The time of the year has come for the members of the media who cover the SJHL to start thinking about who will be receiving their votes for the end-of-the-year awards. While it may seem pretty simple, it can lead to some deep thought, as you do have to resist the temptation to vote specifically for a nominee for the team you cover, or even the division your team plays in.

With the ballots yet to be coming out, it is time for a look at those who have stood out so far this year in each of the four categories, and take a crack at predicting who the nominees for each division will be.

Rookie of the Year

This category sees many fantastic young players, who will be dominating the SJHL for the next few years. It is hard to narrow it down to just three nominees, but ultimately, it is what we will see.  Many were expecting Chrystopher Collin of the Flin Flon Bombers to be part of this conversation, after he was named the rookie of the week a few times this season. However, while it is his first year in the league, according to SJHL guidelines, he is not a rookie, as he had played more than 15 games in the Quebec Junior A league last season.

Viterra Division: Cade Kowalski, Weyburn Red Wings - The first-year player from Morden, Manitoba is leading the team in points as of the writing of this article. He is one of the top assist-getters in the SJHL with 41, and his quick thinking on the ice is gaining notice from around the league. He came into the league with high expectations, after tearing things up in midget with the Pembina Valley Hawks, and he has showed no signs of slowing down at the junior A level. Kowalski has a promising future in the sport ahead of him, and the Weyburn Red Wings will be looking to him for the next few years to help lead the team.

Global Ag Risk Solutions Division: Jared Hamm, Notre Dame Hounds - Hailing from Warman, Saskatchewan, Hamm has been on fire with the Hounds this season. Adding to the fact he was selected to play in the SJHL/MJHL showcase, the young forward has been a strong offensive catalyst for the storied franchise. He has picked up 41 points so far this season, and is one of the top rookie point-getters this season. In fact he trails only Kowalski. He has been getting regular minutes, and he has adapted to the style of Hounds head coach Clint Mylymok well.

Sherwood Division: Jake Anthony, Nipawin Hawks - A big reason for the success this year of the Nipawin Hawks has been Jake Anthony. The rookie goaltender has a GAA of 1.84, and a save percentage of .929. He has only been defeated twice in regulation, and while the pure wins and losses numbers rely on the team in front of him, the save percentage doesn’t. The Grande Prairie, Alberta product will be backstopping the Hawks for a number of years to come, unless he makes the jump to the WHL in the coming off-season.

Defenseman of the Year

The young men who patrol the blue line in the SJHL have been having a stellar year. The league has a strong contingent of offensively talented defensemen, as well as the strong stay-at-home stalwarts who make it a challenge for any opponent to gain offensive pressure.

Viterra Division: Mike Eskra, Weyburn Red Wings - Eskra has had his best season offensively, and is always strong in his own zone. In his fourth and final season with the Red Wings, the captain of the team has been a strong leader and is more than likely going to be playing in the NCAA next season. His decision-making skills and ability to quarterback the powerplay are key parts of his game, and something a lot of players would envy.

Global Ag Risk Solutions Division: Levi Kleiboer, Battlefords North Stars - As a 19-year-old in the league, he has made grown over the past three years into one of the premier defensemen in the SJHL. His play has gotten him noticed by the NCAA - he committed to the University of Maine this season. With his future set, he is now working to help lead his team to a second straight Canalta Cup championship. He is strong in his own end, and also has the ability to participate offensively, with a career-high 33 points so far this season.

Sherwood Division: Josh McDougall, Nipawin Hawks - McDougall is the offensive catalyst for the Hawks, while also playing as their top defenseman. He leads his team in points, and is the top of the table amongst all defensemen in the SJHL. In just his second season in the SJHL, he has one more year to go, and will be looked upon in the future to help guide the Hawks to another successful season.

Goaltender of the Year

The goaltenders in the SJHL have been stellar over the past few seasons. This year has been no exception.

Viterra Division: Arik Weersink, Weyburn Red Wings - While his numbers may not be the best in the league, he has been the most consistent, and has logged more minutes than any other goaltender in the division. Some may argue Bo Didur of the Estevan Bruins has posted better numbers, but he has played a fraction of the games of the marathon man Weersink. He has posted two shutouts, including holding the extremely potent offense of the Battlefords off the board in November. His save percentage of .913 is also one of the best in the league.

