YEAR END AWARD WINNERS

The Medicine Hat Tigers held their annual year-end banquet at the Medicine Hat Lodge on Sunday night, and as always it provided a nice conclusion to an outstanding season for the club.

Big winners on the evening were Linden Vey and Tigers Captain Wacey Hamilton.  Vey took home six awards including: Most Goals, Leading Scorer, Three Stars, Fans Choice, Players Choice and Playoff MVP.  Hamilton’s honours included: Community Service, Team Leadership, Success Factors, and Regular Season Co-MVP.

Other multiple award winners included Tyler Bunz who picked up Regular Season Co-MVP and the Hardest Working award, and Hunter Shinkaruk who walked away with Top Rookie and Scholastic Player of the Year honours. Thomas Carr also captured two awards, Top Defenceman and for the second year in a row, Unsung Hero.

The evening concluded with a look back at the careers of the Tigers three graduating 20-year-old players Thomas Carr, Jace Coyle and Wacey Hamilton.

Below is a complete rundown of the award winners and the script that accompanied the video feature for each trophy presentation.

Most Goals: Linden Vey

The 2010-11 Western Hockey League season provided plenty of hilite moments, and plenty of hilite goals, many of which came courtesy of Tigers forward Linden Vey.  Vey put home 46 goals this year, edging out linemate Emerson Etem by one for the team lead.  His 46 goals were also good enough to tie for 3rd in the entire WHL.  Vey utilized his accuracy, speed and deft puck handling skills en route to leading the Bengals in goals scored this season and is the 2010-11 Trophy World Most Goals Award Winner.

Leading Scorer: Linden Vey

Linden Vey’s 116 points this season were the end result of that elusive combination of elite level skill and blue-collar work ethic.  In leading his team in scoring, Vey also became the first Tiger in 38 years to win the league scoring championship.  Vey’s offseason commitment provided him with the confidence to go out an execute at a high level, evidenced by 8, 10 and 14 game scoring streaks.  His ability to see the ice, set up a teammate, maneuver in tight spaces and blow by the competition with greatly increased speed made Linden the ultimate threat for the Medicine Hat Tigers this year, and the 2010-11 Medicine Hat News Leading Scorer.

Scholastic Player of the Year: Hunter Shinkaruk

Balancing the rigours of a 72 game regular season, the playoffs, and your school work is no small feat, and the dedication shown by each and every Medicine Hat Tiger in completing their high school education is truly remarkable.  To excel at both then is no small feat, yet 16-year-old Hunter Shinkaruk made it look easy in the classroom and on the ice.  As a 16-year-old, expectations were limited for the Calgary product, but Hunter rose to the challenge and left his mark on the club this season, and has fans excited about what this talented and intelligent player will bring to the team in the years to come.

The Medicine Hat Tigers Scholastic Player of the year is #9, Hunter Shinkaruk.

Community Service: Wacey Hamilton

He’s been a part of the Tigers off-ice activities from the moment he joined the team in the ’07-08 season, and has continued his community involvement ever since.  Whether it’s an appearance for the Tigers Stay Healthy-Stay Smart program, lunch with AMA Crossing Guards, fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis or wrapping gifts for the United Way, Wacey Hamilton has always been willing to lend his time and name to a worthy cause.  The face of the Tigers for much of the past couple seasons, Wacey’s dedication to his community and the Tigers fans alike are proof positive that he truly believes in giving back to the City of Medicine Hat.  The Callaghan Inn Community Service Award Winner for 2010-11…Captain Wacey Hamilton.

Unsung Hero: Thomas Carr

This next award is presented to the player whose contributions tend to go unnoticed by the fans or the media, but certainly not by his teammates and coaches. 

Thomas Carr faced an uphill battle to make the Tigers as one of the team’s 3 20-year-olds this season,  but persevered to earn a spot on the team.  His blue-collar attitude and willingness to stand up for his teammates made him an indispensable part of this year’s squad while he totalled a career high 41 points from the backend.  While injuries took their toll on the Tigers defence corps, Thomas provided a steady presence as he appeared in all but one regular-season contest this year.

