The SJHL's President Tour made a stop in the Battlefords Thursday morning at Innovation Credit Union. One reason was to promote the up coming playoffs and thank the Credit Union for being a major sponsor of the SJHL, while displaying the Credit Union Cup.
The other reason was to announce the Battlefords North Stars SJHL award nominees.
The nod for Most Outstanding Player goes to Blake Tatchell. The 1991-born forward, from North Battleford was the team's nominee for Rookie of the Year last season and naturally he has progressed into the nominee for outstanding player. Tatchell is tied for top spot on the team in points (59) with 22 goals and 37 assists in 44 games and is ninth in the SJHL. Tatchell is fourth in the league in powerplay points and second in shorthanded goals this season proving he is a valuable player in all situations. Last season, Tatchell put up 10 goals and 20 assists in 54 games as a rookie.
Other veteran forwards, Colin Phaneuf and Keith Grondin, had to be given some consideration for the award, as Phaneuf is tied with Tatchell in points and Grondin leads the team in goals, but ultimately the decision to have Tatchell, the North Star with a full arsenal of moves and elite talent, nominated was great choice.
After Brett Miller was sidelined with an injury after just 11 games more of the offensive load fell on Tatchell and he has embraced it making himself a better player as well as those around him.
The Outstanding Defenceman honour also could be debated with two other players, but it in the end Woody Klassen was the choice to represent the North Stars and rightfully so. Klassen is the highest point producing defenceman on the team and sits fourth overall in team points. He is the second highest scoring defenceman in the SJHL and an assistant captain with the team. Klassen brings a physical element to his game, but perhaps the most valuable aspect is his leadership by example and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the North Stars in position to win hockey games.
Klassen was co-winner of the team's Defenceman of the Year Award last season as he put up 11 goals and 25 assists in 48 games and will now have his eyes set on some SJHL hardware.
Defencemen, Cris Neurauter and Cody Folstad sit sixth and seventh in team scoring, four points back of Klassen's 33 points (8 goals and 35 assists) in 45 games this season, and the veteran duo are tied for fourth in SJHL defencemen-points.
As with the other two awards there had to be two other players in the running for Rookie of the Year, but Kyle Hall was clearly the best option. Hall played in the CJHL Prospects Game in December and leads all North Stars' rookies in points with 17 goals and 10 assists (27 points) in 45 games. Last season's top point-producing rookie for the North Stars was Ward Szucki, who had 19 goals and 12 assists in 51 games.
The 1992-bron forward sits in eighth in SJHL rookie scoring this season.
Rookie defenceman Brody Luhning and forward Tanner Schwab sit ninth and 10th in North Stars' scoring behind Hall, who for last two months has been positioned on the top line with Grondin and Phanuef and because of his strong two-way play has found success with the two veterans.
Check out Wednesday's News-Optimist for more on the nominees.