Global Ag Risk Solutions Division: Justen Close, Kindersley Klippers - There is more than one extremely talented goaltender in the division, but only one has been playing without a high-powered offence in front of him to relieve some of the pressure. Close has logged 36 games this season, and nearly 2000 minutes so far. He has also picked up two shutouts. The hometown star of the Klippers has another year to go in the SJHL and looks like he will continue to improve next year.

Sherwood Division: Declan Hobbs, Nipawin Hawks - Really, in this category, you could go with either goaltender for the Hawks, but with a rookie of the year nod already going to Anthony, I am giving the goaltender of the year choice in this column to the veteran. Hobbs is in his second year in the SJHL. This year, he has been lights out. Not only is his GAA one of the best in league history (1.67), but his save percentage is a mind-boggling .937. He has only lost two games in regulation all season, and has posted three shutouts.

Most Valuable Player

This award is designed to go to the player who was the most valuable asset to his team, and whose contributions made the success of the team possible. It is a lot harder of a category to figure out since there are so many strong players in the league, who are all capable of helping to engineer a team’s success.

Viterra Division: Zach Goberis, Estevan Bruins - A true measure of how valuable a player is to his team, is how the rest of the team plays when he is in the lineup. Goberis has been a dynamo for the Bruins this season, leading them in points, while also playing like a leader on the ice. He has thrived in the run and gun scheme employed by Bruins head coach Chris Lewgood, and his linemates seem to be that much better when he was on the ice.

Global Ag Risk Solutions Division: Layne Young, Battlefords North Stars - When you lead the points race in the league from start to finish, and help bring the players on your line up to a level they weren’t at the previous season, you know you are looking at a player who has a special talent. Layne Young matches the description nearly everyone would use to describe the most valuable player in a hockey league. The U of S Huskies will be gaining a valuable asset when he joins them next season.

Sherwood Division: Josh McDougall, Nipawin Hawks - I know it is rare for a player to receive two awards at the end of the year, but really, McDougall has just been that good for the Hawks this year. He is a catalyst for their offence and has shown an ability many wouldn’t have predicted last season. He has matured and improved year over year and the Hawks wouldn’t be nearly as successful without him in the lineup this season.

Player of the Year

This category, like determining who selections should be for MVP, can be tough. Each division, though, has a player who stands out in terms of being the best player amongst his peers.

Viterra Division: Zach Goberis, Estevan Bruins - Goberis has demonstrated skill all season long, and barely edges out Ben Hiltz from the Weyburn Red Wings for the nod as the player of the year from the Viterra Division.

Global Ag Risk Solutions Division: Layne Young, Battlefords North Stars - I don’t think much more can be said about Young. He is a deserving candidate for this award, but an honourable mention should go to Chance Longjohn, who has had a stellar campaign wearing the C for the Notre Dame Hounds.

Sherwood Division: Declan Hobbs, Nipawin Hawks - The goaltender for the Hawks has been perhaps the best player all season long for the team and has been a key part of the successes this season.

Now, for some awards, which aren’t official awards from the league, but I feel should be recognized.

Most Improved Player: Ben Hiltz, Weyburn Red Wings - Hiltz finished the 2016-17 campaign with eight points in 41 games. As a 17-year-old in the SJHL, he had a lot of room for improvement. And did he ever improve. Averaging more than a point a game in his sophomore season, he has made a strong case to be one of the leaders on the team wearing a letter next season.

Most Gentlemanly Player: Jared Hamm, Notre Dame Hounds - This is the equivalent to the Lady Byng Award, which I feel should be called the Elvis Jansons award, after the former Weyburn Red Wing who played 50 games without taking a single penalty. To determine the eligibility, I went with players who hadn’t taken what is considered penalties for “dirty” plays like kneeing or boarding, hadn’t taken any sort of misconduct or major, and had no penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct or roughing, while also maintaining a high level of performance throughout the season. Hamm fits the criteria with just six penalty minutes all year and averaging a point per game.