The Legionnaires opened their mini-training camp this past weekend after wrapping up the season with their annual year-end awards ceremony. Jace McGrail, Austin Harper and Ty Moffat brought home multiple honours.
“It was a fitting way to recognize those guys and the impact they had on our hockey team,” said head coach Brian Irwin.
“The scholastic award is really impressive,” he continued, noting that Harper and McGrail were both taking the Instrumentation course at Lambton College.
“For those guys to be able to balance school and hockey with the dedication to both is really impressive. They are top of the class at Lambton and high performers for us.”
Harper was also awarded the Micor Sports Team Leading scorer award, while Moffat also took home the Bob & Sharon Williamson Memorial Award ‘Most Valuable Player award, and was co-winner of the Fred and Rose Cooper People's Choice award with Jace McGrail.
“The people's choice award is a cool one” said Irwin. “It’s something that is completely out of control of the hockey operations group, and is chosen by the fans.”
McGrail was also awarded the Orville Duffy Memorial Award for Best Defenseman.
Irwin said it was fitting to see these three named for multiple awards based on the hard work and dedication they have shown to the team.
Legionnaires goalie Logan Phillips was also recognized at the awards banquet taking home the Most dedicated honours.
In all his hockey experience, Irwin said he can’t recall a goalie ever winning the most dedicated award, but he added it was a perfect fit for Logan.
“He cares about his craft, win or lose. Logan is the first guy at the rink, he loves our program, he loves our team,” Irwin said. “He puts adversity behind him really well and he reacts positively regardless of the outcome; he’s another guy who is just a really good human being”.
Captain Wes Brooks was also recognized for his hard work and dedication, as well as his leadership this season. Brooks, who was in his final season of Jr B, eligibility, was awarded the “Coaches Award,” and was balancing a work term at Nanticoke, and playing hockey.
“January 8 he began working in Nanticoke, and made it clear this wouldn’t impact his ability to be the captain of this team,” Irwin told the Journal.
“This kid is driving two-and-a-half hours and showing up on time for our games after a shift that ended at 3:30 p.m., it was a really emotional night sending him off”
With the awards banquet done, the Legionnaires now turn to next season, and building their next roster as the mini-camp opened over the weekend; the Pat Stapleton Arena featured scrimmages Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s nice we have a spring ID camp,” said Irwin. “Paul [Hurtubise] has put a lot of work around recruiting guys for our camps,” he said the GM.
Irwin said this is a good time of year, where optimism reigns, there are some fresh faces coming in, and there will be a chance for some of the local U18 players to get noticed as well.
Irwin said with the veteran guys there, the hope is to give the new players a proper introduction to the Jr. B game.
“We hope the veteran guys at camp will keep the pace up and set some expectations on what they can expect later in August when we play exhibition games and make it competitive.”
Legionnaires General Manager Paul Hurtubise said they have made a few changes to this year’s camp. Most notably, the camp took place at the Pat Stapleton Arena for the first time, as more veteran players were added to try and keep the competitiveness up.
“This year I opened up a little more for our vets to come and skate, and that should improve the quality of the camp,” said Hurtubise. “The other players will be coming from the PJHL and AAA system as well.”
Hurtibuse says in Jr. hockey you have to plan for about half the roster to overturn, as until schooling is done and OHL as well as other camps are done, you just don’t know who is returning until they sign.
“We are a development league,” the GM told the Journal. “You look at a kid like [Matt ] Anderson, we’re hoping that Anderson will be full time with the Sting.”
Hurtubise says he is counting on Anderson, who was co-named Legionnaires Rookie of the Year, to stay with the Sting, but says selfishly they’d love to have him back.
Hurtubise is excited for this season as well, and says that the team has big plans, as the 2024/2025 season will be the 75th season for Legionnaires and Jr. B hockey in Sarnia.
Legionnaires Award Banquet winners.
Fred & Rose Cooper Peoples Choice Award — Jace McGrail & Ty Moffatt (co-winners)
Micor Sports’Team Leading Scorer — Austin Harper
Caley-Williams ‘Spirit Award — Anthony Tudino
Sarnia Legionnaires Most Dedicated Player Award — Logan Phillips
TD Waterhouse ‘Most Improved Player — Colin Langstaff
Judy Alix Outstanding Playoff Performer — Ryan Richardson
Source for Sports ‘Rookie of the Year — Matthew Andersen & Jimmy Monks (co-winners)
All Season Trophies ' Scholastic Player of the Year’ — Jace McGrail & Austin Harper (co-winners)
Orville Duffy Memorial Award ‘Best Defenceman — Jace McGrail
Bob & Sharon Williamson Memorial Award ‘Most Valuable Player — Ty Moffatt
Sarnia Legionnaire 'Coaches Award — Wesley Brooks