These were awarded to graduating Red Deer Minor Hockey players. (rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

72 teams/ 1,300 players

Players, coaches, staff, and teams recognized at RDMH year-end awards night

Apr 9, 2025 | 9:24 PM

Red Deer Minor Hockey held their annual year-end awards at the Pidherney Centre on Wednesday evening in front of their biggest crowd they’ve ever had for the event.

With 1,300 people in attendance, players, coaches, and staff of 72 teams from across the association were honoured for their accomplishments in the 2024-25 season.

A total of 15 teams qualified for provincials and five championships were captured against the best teams in Alberta. There were also seven league titles won.

Red Deer Minor Hockey general manager Jason Stephens said it was a great year for the association. It was his first season in the position, which was a learning year but he said everyone involved made his job easier.

“Winning championships is always nice and I think it’s a byproduct of what you do. Overall, just the feelings, talking with other parents, and our membership, it was a great year,” he said.

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“We’re going to take some life lessons out of this year and make it better next year. But as an organization, we took some really big strides.”

Throughout the evening they recognized many teams but when it came to the individual awards there were players who stood out in their respective leagues.

Among those awarded in the Alberta Female Hockey League and Alberta Elite Hockey League includes:

• U13 AA MVP, top forward, and top scorer Kilynn Soloway and U13 AA AFHL coach of the year, Dave Soloway.
• U15 AA AFHL MVP and top scorer Reece Lacina, U15 AA AFHL top goaltender Gracie Hughes, and U15 AA AFHL top defenceman Kendall Hammer.
• U13 AEHL All-Star forward Easton Van Grinsven and U13 AEHL All star goaltender Thomas Wright.
• U15 AAA AEHL playoff MVP, top scorer, and 1st team All star, Madden Daneault and U15 AAA AEHL second team all star Cruz Nicolay.
• U16 AA AEHL All-star forward Nate McRorie, U16 AA AEHL All star goaltender Eric Biche, and U16 AA All-star defenceman Micah Goudy.
• U17 AEHL Coach of the Year Nick Tarnasky.
• U18 AEHL 1st team all star Kohen Lodge and U18 AEHL Scholarship Brody Sharpe.

Daneault, who led the AEHL with 93 points in 33 games this year, said it was a fun season to be a part of. He also gave credit to his teammates, family, and the coaching staff for pushing him to be better.

“They were great awards to get but I couldn’t have done it without my team coaches helping me get there,” he said.

Daneault plans to return to the Rebels next season to try to repeat as provincial champions. They won on home ice this at Servus Arena defeating the Calgary Northstars 4-1 in the final.

“Winning at home just made it way cooler and it was awesome to see the arena packed. It was loud the whole game,” he added. “We had trouble with those guys all year so we wanted to beat them. We knew we had to play our hearts out to win and everyone left it all out there.”

At just 14-years-old, Daneault still has one more season before he’s eligible for the WHL Prospects Draft. He’s expected to go inside the top three in 2026.

For now, he’s going ot enjoy playing with his friends but also keep improving his overall game.

“I’ve been in the gym just trying to get bigger, faster, and stronger. Anything to help me.”

Jerseys were also handed out to players that are awarded every year to a player who’s taken a leadership role on their team. Various teams submitted a player but not all won, only players who the board of directors felt were worthy.

This included Woodrow Arthur (U7), Kaden McKenzie (U9), Ian Hardy (U9), Harry Prysunka (U11), Athena Dimos (U11), Viggo Moborg (U11), Cohen Grantham (U13), Cayslie Perkins (U13), Ryker Jubb (U13), Taves Lehman (U13), Ethan McColl (U13), Jett Janzen (U13), Johnathon Brooks (U15), Kinley Manz (U15), Jaxon Jaffray (U15), Nathan Sprovieri (U15), Presley Zinger (U18), Luke Holmes (U18), Ethan Clark (U18), and Kohen Lodge (U18).

(rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

Red Deer Minor Hockey recognized the Manager’s of the Year awarded to Alyson McColl and Deanna Spielman. The Coach of the Year awards were given to Parker Bettenson and Dave Soloway.

They also gave thanks to four local minor officials who they thought were tremendous including Brody Foote, Braden Fuller, Sydney Buckland, and Aaron Kindonn.

Scholarship recipients given to graduating players who are decided by a committee includes Raya Hastings, Presley Zinger, Addison Spielman, and Jada Olafson for female players. In addition, the male winners were Ethan Clarke, Tate Bowers, Caelan Empey and Brody Erickson.

The organization also announced and honoured assistant coach Steven Pattison, who is leaving after 11 seasons with the Red Deer U18 AAA Optimist Chiefs.

They also honoured past Red Deer Minor Hockey president Al Sim for over four decades within the organization which included coaching, and 12 years on the board and seven years as president.

(rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

Stephens wanted to add a big thank you to all parents, coaches, staff, and the players for their hard work this season.

“Thank you to each one of them for the work they put in, the time they take to bring the kids to the arena, and the experience they give their kids being a part of a team,” he said.

“We know that employers love employing kids who play sport whether it’s hockey or other sports. Whatever it is, those kids come from structured environments that people appreciate.”

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