March 15, 2012



Master of Ceremonies-Itinerary List

Junior Girls Recreation
Most Improved: Hope Smith
Most Sportswomanlike: Courtney Christy
Most Valuable Player: Emma Ferch

Atom Recreation
Most Improved: Leif Ellingsen
Most Sportsmanlike: Ivy Smith
Most Valuable Player: Troy Holmes

Peewee Recreation
Most Improved: Peyton McRea
Most Sportsmanlike: Andy Gush
Most Valuable Player: Jesse Landerkin

Bantam Recreation
Most Improved: Austin Dan         
Most Sportsmanlike: Jake Tourand
Most Valuable Player: Jamie Mcrea

Midget Recreation
Most Improved: Thomas Manuel-Hanuse
Most Sportsmanlike: Stephanie Tourand
Most Valuable Player: Skylar McLeod

Outstanding Junior and Senior Official “for the dedication and fairness to all individuals and to ensure safe, sportsmanlike and good hockey”
Outstanding Junior Official: Dakota Cox
Outstanding Senior Official: Hubby Mann

Best Timekeepers Award
Best Timekeeper: Mackenzie Finch

Atom Development
Most Improved: Justin Tighe
Team Ambassador: Connor Ouellet
Most Valuable Player: Talon Zakall

Peewee Representation
Most Improved: Baley Tomkinson
Team Ambassador: Eric Lalonde
Most Valuable Player: Sunil Sahota

Bantam Representation
Most Improved: Adam McCormack
Most Valuable Player: Riley Barnes

Midget Representation
Most Improved: Talon Tom
Team Ambassador: Dalton Suzuki
Most Valuable Player: Justin Sulz

Suki Randhawa lived in Merritt with his parents and two brothers and attended school in
Merritt. Suki also played Merritt Minor Hockey as a goalie.

Suki was a very good student, top athlete at many sports and a great goaltender in Minor Hockey.

Suki was a very happy, go lucky type of person, never got mad, very social. He was well liked by every-one and very popular.

Suki was tragically killed in a car accident in 1974. His good friend Leonard Grebliunas was also killed in a separate car accident after Suki’s passing in 1976.

When Suki’s oldest brother died tragically after Suki’s passing, his remaining family moved from Merritt.
 
Suki Randhawa Memorial Award: Gabriel Musgrave

The Unsung Hero hockey trophy was donated to Merritt Minor Hockey in 1976 by the Grebliunas family in memory of two brothers who loved the game of hockey-Leonard and Raymond Grebliunas.

Leonard and Raymond were born and raised in Merritt where they played hockey every moment they could.  Leonard was just finishing off a season with the Merritt Centennials, and graduating from MSS, when his life ended abruptly in a car accident in 1976.  His older brother Raymond, another dedicated player, died tragically in a mining accident a few weeks later.
 
Leonard and Raymond were hockey’s Unsung Heroes. They shared the same values on the ice:  confidence, respect, sportsmanship, fellowship and camaraderie of the game.   They both believed that a good hockey player didn’t have to be the best, the strongest or score the most goals because desire was the most important skill a hockey player could have.
 
Every year that I present this award I wonder what my uncles would say to a room full of hockey players and I believe they would say: live your lives with the same passion, energy and dedication that you put into every shift you play on the ice.
—Respectfully submitted by Leonard and Raymond’s niece Robyn Grebliunas on behalf of the Grebliunas family
 
Leonard and Raymond Grebliunas Memorial Award: Trevor Lindley
 
Ron Ross was born, raised and educated in Merritt. During his school years he was a
very accomplished cross country runner. He was also very active in volunteering to
help out with all school sports. After his school years he remained very active in
sports. He played fastball and would groom the playing field before every men’s and
ladies fastball game on his own time.

In 1986 he started working in the arena. Besides doing an excellent job in the arena,
Ron did many volunteer jobs for the Merritt Centennials, Minor Hockey, Rec Hockey
and Figure Skating.

Ron could also be found volunteering to keep the ice at the curling rink in fine
condition. He helped out at all bonspiels and provided whatever assistance was needed,to make the events successful.

Ron Ross was a hard working, dedicated and caring individual who not only did an
excellent job while working but also found time to give of himself freely to volunteer
and help any organization that needed assistance.

Ron passed away in 1996.
 
Ron Ross Award: Steve Carroll
 
Coach of the Year: Dave Zakall
Rookie Coach of the Year: Shane Stockwell
MMH outstanding Achievement Award: Sonya Lang
MMH President’s Honor Roll: Phil Lockie