OBSERVER SPORTS |
Jacks celebrate the season
BY: VANESSA MOSS
Despite an abrupt end to their season last month, the Wellesley Applejacks celebrated players’ accomplishments at their year-end banquet Mar. 28.
Team members, family and friends cheered on award recipients at the K-W Khaki Club as the coaching staff reflected on an up-and-down year.
“This is my fifth junior team that I’ve been involved with and so far this is by far the most fun I’ve ever had with any junior team,” said coach Kevin Lobsinger.
“I want to thank the players: you guys gave me everything you had every night, every game, every practice, and there’s nothing more a coach can ask for than that.”
General manager Dave Litt added that all the trainers, coaches and volunteers contributed to a successfully-run season.
“I was very happy to work with these guys all year.”
As for the players, eight were honoured for outstanding work both on and off the ice.
First up was Ben Jefferies, who picked up the Martin Nowak award from the training staff. He helped out whenever he could and never complained when given a task, they said.
The Most Valuable Defenceman was Scott Litt, who assistant coach Cam Crawford said was frustrating to play against because he “always wanted to win.” Crawford added that Litt was consistently the first one at the rink and the last one to leave.
Captain and five-year veteran Wes Hauck received two awards throughout the night, including Most Points and Most Valuable Player.
Following up the longstanding Hauck was newcomer Will Metske, who walked away with Rookie of the Year, presented by Dave Litt. The general manager quipped that he knew Metske would be a good pick right off the bat since he had to look up so high to talk to the six-foot-three defenceman.
One of the team’s top penalty-killers was next to take the stage as Lobsinger and his daughters, Faith, 6, and Ashley, 4, presented the Coach’s Award to Brett VanGerwen. “Of all the guys on the team, I picked on [him] the most in the dressing room,” Lobsinger said with a smile.
For the second year in a row, Scott Hanley earned the Most Valuable Local Player trophy, followed by Trevor Nissen’s Most Sportsmanlike honour.
The final award of the night was doled out by goalie coach Jim Olender, who felt that Luke Zehr was the Most Improved Player this season.
As the ceremony came to a close, the mood was upbeat as Lobsinger’s daughters received jerseys for their cheerleading efforts, but the Jacks’ coach could not help but reflect on next season.
“I know this is a fun night and everybody’s here to enjoy themselves and I don’t want to be the downer, but a couple kilometres up the road is a hockey game … that as far as I’m concerned, we should be playing in. So, when Sept. 1 hits, just remember how it felt to have the year-end banquet before the season was actually done because next year, I want to be wearing flip-flops to our year-end banquet.”