Thomas Carr, the 2010-11 CHAT 94.5FM Unsung Hero.

3 Stars Award: Linden Vey

The Earl’s Three Stars Award is presented to the player who earns a game star most frequently throughout the season.  When you lead the league in scoring, chances are you’ve played pretty well on a nightly basis.  With 46 goals, 70 assists and 116 points Linden Vey was often called back to the ice for post-game salute from the fans.  His consistent effort and regular appearance on the scoresheet made sure Tigers fans always got their money’s worth.  The Earl’s 3 Stars Award Winner for 2010-11, #15 Linden Vey.

Team Leadership Award: Wacey Hamilton

In final season with the organization, Wacey Hamilton truly exemplified what it means to be a Tiger.  Night in and night out, he led by example as one of the team’s hardest working players.  He contributed offensively, defensively, provided leadership on the ice and in the dressing room.  Wacey’s willingness to go to battle for his teammates and his physical style of play further solidified his place as the undisputed leader of the orange and black.  The Gerard Moyer Team Leadership Award winner for 2010-11, Tigers captain Wacey Hamilton.

Hardest Working Player: Tyler Bunz

He captured a win in his very first start in the WHL as a 15-year-old, and has never looked back.  In the time since, Tyler Bunz has gone from Tigers goalie of the future to Tigers backbone of the present.  He’s played in 113 games the past two seasons, a testament to his durability and work ethic on and off the ice.  A regular fixture in the Tigers workout area, Bunz’s dedication has paid off as he recorded a career high 35 wins and 3 shutouts this season, and a career best 2.47 goals against average.  His ability to make a last second stop is no doubt the end result of many hours of preparation, and his never give up attitude gave his team a chance to win every time out.  The Labels for Men Hardest Working player for 2010-11, #30 Tyler Bunz.

Fan’s Choice Award: Linden Vey

For the first time since Tom Lysiak in 1973, Medicine Hat Tigers fans could lay claim to having the league’s scoring champion on their team.  So it’s hardly surprising star forward Linden Vey captured their hearts and their votes this season.  Vey’s offensive talents brought the Tigers faithful to their feet time after time this year, via blazing breakaways, nifty shootout goals, or, as part of the league’s most exciting penalty kill.  His amazing chemistry with linemate Emerson Etem and his ability to turn a backcheck into a scoring chance in the blink of an eye gave Bengals fans full ticket value night after night, and made Vey the clearcut winner of the 2010-11 Ridge Spine and Sport Centre Fans Choice Award.

Top Rookie: Hunter Shinkaruk

Each season brings something special for Tigers fans.  A long playoff run, an amazing single game performance…there are special moments to be found in each WHL campaign. But every once in awhile, the fans get something more…a gift they can look forward to for years to come. 

16 year old Hunter Shinkaruk burst onto the WHL scene this year and left a lasting impact on the Medicine Hat faithful.  Rare is the true freshman who can come in and contribute to his team on a nightly basis, but that’s exactly what Hunter did, as evidenced by his 63 games played.

Shinkaruk totalled 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points, good enough to tie for 9th in the league in Rookie scoring. But more impressively, he finished 2nd in 16-year old scoring, just 2 points out of 1st despite playing 7 fewer games.   His tenacity and physicality both grew as the season wore on, and his ability to make plays on any one of the Tigers lines made him a valuable commodity in the coaches eyes.

Tigers fans can look forward to several years of exciting play while Hunter develops to his full potential as a member of the Orange and Black.

The 2010-11 MY96 Rookie of the Year…#9, Hunter Shinkaruk.

Most Improved: Cole Grbavac

It’s not often you see a player more than quadruple his points total from the year prior, but that’s just what Calgary’s Cole Grbavac did this year.  After coming over from Kamloops last season, Cole earned the respect of his teammates and the support of the fans with his gritty and determined style.  This season, Cole added consistent offence and a whole lot of penalty minutes to boot.

