There were a few bright spots to take away from the Vancouver Giants’ 5-2 loss to the Kelowna Rockets Friday at the Langley Events Centre.
They just didn’t have anything to do with the play on the ice.
Between the second and third periods, a hot tub and a vehicle were given away to fans.
And before the opening puck drop and the national anthem, the G-Men honoured their own during their Team Awards ceremony.
Right winger Ty Ronning, who has a team record 61 goals with one game to go in the regular season, was the big winner.
In his final WHL season, the New York Rangers draft pick skated off with a handful of awards, including Players’ Choice, Plus-Minus, and Most Valuable Player, an honour he shared with team captain Tyler Benson.
Winners were:
Season Ticket Holder of the Year: John Turner
Jock McGrandle Volunteer of the Year: Matt Schaeffer
Players’ Choice Award: Ty Ronning
Sultan Thiara Plus-Minus Award: Ty Ronning
Save-On-Foods Scholastic Player of the Year (High School): Alex Kannok Leipert
Trinity Western University Collegiate Academic Players of the Year: Dawson Holt and Dylan Plouffe
Three Star Awards Winners: David Tendeck, Tyler Benson and Ty Ronning
White Spot Humanitarian of the Year: Ty Ronning
Bruce Allen Inspirational Leadership Award: Tyler Benson
Graduation Awards: Ty Ronning, Darian Skeoch, Brennan Riddle
Most Improved Player: David Tendeck
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Davis Koch
Milian Ilich Rookie of the Year: Bowen Byram
Pat Quinn Top Defenceman: Dylan Plouffe
The Buble Ironman Award: James Malm
Unsung Hero: Darian Skeoch
Gordie Howe Top Scorer Award: Ty Ronning
P.C. Toigo Most Valuable Players Award: Ty Ronning and Tyler Benson
The Giants finish their regular season tonight (March 17) when they travel to Kelowna to take on the Rockets in the second half of the teams’ home-and-home weekend series.
Playoffs kick off this coming Friday, March 23, when the G-Men play the Victoria Royals in Victoria, in game one of their best-of-seven, opening round series.
