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Cheers and tears for a notable season
» Sugar Kings wrap things up by passing out the hardware at awards banquet, feting departing players
BY: MARC MIQUEL HELSEN
By the end of the Elmira Sugar Kings banquet Sunday night, more than a few people were fighting back tears.
After an impressive 30-7-8-3 season, followed by a Cherrey Cup win over the Cambridge Winter Hawks and a hard-fought battle against the Tecumseh Chiefs in the Sutherland Cup finals, the Kings, their families and fans had many reasons to show emotion.
Especially since nine players were saying goodbye to the team for good.
Chad Hepburn, Brock Zinken, Cal Myerscough, Scott Lepold and captain John Lunney were honoured with graduation rings for their more than two years of dedication to the Kings organization both on and off the ice.
“I had fun my four years,” Lunney said later in the week of his time with the team.
Another highlight during the awards ceremony was the presentation of the Alumni Trophy. Normally, it is handed out to a player who best honoured past Sugar Kings by acting as the playoff MVP. This year however, it was too hard to name just one guy, coach Geoff Haddaway said, choking back tears.
Lunney and his assistant captains accepted this award on behalf of the whole team that Haddaway said showed impressive leadership and drive in the playoff run. He cited examples of this hard work, including Addison Fisher’s goal in Stratford and Riley Sonnenburg and Lepold’s long-awaited goals in the playoffs.
Other winners throughout the night included Zinken for sportsmanship and leadership (the Don Duke Memorial Trophy), Michael Therrien, who was named Rookie of the Year (from Elmira Sports), and Lunney for top scorer (the Elmira Insurance Agencies Trophy).
“It’s always nice at the end of the year to be honoured for your accomplishments,” Lunney said. “It’s something that you aim for every year: you try to win a championship [and] you try to better yourself as well as the team to be able to win those championships.”
Also taking the stage May 25 were Dan Morrison for regular season MVP, Lepold, who best combined academics and hockey excellence, and Patrick Shantz for being the top local minor hockey grad (Dave Uberig Memorial Trophy).
“I was proud to coach him and see what he brought every night,” assistant coach Darren Wideman said of Shantz.
The James Austin Memorial Trophy for best defenceman was given to Trent Brown, followed by the coaches’ cup handed to Jeff Zippel. Described by Haddaway as a jack of all trades, Zippel was honoured for best exemplifying perseverance and dedication to hockey.
His seven points on the season did not represent his overall value as a player, Haddaway said.
Sugar King forwards Brent Freeman and Jeremy Hilliard were entrusted with handling important on-ice situations throughout the regular season and playoffs, and were thanked for their efforts with the Norm Hipel Memorial Trophy.
To round out the celebrations at the Elmira arena, the crowd gave a standing ovation to Volunteer of the Year Marilyn Craig for her tireless efforts billeting players, selling tickets and supporting her favourite team. She accepted the Dawn Farr Memorial Award in honour of a woman who was always dedicated to enhancing the Sugar Kings organization.
With yet another season officially under their belts, the Kings now have other activities on their minds: motorcycling and golf. They will host the third annual motorcycle poker run June 7, followed by the seventh annual golf tournament June 9.
SUGAR KINGS ARTICLE ARCHIVES
A season of promise and accomplishment
» May 24, 08
When Sugar Kings general manager Keith Stewart was faced with the challenge of reassembling a squad last summer, he knew he would have a real job filling in the significant holes left behind by the departure of several key players.
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Kings keep it close, but bow out in four
» May 10, 08
For the greater part of their final game against the Tecumseh Chiefs, the Elmira Sugar Kings convinced more than themselves that overturning a 3-0 series deficit was possible.
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Kings on the brink
» May 03, 08
The Elmira Sugar Kings left Tecumseh with their heads high Wednesday night despite losing 2-1 to the Chiefs in game three of the Sutherland Cup finals.
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Kings advance to Sutherland Cup finals
» April 26, 08
When the NHL playoffs got underway, hockey pundits zeroed in on the internecine “bloodbath” taking place in the cities of Calgary and San Jose, as the two physical teams battled to make it through to the second round.
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Kings find out what Tecumseh is made of
» April 19, 08
The plot thickened in Tecumseh Wednesday night.
After doubling up on the Thorold Blackhawks 6-3 at home Apr. 13, the Elmira Sugar Kings were themselves blasted by the Tecumseh Chiefs 6-2 three days later.
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Kings claim Cherrey Cup
» April 12, 08
The Sugar Kings exacted sweet revenge over the Cambridge Winter Hawks this week, making up for last year’s outcome by claiming the Cherrey Cup.
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