Three members of the Okotoks Oilers have earned the respect of their peers.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Award finalists were announced last week as Oilers netminder Riley Morris, defenceman Carson Beers and head coach James Poole earned nominations as best in their class based on a vote of league coaches and general managers.
Morris, the second-year netminder, has seen a seismic shift in responsibility from year one to two.
Backing up for last year’s AJHL Top Goaltender Nic Renyard, Morris suited up in just 15 games. In 2015-16, Morris has been a workhorse starting in 40 contests for the Oil and forming a solid partnership with Ontario import Brian Wilson.
“It’s been really different, only playing 15 games last year was pretty hard,” Morris said. “Nic was a great leader and taught me so much, helped me with my game, helped me in practice and I think a lot of the success is on him.”
Morris ranks in the top-five among South Division goaltenders with 20 wins, a 2.70 goals-against-average and .906 save percentage along with two shutouts.
He’s up against Spruce Grove Saint Matthew Murray, Lloydminster Bobcat Alex Leclerc and Calgary Canuck freshman shot-stopper Logan Drackett.
“It doesn’t matter too much to me. Hopefully the team can get on a good run in playoffs and get rolling,” Morris said. “The nomination was a great feeling, but the success is more pointed towards the players, our defence and how we’ve done this year.”
Okotoks’ other player nominee has seen a similar upward trajectory as a sophomore.
Following a 28-point rookie season, Beers has rounded out his all-around game as one of the team’s most reliable players at both ends of the ice.
“Last year right around Christmas time I just kept it simple to try to get shots through instead of trying to do an extra move or make an extra pass,” he said. “Everyone wants to be a 200-foot player if you want to move on in hockey. I’ve really worked on my defensive game as well this year.”
The Taber native is fourth on the team in scoring with 34 points (9 goals, 25 assists). The other finalists are Bonnyville’s Brinson Pasichnuk, Lloydminster’s Christian Lloyd and Brooks’ Shane Bear.
“It’s really special actually, there are a lot of quality d-men around the league. Every team has at least one or two or three,” Beers said. “I’m honoured that I’m one of the best.”
Poole is nominated for the second-straight season in the coach of the year category and is a finalist for the third time in his five-plus season tenure behind the bench of the green-and-gold.
The coach has guided a rebuilt Oilers team, one of the youngest in the league with eight rookies on the roster, to a likely top-three finish in the South Division.
“I think it’s a little bit of team recognition,” Poole said of the nomination. “Internally we always have high expectations for ourselves, but I think the league is saying they’re impressed with what we’ve done being one of the youngest clubs in the hockey league.
“We’ve done some good things, but always measure ourselves on playoffs and scholarships and we have some work to do there.”
Also nominated in the category is two-time defending coach of the year Jason McKee of the Spruce Grove alongside Bonnyville’s Rick Swan and Camrose skipper Boris Rybalka.
Finalists for the MVP vote, also won last year by Renyard, are Leclerc, Bonnyville’s Bobby McMann, Camrose’s Nelson Gadoury and Olds’ Wyatt Noskey. Rookie of the Year nominees are Saints’ defender Ian Mitchell, Brooks rearguard Cale Makar, Lloydminster’s Noah Bauld and Olds forward Chase Olsen. Finalists for the Don McNabb Memorial Trophy for the most dedicated player are Noskey as well as Saints captain Tyler Busch, Bonnyville’s Steen Pasichnuk and Calgary Canuck Ben Assad.
The award winners will be released by league officials on the final week of the regular season.
For more information go to ajhl.ca
