OHSWEKEN—Heading into 2020, there is plenty of excitement and high expectations for the Six Nations Arrows.
Following what was their second straight first round playoff exit against the St. Catharines Athletics, the Arrows organization took the first step in rebounding by holding on Thursday, January 2nd Day 1 of training camp at the ILA followed by the Six Nations Arrows Awards Banquet.
“It’s championship or bust. Our ultimate goal every year is to win the Minto Cup,” Arrows General Manager Jake Henhawk said.
Prior to announcing the team award winners, Henhawk gave special praise to graduating players, which included close to 10 from the 1998 birth year. “Not every year do you get a group like that out of Midget who can produce rings,” Henhawk said. That ’98 group won so many Founders and Mintos.”
Among the prominent names of hometown talented players who dominated this past summer include Arrows leading scorer Travis Longboat who scored 22 goals and 57 points in winning the MINA Martin Memorial Award for team’s Most Valuable Player. Also being recognized at the Arrows banquet was Owen Hill who followed up winning team rookie of the year from a year ago to taking home the Junker Jonathan Memorial Award for Transition Player of The Year.
“A lot of guys could have won this. It was an honour,” Hill said. In terms of highlights from last year’s season Hill was all smiles as he stated, “All of it.” Touching upon the Awards Banquet highlights Hill responded, “It’s awesome seeing what the guys are up to and catching up.”
Hill, who in his second full season scored nine goals and 22 points had a simple explanation when asked about the firs-t round playoff loss against St. Catharines.
“They just outplayed us,” he said.
Meanwhile winning the Arrows Edward and Hazel Whitlow Memorial Award for Defensive Player of the Year was graduating player Liam Leclair who finished his three- year Arrows career by scoring four goals and 12 points in 20 regular season games.
In terms of highlights during his time with Six Nations, LeClair didn’t hesitate before stating, “It’s gotta be winning Minto in 2017. We had a great team. The most dominant team in junior.” This defenceman couldn’t say enough about how much it meant to play and represent the Arrow organization. “There is so much history behind the logo. To play here was a big honor. I always worked as hard as I could. Working to be a good team player doing what I could to help the team.”
The following are the Six Nations Arrows Award winners for the 2019 season.
- HAZEL GARLOW MEMORIAL AWARD—MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER
Chase Scanlan
- CLIFFORD WHITLOW MEMORIAL “REDEDICATED IN 2008” ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Clay Scanlan
- JUNKER JONATHAN MEMORIAL AWARD—TRANSITION PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Owen Hill
- MINTA MARTIN MEMORIAL AWARD—MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Travis Longboat
- IRVIN “HOOK” MARACLE AWARD—MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
James Gowland
- EDWARD AND HAZEL WHITLOW MEMORIAL AWARD—DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THEY YEAR
Liam Leclair
- PUNCH GARLOW AWARD—MOST DEDICATED PLAYER
Jamie Dilks
- ARROWS TROPHY-HIGH SCORER
Travis Longboat 19 Games 57 PTS.
- LEROY JAMIESON MEMORIAL—MOST DEDICATED GRADUATING PLAYER
Co-Winners—Travis Longboat and Jerry Staats
- HEART OF A CHAMPION AWARD-KEEGAN HILL MEMORIAL AWARD
Ron John
