Two Grande Prairie Storm players finalists for major awards in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Veteran forward Justin Bernier was selected as a finalist for the Most Valuable Player award and Zach Okabe is in the running for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Twenty-year-old Bernier, a Quebec native, was tied for second in league scoring going into Saturday action.
He has 30 goals and 40 assists after 52 games.
Okabe, who was born in Australia, is the second leading rookie scorer in the league. The 17-year-old has 18 goals and 34 assists.
Here is a list of all the finalists:
Most Valuable Player – Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy
(2017 Winner – Cale Makar, Brooks Bandits)
• Chris Van Os-Shaw – Spruce Grove Saints
• Justin Bernier – Grande Prairie Storm
• Jordan Taupert – Drumheller Dragons
• Dennis Cesana – Brooks Bandits
Rookie of the Year – Dick White Trophy, Presented by Canalta Hotels
(2017 Winner – Oliver Chau, Brooks Bandits)
• Zachary Okabe – Grande Prairie Storm
• Chris Curr – Fort McMurray Oil Barons
• Brock Bremer – Camrose Kodiaks
• Nick Blankenburg – Okotoks Oilers
Outstanding Defenceman – W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy, Presented by the Alberta Ford Dealers
(2017 Winner – Cale Makar, Brooks Bandits)
• TJ Lloyd – Spruce Grove Saints
• Daniel Hilsendager – Lloydminster Bobcats
• Jacob Bernard-Docker – Okotoks Oilers
• Dennis Cesana – Brooks Bandits
Top Goaltender – Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey League Trophy
(2017 Winner – Logan Drackett, Calgary Canucks)
• Eric Szudor – Fort McMurray Oil Barons
• Xavier Potvin – Whitecourt Wolverines
• Riley Morris – Okotoks Oilers
• Mitchel Benson – Brooks Bandits
Most Dedicated Player – Don McNabb Memorial Trophy
(2017 Winner – Ryan Symington, Bonnyville Pontiacs)
• Shane Fraser – Fort McMurray Oil Barons
• Jaedon Leslie – Whitecourt Wolverines
• Joey May – Calgary Mustangs
• Jacob Bernard-Docker – Okotoks Oilers
Coach of the Year
(2017 Winner – Tom Keca, Fort McMurray Oil Barons)
• Bram Stephen – Spruce Grove Saints
• Tom Keca – Fort McMurray Oil Barons
• Tyler Deis – Okotoks Oilers
• Tyler Drader – Calgary Mustangs
The following League Awards and Scholarships will also be presented at the completion of the 2017-2018 AJHL Regular Season:
• Regular Season Champion – Dave Duchak Trophy
• Scoring Champion – Ernie Love Trophy
• Top Team Goaltenders – CCM Top Team Goaltenders Award
• 2017-2018 Viterra All League and All Rookie Team
• Viterra Star of the Game Standings Leader – Viterra Cup
• Unified Valve Group Powerplay Leader
• Stewy Stewart Memorial Award – Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy
• Viterra Salute to Service Volunteer Award
• RBC Junior A Scholarship
• Inter Pipeline AJHL Scholarship
• Unified Valve Group Scholarship