Woolwich hockey celebrates another season

With another season wrapping up, Woolwich’s minor hockey groups celebrated the past year with events April 13 and 15 at Lions Hall in Elmira.

The Woolwich Girls Minor Hockey Association (WGMHA) celebrated individual achievements and two big championship wins, while several Woolwich Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) boys collected major awards for their efforts this year.

At the boys’ banquet last Sunday, the Todd Shannon Memorial Award went to Midget goalie Keaton Weiss;  the Referee Award of Excellence in Coaching to Todd and Matt Townsend, Brock Tanner and McKinley Cesar; the June Pierce Memorial Award was received by Walker Schott; and the Dan Snyder Memorial Unsung Hero Award was collected by Grant Kernik.

The Wildcats saw a new scholarship this year, in honour of Conestogo’s Brandon Nickel who died following a car crash in July 2013. The 20-year-old was a graduate of Elmira District Secondary School (EDSS) and played with Woolwich Minor Hockey in his youth.

The Brandon Nickel Memorial Scholarship will go to players aged 13-17 who demonstrate a strong commitment to team, good sportsmanship, and great work ethic on the ice. The scholarship money will be used to help cover hockey expenses. This year’s recipient was house league midget player Joseph Hanley.

The girls celebrated their success on Tuesday evening. Among the accomplishments this year were gold medals for the atom, midget and intermediate local league teams at the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association finals. Girls novice and peewee LL teams also qualified for the semi-final championship games.

The atom C team received a bronze at the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League championships. The novice B and atom BB teams both qualified for the Ontario Women’s Hockey League Association  Provincial Championships held last weekend.

Registration for the 2014-2015 season for both associations is now open. For more information visit www.woolwichminorhockey.ca and www.woolwichwild.com.