The Season 5 Alex Bouchard Award goes to the man it’s named for, Alex Bouchard.  This season the Trident made big strides in their performance.  At times they led their division, although by season end they fell just a couple wins short of that goal.  The division was so tight that just 2 points separated the top 3 teams in this division.  

7 GMs received nominations this year and after a very tight vote Alex emerged as the winner.  While winning the Conference title and advancing to the Finals were very impressive  they weren’t the only factors that made Alex stand out.   It isn’t always about the results, although they were very good.  Alex has taken the path of a slow build since the league’s inception and has assembled a very talented young team that should be a contender for years to come.  He's done an outstanding job with drafting and developing his roster.  He’s always an active GM with trades and discussion and of course his work on the admin team and with the website and programming makes this league the best it can be. 

Congratulations Alex on being our GM of the Year for Season 5.  

Like our Farm League, the LTLHL has 6 statistically-determined awards, but, unlike our Farm League, the Pros have 7 awards nominated and selected by our Awards Committee (Regular Season MVP, Defenseman of the Year, Goalie of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Alex Bouchard Award & Beacon Cup MVP).

In order to be eligible for MVP, skaters must play at least 60 games, goalies must play at least 45, and be on a team that makes the playoffs.

Here are your Season 5 Regular Season LTLHL League Award winners:

- Offensive Player of the Year (Points Leader) - Los Angeles Dynasty C Jaiden Moar - 107 Points

- Goal Scoring Leader - Los Angeles Dynasty C Jaiden Moar - 49 Goals

- Assist Scoring Leader - Las Vegas Voltage C Sten Banga - 64 Assists

- Plus-Minus Leader - St. Paul Razorbacks D Rene Pietila - +36

- GAA Leader - Miami Trident G Tsurayuki Shibahara - 2.66 GAA

- S% Leader - Miami Trident G Tsurayuki Shibahara  - 0.923 S%

S5 LTLHL MVP

The committee nominated 5 players for the farm MVP:C Jaiden Moar (Dynasty), RW Keegan Ramkema (Orcas), G Andrew Dumont (Knights), LW BJ Keogan (Stingrays), and G Kyllian Lind.

The MVP stays in the state of California for another year. Congratulations to Los Angeles C Jaiden Moar as newest member of the LTLHL’s MVP club. He won Offensive Player of the Year and Goal Scoring Leader Awards, and earned 7 first place votes from the committee.

The then-33 year old Canadian’s Statline:  80 GP - 49 G - 58 A - 107 Pts - +29 - 98 PIM - 6 PPG - 10 GWG - 13.00 S% - 108 Hits - 19 TA - 54 GA - 40 SB

Los Angeles Dynasty - 42 wins & 89 points - 11th in LTLHL, 7th in Southern Conference, 2nd in Southwest  Division

Here are the nominations from the Awards Committee:

- “My nomination for MVP is Dynasty F Jaiden Moar. Led the league in scoring, almost hit 50 goals and led the Dynasty to the top of the standings and into the playoffs.”

- “Moar set the single season record for points (107) and tied for most goals in a season (49). His 107 points were 11 points clear of the next player (his teammate RW Zayev), his 10 game-winners tied him for 2nd in the league, and his +29 ranked him 4th in the league. Moar’s record setting season helped the Dynasty finish 2nd in a division that put 3 teams in the playoffs, and removing him from the lineup most likely results in LA missing the playoffs.”

- “Jaiden Moar - led the league in goal and points, 5th in assist. Single handily got the Dynasty into the playoffs.”

- “I nominate C Jaiden Moar of the Dynasty. Had a career year scoring 49 goals and 107 points which was a new league record. Was instrumental in the Dynasty's success in all facets of the game. 18 pp pts, 6 sh goals, 10 gw goals, 55% in FO”

- “First in the league in goals and points, tied 2nd in +/-, 2nd in total shots, as well as top 5 in PP points. was also top 10 in FO%. Also flashed his defensive side while playing the 2nd most PK minutes among forwards, where the Dynasty PK was slightly above league average. A true offensive force, setting records to help propel the Dynasty to their first playoff berth.”

Moar is the second center to win the award and the first Dynasty player to take home the MVP.

The Awards Committee has been working all offseason on nominating, discussing, and voting on Season 5’s best players. For our Farm League, we have six statistically-determined awards and two nominated and selected by our Awards Committee (Regular Season MVP & Bosse Cup MVP).

In order to be eligible for awards, skaters must play at least 60 games and goalies must play at least 45.