The 6’2″ 200 pound Grbavac proved to be very difficult to remove from the puck or the front of the net, leading to 13 goals and 28 points, up from 6 points last year.  He found his scoring touch via a combination of hard work, tenacity and  the confidence that comes from having each one of your teammates respect.  Never afraid to drop the gloves, Cole made room for himself and his teammates to work with his physical play and his willingness to scrap.

Cole’s dramatically improved play also allowed the coaching staff to pair him with numerous linemates throughout the year, whether it be the younger members of the Tigers squad or veterans in need of a tough winger.

Grbavac took his game to the next level and then some in 2010-11, and is truly deserves to be named the HSB Sports Most Improved Player.

Top Defensive Forward: Dylan Bredo

As a 16-year-old, he played in 53 games, earning his coaches trust with his solid defensive play.  This year, Dylan Bredo was the only member of the Medicine Hat Tigers to suit up in all 72 Regular season games, and it was a good thing too, as he was counted on on many nights to shut down opposing teams top players.

In addition to being the Bengals only Iron Man for 2010-11, Bredo improved his goals, assists, and plus-minus totals from a year ago.  Part of a promising stable of 17 year olds on the club, Dylan was often on the ice in the games most critical moments this season, taking key face-offs and and helping to preserve the win.  The Edmonton, Alberta product was asked by his coaches to bring a more developed game to the table this year, and Dylan responded in kind, showcasing his ability to wear down opponents with a combination of determined checking, greatly improved speed and voraciousness on the penalty kill.

The Medicine Hat CO-OP Top Defensive Player for 2010-11, #27, Dylan Bredo.

Success Factors: Wacey Hamilton

The Success Factors award is designed to rate several key categories each game and throughout the season.  Shots, blocked shots, hits, quick shifts, face-offs, d-zone clears and penalty kills…this year’s winner can lay claim to any and all of those on a nightly basis.  This player’s determination and dedication was visible to all those who watched him play, so it’s no surprise that when you put it on paper, #36 was the Success Factors leader for the season.  The Leon’s Success Factors Award winner for 2010-11, Captain Wacey Hamilton.

Best Defenceman: Thomas Carr

This year’s best defenceman goes to a hard-working blueliner from Edmonton Alberta.  Thomas Carr left his name all over the scoresheet in 2010-11, racking up 7 goals and 34 assists for 41 points to lead all Tigers d-men.  In the process, he more than doubled his career points totals, and for the 2nd straight year he suited up in 71 contests for the orange and black.  Gritty, tough and always hard-working, Thomas stepped in and performed well on the Tigers power play while his defensive teammates shuffled in and out of the lineup due to injury.

Thomas also built upon last season’s strong plus minus showing, finishing tops among Tigers d-men with a plus 23 difference.  Steady, responsible and now with an offensive upside, it’s easy to see why Thomas Carr is this year’s Chantilly Lace Lingerie Cliff Bast Memorial Best Defenceman.

Player’s Choice: Linden Vey

Respect among your peers is often the hardest to earn, as these are the people day in and day out who truly see what a person is all about.  So it is perhaps the highest honour one can receive to be selected as the Player’s Choice winner.  When you become the first player in 16 years to crack the all-time Top 20 Tigers Scorers, chances are you’ve done plenty to earn your teammates respect.  So it’s little surprise that Linden Vey captured the honours this season.  His 116 points came in some of the biggest moments of the season, and on many occasions Linden’s play was the difference between a win or a loss.  The 2010-11 MacLean Wiedemann Player’s Choice Award winner, #15 Linden Vey.

Playoff MVP: Linden Vey

This year’s playoff MVP picked up right where he left off in the regular season.  Linden Vey’s eye popping post-season totals included multi-point efforts in 7 of the Tigers 15 playoff games.  On six occasions he scored 3 or more points.  His most impressive effort may have come in Game 4 vs Brandon in Winnipeg.   With his team trailing 3-0, Vey got his team on the board with the Tigers first goal.  He then assisted on the team’s second and third markers before scoring the game winning goal with just 25 seconds left in regulation to tie the series at 2.

