WILKIE — The Sask West Hockey League has recently announced that a new league award will be given out starting at the end of the 2023 season and running for 10 years.
The award will be in memory of Bill Cey from Wilkie who passed away in April of 2022 at the age of 93. Cey was a longtime supporter of hockey in Wilkie, first as a player, then moving to manager, coach, team president as well as president of the Wild Goose Hockey League.
Cey was particularly fond of hard-working, local players who helped create and sustain successful senior hockey teams. The award, which will be presented in his memory, will be known as the SWHL Hardest Working Local Player, and will be presented each season.
Every team in the league will nominate one player accompanied by a short explanation as to why that player deserves the award with a winner being chosen from the nominees.
The Kindersley Klippers hold top spot in the league standings with Edam and Wilkie tied for second with 16 points each and holding third spot is Macklin as of December’s end.
Three games were played in week nine of the SWHL wrapping up the first half of regular season Dec. 22 weekend.
League president Joe Cey says, “Dec. 23, the Macklin Mohawks headed over to Unity and snuck by the Miners 4-2. The hard luck Miners are still after their elusive first win of the season.”
The Miners led 2-1 heading into the third period, but a couple Macklin goals and an empty netter with six seconds left on the clock notched the win for the Mohawks.
Cey said, “Brett Vanderveer was solid in net turning aside 34-37 shots for Unity and Taylor Bucsis (1-1) led the Miners up front.”
In another Dec. 23 game, the Wilkie Outlaws played host to Edam 3 Stars with Wilkie prevailing 3-2 in an entertaining, hard-hitting matchup. Import Ryan Keller (1-1) scored the winner at the 9:49 mark of the third period and Rory Gregorie also had a strong game (1-1). Both Edam and Wilkie goaltenders were outstanding with Jared Herle stopping 32 of 34 shots on net for the Outlaws and Jake Taylor having a sensational game making 54 saves on 57 shots.
Week nine player of the week was awarded to rookie Unity Miners netminder Brett Vanderveer for his excellent performance in a setback against a strong Macklin Mohawks squad.