Before we get to the MVPs, here are your Season 5 Regular Season Farm League Award winners:

- Offensive Player of the Year (Points Leader) - Albuquerque Outlaws (MUE) RW Soren Wanchuk - 111 Points

- Goal Scoring Leader - Baltimore Rock (DYN) C Leo Panas - 43 Goals

- Assist Scoring Leader - Albuquerque Outlaws (MUE) RW Soren Wanchuk - 69 Assists

- Plus-Minus Leader - Cape Elizabeth Schooners (STI) D Willem Bedard - +39

- GAA Leader - Grand Rapids Guppies (RAZ) G Aldon Bartol - 2.52 GAA

- S% Leader - Grand Rapids Guppies (RAZ) G Aldon Bartol - 0.918 S%

Regular Season MVP

The committee nominated four players for the farm MVP: RW Soren Wanchuk (Outlaws/Muertos), C Dru Pearkes (Phantoms/Voodoo), C Leo Panas (Rock/Dynasty), and C Teppana Ahrner (Schooners/Stingrays).

After winning Offensive Player of the Year and Assists Scoring Leader Awards, it should come as no surprise that Outlaw’s RW Soren Wanchuk also brings the MVP back to ABQ as well. Wanchuk’s S5 performance earned him a unanimous selection (11/11 first place votes) from the committee.

The 21 year old Canadian’s Statline: 80 GP - 42 G - 69 A - 111 Pts - +13 - 93 PIM - 30 PPP - 6 GWG - 16.09 S% - 12 Hits - 32 TA - 64 GA - 40 SB - 18.77 AM/G

Albuquerque Outlaws - 46 wins & 100 points - 6th in Farm, 3rd in Western Conference, 1st in Central Division

Here are some cases made for Soren’s MVP by committee members:

- “The Outlaws’ rookie from Canada led the Farm League in scoring (111 P - 21 P more than the second leading scorer), assists (69), and PPP (3), and was second in the league in goals (42). Wanchuk was the Farm’s best player in S5, is the second player to break 100 points in a season, and broke the single season scoring record (100 P) by 11 points. The Year 4 third rounder also led the Outlaws to a Central Divisional title and the highest scoring offense in the LTLHL (308 G).”

- “RW Soren Wanchuk - Outlaws: far and away the favourite. 2nd in goals (only trailed by 1 goal), 1st in assists, 1st in points by 21 over 2nd place. 30PP points led the entire league. 37 points more than the next player on the team.”

- “Soren Wanchuk - Muertos - hard to beat this guy. 2nd in scoring, 1st by a large margin in assists and points. Durable.”

Congratulations to Wanchuk and the Outlaws.

Bosse Cup MVP

The committee nominated four players for the Bosse Cup MVP: G Zander Klery (Wolfpack/Voltage), LW Mo Streit (Wolfpack/Voltage), RW Anton Lebed (Northmen/Harfang), and RW Noel Ottoson (Auroras/Orcas).

From the Bosse Cup & Western Conference Champion Nanaimo Wolfpack G Zander Klery is our Bosse Cup MVP.
Klery played 15 games (905 MIN) and went 11 W - 3 L - 1 OTL. The 23 year old Canadian finished the playoffs with a 2.59 GAA and 0.920 S%.

The Wolfpack goalie earned 7 first place votes from the committee.

Here are some cases made for Klersy’s MVP by committee members:

- “Zander Klersy - Led all qualified goalies in wins, GAA, Save %, and helped the Wolfpack to a championship.”

- “Zander Kiersy - Voltage Best record in the playoffs. Great GAA and Save PCT.”

- “G Zander Klersy - Wolfpack: among goalies with 10GP, he ranked 3rd in sv% with a .920, was first in wins with 11, finishing with a record of 11-3-1.”

- “Wolfpack goalie Zander Klery led all goalies in the Beacon Cup playoffs with 11 wins (starting 15). His .920 sv%, 2.57 gaa, and 905 minutes played were 3rd amongst goalies.”

Congratulations to Klersy and the Wolfpack.

Nissen Junior Hockey League - Season 5 Award Winners 

Regular Season MVP - Denny Brega  Michigan Menace Defense  

Offensive Player of The Year -  Denny Brega Michigan Menace Defense

                                                                     Forrest Burris Louisville Lions. Center 

Goal Scoring Leader - Arne Culliton  Lethbridge Howlers. Center 

                                                Maksim Zadoyanny. Delta Storm. Left Wing 

Assist Scoring Leader - Denny Brega, Michigan Menace. Defense 

Plus / Minus Leader - Svit Auber. Delta Storm. Defense 

Goal Against leader - Karel Sivak, Manitoba Spirit  Goalie

Save Percentage -  Karel Sivak , Manitoba Spirit. Goalie 

Had a few GMs reach out and ask for more predictions... so here we go!  Please keep in mind that these are just predictions, and not a personal insult or vendetta against a specific GM.

