By battlefordsNOW Staff

North Stars hand out team awards for 2017-18 season

Mar 9, 2018 | 11:00 AM

Prior to their win over Kindersley last night in the final home game of the regular season, it was time for the annual tradition of handing out some hardware to six Battlefords North Stars players for their standout work during the 2017-18 season.

Each year, six awards are handed out: the most improved player, the rookie of the year, the most dedicated player, the humanitarian award, the most valuable defenceman, and the most valuable player.

Last weekend, North Stars captain Layne Young won Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League MVP and player of the year, so it was not surprising when the 20-year-old forward was named team MVP for this season, thanks to his 107-point year. It was fitting that on the same night he won team MVP, Young also made history in the SJHL, as his 107th point (recorded in the first period) is the most in a single season since 2000-01, when Tyler Shantz put up 111 for the Lebret Eagles.

Thanks to a career-high 10 goals and 42 points in just 46 games, Levi Kleiboer was named the club’s most valuable defenceman. He missed 10 games at the end of 2017 because he was named to Team Canada West for the World Jr. A Challenge, where he helped bring home a gold medal. The Martensville native is set to join the University of Maine Blackbears next season.

Defenceman Cody Spagrud won the humanitarian award, given to the player that shows great commitment and dedication to helping out in the community. On the ice, Spagrud notched a career-high 30 points. His 24 even-strength points are also the fourth-most in the SJHL among defencemen.

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North Battleford native Taryn Kotchorek was named the team’s most dedicated player, handed out to the player who shows determination on and off the ice. The netminder broke the all-time SJHL shutout record this season, which now stands at 14. The 5’10” goaltender finishes his SJHL regular season career with a 61-15-3-2 record, 1.97 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage.

Winning North Stars rookie of the year was B.C. native Matthias Urbanski, who scored his 20th goal of the season on Thursday. His 42 points have him in fourth in the league in rookie scoring and his 36 even-strength points are first among rookies.

Finally, taking home the North Stars most improved player award this season was Sioux Lookout, Ont. native Elijah Loon-Stewardson. The 19-year-old recorded 16 points in his first Junior A season.

The North Stars wrap up the regular season Friday in Nipawin against the Hawks, in a game that has no bearing on the standings and will see lots of affiliate player dressed on both sides.

You can listen to the game live, starting with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. on CJNB/CJNS.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11