CHAMPS OF THE CHAMPS
Team Awards Dinner Caps a Winning Night
May 7, 2011- Following their 3rd championship title, the Anaheim Ice Kings finished championship night with the 8th annual Team Awards Dinner. Every year, the players from the Kings look back at the season that was, and honor the individuals that stood out in the year. This year's dinner was held at their home rink, Anaheim Ice.
Although this year’s dinner wasn't highlighted by Dave Young's order of Calzone, there was plenty of good food and drinks at the year end team Dinner. This year’s event had a feel good environment, as the Kings just came off their third championship title just minutes before the start of the dinner.
To start the dinner was the awarding of the most goals trophy to Kevin Costello, who's 15 goals in 10 games finished a dominating goal production season from the big center. Also picking up hardware was Frankie Negrette, for
COURAGE STRENGTH HONOR AWARD
It could be challenging at times to make it to every game. It’s even more difficult, to compete in those games that you show up to. As the season grinds on, and he years pass by, the body begins to break down, and a hockey player has to battle injuries, fatigue, and breakdowns. Courage—To battle out every shift like it’s the first and the last shift; Strength- Showing up for his team no matter what his body and mind may say; Honor- Proud to put the crown on his chest and battles for his teammates. The Courage, Strength and Honor Award recipient qualifies for everything that was just described. Although he has battled through some resent injury, he was able to play in 20 of the 22 regular season games. And every year, we see the same effort out of this player. On top of it, he consistently puts up numbers, year after year. Not bad, for a 41 year old. Winning his second Courage Strength and Honor Award, #29 Dave Young.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
This year, the Kings experimented with 8 different defenseman. Not only is defense challenging physically, but you have to mentally be in the game at all times; There is no one behind you, other than the goalie to save you. And if that happens, everyone will notice. The defenseman of the year rarely has these types of mental lapses. He does what it takes to either neutralize, or makes the angle of the opposing player as difficult as possible to get a quality shot on net. Sometimes, he will face a quicker and skillful opponent, in which he’s able to play the angle and shut them down. On top of his defensive play, it’s always nice to get some points as well. His 4 goals and 5 assists is third best in his 13 years as a King, not including the ones that he put behind Lennie. Congrats to the defenseman of the Year, Tracy Lytle.
2011 CAPTAINS AWARD
This award is given by the captains of the Kings to honor one individual that stands out above the rest. This player has been quoted to be “always willing to battle for his teammates and his team.” He shows up with a positive attitude, every game, every shift. He never forgets to bring his game, and he does it with character. Character. When he first joined the Kings, he was a pretty quiet player. But as the seasons have gone on, he’s become pretty comfortable with his teammates. Some say, a little too comfortable, as we have learned. Sorry, for those who don’t know, what happens in Vegas, ya know… He is one of the characters that make it fun to be around in the locker-room and on the ice. The Captains Award goes to Marvin Lee.
PLAYOFF MVP
During the 2011 playoff run, this player brought his game. Leading his team and the league with 9 goals and team leading 13 points in only 4 games played, he help his team win their 3rd championship title with big time goals in key situations of the game. Of those 9 goals, 2 of them were where resulted from his speed-- and means of the short handed goal. The playoff MVP is #67 Mike Goodey
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
This Years Most Valuable Player has made great strides as a King. We have always known that this player has had the talent to be the greatest on the ice; However it is what he makes his teammates that are most important. It is a team sport, and you are only as good as your teammates, and without get your teammates involved makes you an average player, no matter how much talent you have. This player came in with plenty of talent, but over the past few seasons, has been getting his teammates involved more and more. And his teammates have noticed, and this Kings team has benefited from it. On top of it, we gave him a task of moving in an unfamiliar position on the blueline a couple of seasons ago, because of his hockey smarts and speed. This helped engage everyone on the team, from the front end to the back. The result, he led his team in not goals, but assists with 31. That’s 12 more than any player on the team. He also had 12 more points with a team leading 45 points, and was second in goals, just 1 behind Costello. He also was second in the league in points. Your 2011 MVP is Frankie Negrette.
