The 2020-21 Hockey PEI Awards were presented on Thursday night at the Rodd Royalty Inn following a year like no other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hockey associations across PEI were praised for getting through a very tough winter. The Island was the only place in Canada to complete its provincial playoffs in the spring.
The Alberton Western Regals Under 18 AAA PEI champs were named the Team of the Year after a boating tragedy in September, 2020 that took the lives of team mates Ethan Reilly and Alex Hutchinson.
Another team that was affected by the loss of Hutchinson was the Arsenault Fish Mart Western Red Wings that won the Island Jr. B title. Their coach, Nathan Desroches was named Coach of the Year.
The President’s Award for remarkable contribution to amateur hockey was presented by Hockey PEI President Mike Hammill to former NHL star Adam McQuaid of Cornwall who was a member of the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.
Other winners included:
Female Player of the Year: Chloe McCabe, Charlottetown – Central Storm in U18 AAA Female.
Male Player of the Year: Ross Campbell, Souris – Eastern Express Major U15
Official of the Year: Lorenz Sanders, Pownal Minor Hockey Association
Administrator of the Year: Justin Muttart, President Sherwood Minor Hockey Association
Volunteer of the Year: Cory Thomas, Manager Summerside U11 AA Capitals
Scholarship Awards: Samuel Hardy, Kensington-Stanley Bridge, Rustico North Stars Minor Hockey and Shaelynn McCardle, Kinkora, Mid-Isle Wildcats U18 AAA Female
Gordie Whitlock Development Award: Shane Hamill, Southside Minor Hockey Association.
During the Hockey PEI Annual General Meeting prior to the Awards, Al MacIsaac was elected the new president of the hockey governing body succeeding Mike Hammill.
There were 5, 444 male and females playing the game in 2020-21 in PEI. Pownal had the largest association with 934 players.