Vey finished the playoffs atop the league scoring race with 25 points in just 12 games, an average of over 2 points per game, and is no doubt worthy of being named the 2011 Guttormson and Company Playoff MVP.

Most Valuable Player: Wacey Hamilton/Tyler Bunz

This year’s Most Valuable Player Award is split amongst two players whose contributions were unmatched this season.

Wacey Hamilton grabs the honour, and for good reason.  Solid in every aspect of the game, Wacey contributed on the ice and off with his fiery leadership and physical play.  He was a regular on the Tigers penalty kill and powerplay while setting career highs for assists with 53 and points with 73, good enough for 2nd and 3rd on the team respectively.   Wacey was counted on all season long to bring his energy and rugged style of play, and he delivered with a career year in his 20 year old season.

Tyler Bunz did everything expected of him and more in his 2nd season as the full-time starter for the Tigers.  He finished 2nd in the WHL in save percentage, third in goals against average and while totalling the 4th most wins.  His off-ice dedication paid dividends all season long, as he was often counted on as the last line of defence while this year’s up-tempo team went for it on offence.  He set career highs for wins with 35 and shutouts with 3 while backstopping the Tigers to their best regular season finish since their last league championship. The quantum leap in his goals against and save percentage were the difference on many nights this season for the Orange and Black.

The Canada Brokerlink Most Valuable Players for 2010-11…Wacey Hamilton and Tyler Bunz.

20 year old Graduating Players: Thomas Carr/Jace Coyle/Wacey Hamilton

Edmonton’s Thomas Carr joined the Tigers via trade for the 2008-09 season.  He played in 45 games that year, finding his way into the lineup as both a forward and a d-man .  In 09-10, Thomas took on a bigger role for the club, starting 71 contests and notching 16 points, while providing toughness and maturity on the backend.  2010-11 however, proved to be Carr’s most impressive with the Tigers.  He once again suited up in 71 games, and earned a spot on the Tigers power play, which helped him put up career numbers in goals, assists, and plus minus rating.  His 41 points from the blueline were the most among Tigers d-men this year, and his continued physical play and willingess to go to battle created room for his teammates.  The Unsung Hero Award winner 2 years in a row, Thomas was an active member in the Tigers off-ice activities as well, showing a commitment to his community as well as his teammates…#5 Thomas Carr.

Jace Coyle was acquired from the Spokane Chiefs prior to the start of 2008-09 season, and made an immediate impact on the club.  In his 1st season as a Tiger, he played in all 72 contests while totalling 24 points.  2009-10 was a breakout year for Jace, as he led all Tigers d-men with 46 points in 68 games played, earning defencemen of the year honours for the club.  His banner season didn’t go unnoticed by the NHL, as the Dallas Stars rewarded Jace with a 3-year entry level contract.  2010-11 proved a bit more difficult for the Cranbrook, BC native, as he battled injuries, but when in the lineup his excellent vision and effortless skating provided a valuable boost to the club.  Jace finished his Tigers career with an excellent post season which saw him record 15 points in the team’s15 post-season contests this year…#4 Jace Coyle.

The pride of Cochrane Alberta, Wacey Hamilton joined the Tigers after being acquired from the Vancouver Giants in one of the best trades in Tigers history.  He first suited up for the Tabbies in 07-08, notching 32 points in 63 games as he was named the team’s Rookie of the Year.  He battled injuries in his second WHL campaign, appearing in just 37 contests, but gave Tigers fans a glimpse of what was in store with his determined play.  Wacey earned the captain’s C on his jersey for his 3rd year as a Tiger, took his game to another level in 09-10, notching 71 points in 67 games en route to being named the team’s regular season MVP and post-season co-MVP.  And to finish off his Tigers career? Wacey trumped his previous career best totals, finishing with 73 points and earning an entry level contract with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.  Wacey’s gritty play and determination are emblematic of what it means to be a Tiger, and his efforts will not be forgotten by Tigers fans any time soon…#36 Wacey Hamilton.