RDP Queens Basketball is the 2023 Pattison Media Team of the Year. (Lee Lachance)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Local Sports Excellence

Central Sports 2023 Sport Award Winners

Mar 20, 2024 | 2:08 PM

Central Sport, an organization that links local sports while promoting regional sports excellence, announced it’s 2023 Sport Award Winners at the Red Deer Rebels game on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

RDP Queens Basketball is the 2023 Pattison Media Team of the Year. The Queens had a historic season in 2022-23, one that continued in the first half of 2023-24. They were undefeated against provincial competition during the 2023 calendar year with 25 straight victories, winning the program’s first ACAC title in 31 years. The Queens won 15 straight games heading into nationals in 2023 and finished fourth in the country.

Molly Simpson is the Red Deer Advocate Female Athlete of the Year for 2023. The 21-year-old had a spectacular year on the BMX circuit, capped off with a silver medal at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile. To win the medal, she beat out a stacked field and finished just behind a two-time Olympic champion. Simpson also finished in the top-five in her first four World Cup races of 2023, ending the season seventh overall in the World Cup standings. Simpson is an up-and-coming star in BMX and proudly represents Red Deer around the world.

Red Deer Rebels captain Kai Uchacz is the Red Deer Advocate Male Athlete of the Year for 2023. In the 2023 calendar year, Uchacz was one of the WHL’s most consistent goal scorers. He scored 51 goals between the end of the 2022-23 season, playoffs and the first half of the 2023-24 campaign. His 50 regular season goals in 2022-23 were second in the WHL behind only Connor Bedard. After winning the team’s Most Valuable Player honour and Humanitarian of the Year honour for 2022-23, he was named the Rebels captain for the 2023-24 season.

Red Deer Rebels captain Kai Uchacz – Red Deer Advocate Male Athlete of the Year. (Lee Lachance)

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Kendall Dunkle – Minor Coach of the Year

Ben Cripps is the recipient of the 2023 Kendall Dunkle Minor Coach of the Year Award presented by the Red Deer Fire Department. The award is given to a coach who volunteered in 2023 coaching athletes 16 and under, is a role model, shows and encourages leadership, good sportsmanship and enthusiasm for their sport. Ben is a basketball coach with the Red Deer Minor Basketball Association, who helps coach both male and female teams, serves as a referee and is an RDMBA board member. He hosts drop-in sessions for younger players and encourages players to be the best teammate they can be, while helping foster growth and development.

Ben Cripps is the recipient of the 2023 Kendall Dunkle Minor Coach of the Year Award. (Lee Lachance)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael Klass is the posthumous recipient of the 2023 Red Deer Lifetime Sport Achievement Award. Michael, who came to Red Deer in the early 2000s, was a community leader and a tireless worker for the betterment of Central Alberta. He was an integral part of the 2006 Alberta Summer Games host committee, which left a lasting legacy in the region. In addition to his role with the Central Alberta Sport Development Centre, he later worked with Hockey Alberta. He was part of the 2010 Olympic torch relay committee and played a role in helping bring the 2019 Canada Winter Games to Red Deer. He also worked as mission staff for the Alberta Games, the Canada Games and the Artic Games. He was also a volunteer coach for Red Deer Minor Hockey and Red Deer Minor Lacrosse. Michael sadly left us on November 5th, 2023, but his legacy and long-lasting impact on sport in the region will not be forgotten.

Michael Klass is the posthumous recipient of the 2023 Red Deer Lifetime Sport Achievement Award. (Lee Lachance)

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