California center, Nick Newman skates away with most hardware at Leafs player awards banquet
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It was awards night for the Nelson Leafs Sunday night.
And the big winner of the 2011-12 edition of the Green and White was California native Nick Newman, who took home three awards including most popular player as voted on by his teammates.
Traditionally the team awards banquet follows the end of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff season.
However, for the past few years the executive decided to hand out awards following the regular season.
Newman, from Saugus, California, also won the rookie-of-the-year honours as well as the regular season scoring title.
Other winners included defenceman J.J. Beitel capturing the most spirited award; Nelson native Dallon Stoddart as most improved; top defenceman was Jonathon Petrash while another Nelson Minor Hockey grad, Lynden Horswill earned most sportsmanlike honours.
Nelsonite Carsen Willans won the dedication to hockey and education award while team captain Tyler Parfeniuk and sniper Patrick Martens won spirited shot blocker and coach selection, respectively.
Unsung hero was rookie center Matthew Naka while the team MVP was netminder Andrew Walton.
The Leafs honoured longtime scorekeeper Jim Kienholtz by creating an award in his name — Leaf volunteer award.
Kienholtz was killed in plane crash in Arrow Lakes while on a fishing trip.
The winner was Jim and Mary Plamondon, who were mainstays with the franchise for decades.
The 30-17-0-5 Leafs, finishing third in the hotly contested Murdoch Division for the second consecutive season, open the divisional semi final playoffs Friday in Castlegar against the Rebels.
Game two goes Saturday in the Sunflower City.
Both game times are 7:30 p.m.
The series shifts back to Nelson for game three and four, Monday and Tuesday, at the NDCC Arena.
Puck drop is 7 p.m.
If necessary, games five, six and seven go Thursday, Friday (March 2) and Saturday (March 3).
