PORT McNEILL—A pair of goalies took home top awards last week as the North Island Eagles rep hockey program hosted its annual general meeting and awards potluck at Sunset Elementary School.
Peewee netminder Nyckolas Ruel and bantam backstop Riley Mathieson were each awarded the Eagle Trophy for MVP for their respective divisions.
Defenseman Mitchell Walker was selected MVP for the midgets, and accepted the trophy by planting a kiss on it and holding it high overhead in both hands as the audience and teammates laughed.
Forward Clayton Bono was MVP for the atom development program.
This was the first Eagles AGM in three years to feature awards in all four competitive divisions. The program had been without an atom development team during that time, and the midgets also went unrepresented one season.
Vadim Stavrakov of Port McNeill was elected club president for the coming year after serving as vice president for the just-completed season. Kim Dutcyvich will step into the vice-president slot while retaining her post as ice coordinator for all North Island minor hockey programs.
Other returning members of the executive include head coach Mike Bell, registrar Tanya Kellar and directors Leighann Ruel and Tammy Bono.
Newcomers include Lito Pineda as treasurer, Leighann Ruel as equipment manager and Andrea Andersen and Sonya Strang as directors.
Two key posts remain vacant and the Eagles will be looking to fill them in advance of the 2012-13 season.
Longtime referee-in-chief Marc Dumonceaux is stepping down and another head referee will need to be found. Dumonceaux, who was not in attendance, was honoured for his service and will be presented a gift from the program.
The Eagles are also seeking a secretary for the executive.
The evening began with appetizers and snacks, provided by each of the member families, and moved on to elections before awards and gifts.
Each team had three players recognized with Esso medallions for Most Dedicated, Most Sportsmanlike and Most Improved, and three more honoured with Eagle trophies for MVP, Most Sportsmanlike and Most Improved.
The association also recognized four players who served as minor hockey referees during the year: Adam Bastarache, Tyren Dustin, Alexander Stavrakov and Brandon Purdey.
XXXX
2012 North Island Eagles AGM and Awards At Sunset Elementary, Port McNeill April 4
Atom development
Esso medallions — Most Improved: Avary Miller. Most Sportsmanlike: Mathew Saunders. Most Dedicated: Benton Browne.
Eagle trophies — Most Improved: Michael McLaughlin. Most Sportsmanlike: Tianna Walkus. MVP: Clayton Bono.
Peewee
Esso medallions — Most Improved: Taylor Ranger. Most Sportsmanlike: Becca Spafford. Most Dedicated: Sean Pineda.
Eagle trophies — Most Improved: David Charlie. Most Sportsmanlike: Tyrell Davidson. MVP: Nyckolas Ruel.
Bantam
Esso medallions — Most Improved: Matt Lingl. Most Sportsmanlike: George Walkus. Most Dedicated: Shae Simpson.
Eagle trophies — Most Improved: Brodie Wilson. Most Sportsmanlike: Darryl Coon. MVP: Riley Mathieson.
Midget
Esso medallions — Most Improved: Malcolm Richards. Most Sportsmanlike: Stevyn Ruel. Most Dedicated: Chad Bell.
Eagle trophies — Most Improved: Ty Brittain. Most Sportsmanlike: Taylor Logan. MVP: Mitchell Walker.