The atmosphere was convivial and the food delicious at the annual Wranglers Banquet held to honour the players and volunteers who make the team possible.
With food catered by the Iron Horse Pub, attendees were able to enjoy the evening and take part in a raffle and silent auction. Tickets for the banquet were sold out.
"You always have to recognize milestones and you need to show appreciation," says Tom Bachynski, 100 Mile House Wranglers Hockey Club President. "These kids come from all over the province to play for us, in front of us, and I think there's a need for recognition of excellence."
Wranglers team captain, Stephen Egan, received the President's Award, a top honour, from Bachynski.
"Stephen started off as a project – he was short tempered and feisty and really showed the true grit of what I envisioned a Wranglers hockey player to be like. As he matured he just became such a good human being to lead the team, the last two years. It was a no-brainer," says Bachynski. "If you were to Wikipedia what a Wrangler is, there would be a picture of Stephen Egan."
Wranglers head coach Dale "Duner" Hladun agrees.
"He's the liaison from those kids to me," says Hladun. "We're good off the ice and we're respected in the community and I think a lot of that is because [the team] follows Stephen."
Hladun says coaching is important when it comes to a team, but it's team veterans who make the difference when it comes to how a team functions.
"The vets can make it hell for them, or they can talk down to them, or they can inspire them. Your vets are the prime part of developing young players and I've got great vets and that's why our rookies are so good. A lot of it comes from Stephen."
Brevin Gervais was unanimously voted on by his teammates for Players' Choice Award. Gervais has been in hospital in Kamloops following a brain hemorrhage on Jan. 26.
"I think the player's choice was because he's such a good teammate. It's not just because of what he is going through," says Hladun. "He is a good player and he is everybody's best friend. He's the youngest kid on the team and yet he's treated like an elder so I thought that was a heck of a good choice."
Hladun himself received the Builder's Award for outstanding effort to improve the franchise.
"I think it's a match made in heaven having Duner here with a young franchise," says Bachynski. According to him, Hladun helps keeps the board and franchise on track.
"What he does for the kids, the way he puts the kids first in everything, that's a legacy that has to go on forever."
Most Valuable Player: Stephen Egan
President's Award: Stephen Egan
Builder's Award: Dale Hladun
Fan Favourite Award: Nick McCabe
Player's Choice Award: Brevin Gervais
Outstanding Defenceman Award: Austin Turner
Outstanding Forward Award: Bob Rajun
Outstanding Sportsmanship: Austin Turner
Top Scorer: Justin Bond
Rookie of the Year: James Gordon