1. The Halifax Chaos make it the the conference finals.  Entering the season, the Chaos have the 3rd fewest playoff games played, and have only amassed one appearance in a 4-2 series loss.  GM Oliver has never been shy to make moves and shake things up, and that's exactly what he did this offseason.  With the additions of Fox OCallahan, Adrien Karygiannis, Willem Halward, and Olaf Breiger, those 4 guys and captain Nils Lehman might be the best C core of any pro team.  Though some players may not be as proven, the potential is there for this to be an extremely tough group to play against.  Adding minutes-eating defenceman Alexis Pitsadiotis on the back end, underrated defenceman Eli Pajaczkowski,  and having an entire season of Karim Hogdal in nets, with Rylee Hak ready to take over, this looks like a much improved team on paper.  Though it may take some time to figure out which players gel with who, we believe that once it's figured out, the Chaos are poised for a deep playoff run that would ultimately see them in the final 4.  With three 1st round picks in the upcoming draft, the Chaos could definitely be buyers come the deadline if things are headed in the right direction.

2. The player that finishes the season with the most points belongs to Voodoo C Sergey Krivulya.  Is this a bold prediction?  Maybe not a bold one... after all he did finish with 96 points last season.  But with the free agent signing of veteran winger Michal England, it gives him an opportunity with more offensively gifted players.  Right now, he's been anchored with Gerald Slobodian who is no bum by any means.  With three quality pro left wingers, it gives GM Phillips a chance to mix and match some lines and combinations.  If given the runway, I think England and Krivulya would be able to create offensive magic together, and would somehow prop Krivulya up another notch offensively, seeing him win the points race at seasons end.

3. Alright enough positivity, let's get to the good stuff.  The first team to finally succumb to life outside of the playoffs are the Massachusetts Militia.  With star goaltender Andrew Wiewel dealt in the offseason, the Militia open the season with Russian netminder Aleksey Popleteyev as the number 1 guy.  First off, he's projected to be a fantastic goalie, and we believe he has a strong future as a certified number 1 goalie.  Is he ready yet?  Guess we'll find out.  As previously mentioned, the Chaos may have the best C depth among pro teams, and now we get to what may be the worst.  Marty Ruttan as the number one guy?  A man who's reached 50 points once in his career?  Yeesh, not a great look for management that's supposedly in win-now mode.  O'Curry looks like he could be good, but reaching a career high 37 points last year, can he do that again?  Yes you read that correctly, 37 points as a career high for a guy who is going to be their 2C.  Presswood, Gronvall, and Milliner are a good group of wingers, but outside of that, it's all up in the air.  An aging d core, this could be the first domino to fall in terms of playoff staples the first few seasons finally running out of runway as they look at a roster turnover.

4. Going to try this again, as one of these years it should finally happen.  The Twisters will make the playoffs due to the division they are in, but you finally see them take a major step back in points and get another first round playoffs exit.  Another year of aging stars should hypothetically mean this team declines, but they've proven that chemistry is all that matters.  In a division with the Orcas, Stormbreakers (who have still never made the playoffs), and the Dynasty, finally made the dance last year, it's not exactly the strongest division when based on years prior.  This should give the Twisters an edge, but still some concerns over the roster.  Trading Rasmus Koso for only two 3rd round picks, a young and inexperienced d core,  Rutenka as the only centre that has put up 50 points, it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.  Adding Jordan Daley should be a huge add for them, and a full season of Kenneth Pehrson will help as well.  Though they have a chance at a division title, in the grand scope of things, they may be average when tested against the rest of the league.  Time will tell if the vets can hang on for another year.

5. We will see a new (but familiar) champion this year.  Season 6 sees the Edmonton Blizzard as the champions.  This has to be one of the most complete rosters in the league.  Scoring?  Defence?  Depth?  They have all of that.  Goaltending will be the question mark, but even if they get average goaltending, the team is good enough in front of them that it shouldn't really matter.  The team is really young and projects to be a force for years to come.  With plenty of picks and prospects in their possession, they are always in a position to add even more weapons if they deem in necessary come the deadline.