Year-end Honours for KC Players and Coach!

They say that good things come in threes...well, on Tuesday night at the Columbus Centre, we had to rewrite that saying, because there were FOUR major league-wide Thunder Bay Minor Hockey awards won by members of the KC Minor Hockey family.

To kick things off, we were honoured to welcome Brian Massaro to join us on Tuesday night, to pay tribute to his late father Albert, the namesake of the Albert Massaro "Don't Quit" award.  The award is given to the U15A player who displays the most desire, dedication, and determination in playing the game of hockey, regardless of any adversity he or she has to overcome.  This year's recipient is Christian Corsini of the U15 KC Sabres. 

Sabres coach, Brent Hagberg, explained why Christian exemplified everything this award is intended to recognize:  "Christian's relentless work ethic, even when faced with challenges, shows a true commitment to the game. He never shies away from putting in extra effort during practices or overcoming obstacles, always striving to improve. Christian’s passion for hockey fuels his resilience, motivating him to push through tough times and continue progressing, no matter how steep the learning curve.  His perseverance in the face of difficulty makes him a standout example of determination in the sport. He helped vault our team from 9^th place in early December to finishing the year at 2^nd place overall. In doing so, we moved him from defense to forward midway through the year, and he became our team's leading goal scoring. This shows what kind of player he is, easily adapting to whatever role is needed on the team!"

Congratulations Christian!! 


Christian Corsini with Brian Massaro


Next up was the Tom Friday "Good Guy" award, given to a dedicated coach who has spent a minimum of three years coaching in Thunder Bay Minor Hockey, and who promotes fair play, acting as a role model for players, with a genuine commitment to the game of hockey.  This year's recipient is Scott Galloway, who has spent much of the past two decades coaching his three sons in almost every age group.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a more deserving "good guy", as Scott is pretty much as good as they come.  Generally providing a wave of calm in the often stormy waters of Minor Hockey, Scott is a great role model for the young men and women on his teams. 

Said Sabres' head coach, Brent Hagberg:  "Scott consistently promotes fair play, teaching players not only the skills of the game but also the importance of integrity and respect. His exemplary conduct as a gentleman and a positive role model inspires his players through his pre and postgame speeches. Scott is constantly prepared for each and every practice, showing up on time and putting together well thought-out practice plans.  Scott’s genuine commitment to the game and to developing character in his players makes him a deserving candidate for this recognition."  Congratulations, Scott!


Scott Galloway (right) with Brent Hagberg


Our next award on the night was the Danny Cox Memorial Sportsmanship Award, given to the U18A/AA player who exemplifies sportsmanship in the way they play hockey.  Andrew Beaucage spent the last two years of his minor hockey career as a defenseman for the U18A KC Sabres.  He wore a letter on his jersey both years, as decided by both his teammates and his coaches.  A natural leader both on and off the ice, Andrew plays the game the right way -- with respect for his teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials.  Always a dedicated teammate, he never willingly missed a practice or game, and never had to be asked to give more, because he was always giving his all.  Always popular among teammates, a favourite among his coaches, and respected among his opponents on the ice, Andrew Beaucage is the reason an award like this exists.  Congratulations Andrew!


Andrew Beaucage, with the U18A KC Sabres staff


Last, but certainly not least, we were thrilled to be able to present one of the U18A season-ending awards, as voted by the coaches.  The U18 Sabres' coaches were thrilled to learn that one of their own had been been tabbed for such an honour.  To put it quite simply, Maddox Potan was a beast this season.  Chosen by his coaches as the team Captain, Maddox stepped up from day one.  Playing short due to injuries?  No problem...you can double-shift him.  Need a clutch goal to turn the game around?  Got you, coach.  Need someone to stop a 2 on 1?  No worries...you're not getting past that poke check.  In fact, odds are the puck will be going back the other way before the opponents know what happened.  A natural leader on and off the ice, and a truly well-rounded defenseman, Maddox Potan is the TBMHA defenseman of the year.  Congratulations Maddox!


Maddox Potan, with the U18A KC Sabres staff