The Yorkton Terriers held the team's awards' banquet Saturday.
Team president Lyle Walsh said it was a year ago the team was holding the same event and "talked about the great season we had, and looking forward to next year."
Last season, the Terriers won the Sherwood Conference, losing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League final to LaRonge in six games. The playoff run a year ago created "a great amount of enthusiasm for the hockey team," said Walsh.
In the off season, Yorkton installed Trent Cassan as the full time head coach after leading the team on their extended playoff run as interim boss. They confirmed Dan McKay as assistant coach and brought in Don Chesney as general manager.
"We felt very confident as a board we had found the best people available to lead the hockey club," said Walsh.
And that leadership did take the team further, this year only bowing out of the league final after extending LaRonge to seven games.
"They did a lot of work and assembled a lot of great players," said Walsh. " They took us one game better."
Terrier general manager Don Chesney said the loss in Game 7 was a hard one.
"I shed a couple of tears," he said.
"Half tears of disappointment and half tears for a sense of achievement."
Chesney said he was proud of this year's club for the way they handled themselves both on the ice, and off.
Chesney also singled out Cassan who he termed "one of the game's great young coaches," adding " he did a great job with the team."
The Yorkton GM also tipped his hat to long-time friend, Dan McKay, who he said was the "heart and soul" of the team.
The two long playoff runs are garnering the Terriers renewed interest in the city, suggested Walsh.
He said quietly the team is building "more momentum in the community They're taking the Terriers more serious in the community again."
Which brought Walsh back to the reason for the evening.
"Tonight is about thanking a lot of people, but it's also about celebrating," he said.
The list of thank-yous included the team's staff, players, volunteers, billets, sponsors and fans.
Cassan picked up on the theme of thank-yous citing how gratifying it was to have fans bus to LaRonge on a Tuesday night to support the team in the last game of the final, and that others were watching at the Painted Hand Casino.
"It meant a lot for our guys," he said. " The guys knew they weren't alone."
As for celebration, it was a time for those in attendance to say good bye to 20-year-old graduating players Craig Eisenhut, Jeremy Boyer, Devin Peters, Justin Buzzeo, Keon Vick, Blaine Tendler, Brant Remenda, Kurtis Decker and Luke Boechler, all of whom received their jersey to commemorate their time as Terriers.
Three Star Award - donated by Subway: 3 -Robbie Ciolfi, 2 - Clarke Breitkreuz, 1 - Devin Peters
Playoff MVP - donated by GX 94: Estevan series - Robbie Ciolfi, Kindersley series - Devin Peters and Justin Buzzeo, LaRonge series - Clarke Breitkreuz
Scholastic Award - donated by Yorkton Terrier Hockey Club - Brenden Poncelet
Top Scorer for Regular Season - donated by Fox FM/GX 94 - Jeremy Boyer
Playoff Top Scorer - donated by Fox FM/GX94 - Robbie Ciolfi
Dedicated and Serves Community - Ed Ruf Memorial - Craig Eisenhut
Mr. Personality - Jamie Standish Memorial -- Keon Vick
Most Gentlemanly - Yorkton Terrier Hockey Club - Jeremy Boyer
Most Improved - Schoenroths & Wolfe Memorial - Warren Shymko
Unsung Hero - donated by Park's Jewellery - Riley Patterson
Most Popular - Amos Border Memorial - Devin Peters
Mr. Hustle - donated by Yorkton Co-op - Brent Struble
Rookie of the Year - Doc's Cup - Zak Majkowski and Devon McMullen
Coaches Award - The Josh Campbell Memorial Trophy - Kurtis Decker
Most Valuable Defenseman - donated by Yorkton Terrier Hockey - Blaine Tendler
Most Valuable Player - Guy Lamb Memorial Trophy - Clarke Breitkreuz
Presidents Trophy- donated by Gene Krepakevich - Blaine Tendler
Volunteer of the Year - Donna Moore
