, JB Moffatt and Travis
Robinson were the trophy recipients. Goaltender Moffatt received the Frayne
Cabinet Award as most dedicated A-E player, while defenceman Robinson was
chosen most improved A-E player.
ANAF ‘BB’ Bantams’ forwards Travis McEwan and Neil Van De Walle took home
the individual awards. Team captain McEwan was presented the Ray Fowler
Award as most dedicated ‘BB’ player, while Van De Walle received the ANAF
Award for sportsmanship, desire and ability by a first-year ‘BB’ player.
There were also six individual awards presented to Midget-aged players.
The Quadro Communications Award, for most outstanding Midget female player,
went to Brittany Sterkenburg of the Hubbard Midgets.
Teammate Stacey Frayne was selected best defensive Midget female player and
took home the Steel Workers of America, Local 9235 Award.
The Mike Wakem Memorial Award, for most dedicated Legion Minor Midget
player, was shared by forwards Brandon De Groote and Justis Haynes.
Forward Jordan Cornwall, of the Legion Midgets, accepted the Ben Willmore
Memorial Award. It’s a teammates award, selected by the Minor Midget
players.
The United Steel Workers of America, Local 9235 Award was shared by forwards
Mike Davis and Luke Wiffen. It’s given to the most dedicated Cement ‘BB’
Midgets’ player.
The Doug Kennedy Award, for best defenceman on the Major Midgets, was won by
Cale Stacey.
Notes:
—Mark Bodenham did another good job as master of ceremonies, and kept
proceedings moving along nicely.