The Almaguin Spartans organization is thrilled to announce that our players and staff received six award nominations yesterday from the GMHL. Three of those nominees won those awards. Spartans Captain and 4 year veteran defensemen Bryan Austin was nominated for the divisions top defensemen and player with the most heart. Spartans Assistant Captain and 4 year veteran centre Britton Whitehead was nominated for the top defensive forward. Spartans leading scorer and assistant captain Mathew Labrosse was nominated for top forward and most valuable player. Spartans head coach Myles Pepin was nominated for coach of the year for the second time in three years.
The Award Winners Are:
Bryan Austin “Top Defensemen”
Britton Whitehead “Top Defensive Forward”
Mathew Labrosse “Top Forward”
Spartans General Manager David Forde has this to say about the clubs incredible showing for the divisions top awards yesterday “All four of the individuals have done an incredible job representing our organization and were all very deserving of their nominations and awards. We always preach team first, but yesterday was a day to recognize these individual achievements. These guys have put in a lot of work and I know they are all honored to have won these awards, but they also know that without the work of their teammates and the teams success that this would not have been possible. I also hope that these awards assist these three young men in progressing to professional hockey next season.
This is also an incredible achievement for our local hockey community as Austin and Whitehead are both products of Almaguin Minor Hockey and have spent countless hours being coached by Myles Pepin, Gary Coalter and Jamey Sollman over the past 15 years. When we started to build this program five years ago, we really wanted to provide local players with a chance to develop and play junior hockey in the Almaguin area. We knew that with great coaching and a top level program that these kids could be successful, advance to the next level and would compete with the very best teams in this league. Well it’s four seasons later, two local players have just been recognized as the top players in the North Division, we are one win away from a regular season title and we are set to make a long playoff run. I know our entire organization and community would like to thank Bryan Austin and Britton Whitehead for the past four seasons. You guys have done a fantastic job representing our team and the community. Only one thing left to do guys, win 13 playoff games!!!”
