Awards Night 2023
Memorial Awards
Russ Osborne Award
The Russ Osborne Award is given to a Midget Rep player that is an outstanding personality both on and off the ice. This award is in the name of Russ Osborne who, at the time of his accident, was a Midget “B” player. Russ was playing in a game at the Spokane Coliseum when he was checked into one of the bench area glass supports, ending his hockey career. Russ himself established this award in 2005 with it being awarded for the first time at the end of the 2006-2007 season. He personally presents this award each season.
This year’s Russ Osborne Award recipient is Robby Berry, 16UAA (Thurston).
"Robby has a great personality both on and off the ice. His teammates seem to gravitate towards him and he always keeps the mood light and has us laughing."
Lois Ham Memorial Award
Given in memory of Mrs. Norris Ham, Lois, an enthusiastic youth hockey fan, and mother of outstanding goalie Frank Ham. This award is given to a goaltender 15 years of age or older, house or rep, who is not only an exceptional goalie, but also an individual who has shown leadership and dedication and has given something back to her association.
This year’s Lois Hamm Memorial Award recipient is Samantha Mayberry, 16UAA (Thurston).
"Sam is extremely dedicated, is very coachable, helps the younger goalies, and is a pleasure to be around. Sam has grown tremendously over the past few years as a goaltender. She has worked extremely hard to develop her skills by going to goalie clinic weekly, reviewing her film after every game, and jumping on the ice whenever she has been asked or needed."
Brad Porco Memorial Award
Given in memory of Brad Porco, whose untimely death was caused by an auto accident, while Brad and two of his brothers were en route to a hockey school in Canada. This award was originally established for a high school-aged player and is now presented to a Midget-aged player. Brad was a fine example of a Midget player who had the determination and desire to achieve and play at the highest level of hockey that he could, while still demonstrating integrity and sportsmanship for the game. Off the ice, Brad was always looking to give back to the program what it had given him. This award is presented to the house or rep Midget player who demonstrates these qualities.
This year’s Brad Porco Memorial Award recipient is Lance Buell, 16UAA (Thurston).
"Lance was voted as team captain by teammates this season and demonstrated incredible leadership skills throughout the year. Even through injury, this player continued to show up at practice and be a leader off the ice. He is a player that is driven to play at the next level and willing to do whatever it takes to not only develop his skill set to achieve that but also willing to do whatever is asked of him to help his team."
Matt Beamer Memorial Award
Given in memory of Matt Beamer, a young boy who was a Squirt-aged player at the time of his tragic passing. Matt was watching an exhibition WHL hockey game at Eagles Ice-A-Rena when a puck left the ice surface, striking Matt in the head. Matt loved the game of hockey and played it with a boy’s passion, displaying sportsmanship and the desire to have fun. This award is presented to a Squirt- aged player who exemplifies the character of Matt and how he played the game and is voted on by the coaches from the Squirt division.
This year’s Matt Beamer Memorial Award recipient is Cash Sanford, 10UA (Golembiewski).
"Cash is a determined young developing hockey player. His passion for hockey both on the off the ice is exceptional. His knowledge of the game, current NHL players, and desire to achieve his goals are amazing. During practices, he works hard and always seems to have a smile on his face. He works hard as a two-way player and helps out his fellow teammates. His desire to achieve his goals and have fun is unparalleled."
Geoff Leach Memorial Award
The Geoff Leach Memorial Award was established in February 2001. Geoff died of a rare infection. He was a young man who was loved by all who met him. He never had an unkind word to say and his faith gave him strength and his commitment made him a strong hockey player. He was always encouraging on the bench and was an inspiration to his team. This memorial is awarded to an outstanding Bantam house player who has shown academic achievement as an honor roll student. This player is an inspiration on the bench and in the locker room. This player is involved in activities away from the ice rink and school displaying a strong moral character and a quality of excellence in every aspect of his or her life.
This year’s Geoff Leach Memorial Award recipient is Luke Larson, 14U (Larson).
"Luke has been enrolled in honors classes since entering middle school in 6th grade and has a current GPA of 3.89. Luke is also enrolled in advanced art in addition to academic classes. In Art, he is working on painting a mural in his school that was commissioned by school administrations for advanced art students. Luke often goes above and beyond in small ways that are not always easily noticed both on and off the ice. He has a quiet but calming presence and is motivated to continue working on himself and helping others to further his team and peers around him. Geoff Leach was a teammate and friend of Luke's father, Jake Larson, when he passed away."
House division players of the year
8U Novice - Lincoln Truex
Honorable Mention 8U Novice:
- Logan Simms
- Gunner Greenwell
- Carson Groth
Lincoln is not only an exceptional hockey player but a great sport and an all-around nice kid! Congratulations Lincoln!
8U Intermediate - Judah Hansen
Honorable Mention - 8U Intermediate:
- Kason Abney
- Andersen Fernandez
- Niklaus Smith
From the locker room to the bench, Judah communicates with other players about the game and develops strategies. On the ice, he showed sportsmanship toward the other coaches, players, and teams. He is an all around hard-working player with a positive encouraging attitude. He was always willing to show up hours before his team’s practices to help coach new learn-to-play hockey members. nd for only 8 can’t stop talking about where he’s going to play in college or which team he will one day coach! Congratulations Judah!
8U Advanced - Evan Balfour
Honorable Mention - 8U Advanced:
- Drayson Hyatt
- Hunter Powell
- Peyton Finley
- Parker Nelson
Evan will be a name SAYHA will remember in the future. Has to be the more improved player not only in the 8U division but all of the House program. He is a pleasure to coach, listens intently, and executes to the best of his ability when trying something new. His compete level in practice meets or exceeds his compete level in games which is why he will continue a top player at SAYHA in years to come. Congratulations Evan!
10U - Connor Riddle
Honorable Mention - 10U House:
- Colben Domarus
- Thomas Grant
- Jack Griffith
- Will Guttormson
- Drayson Holloway
- Jackson Jones
- Carter Kidd
- Deklan Overhauser
- Carsten Peterman
- Rowdy Ramsey
- Liam Tainio
- Manny Vega
- Jacob Wentland-Kiner
Connor is a little spitfire of a player and always gets into the play no matter how much bigger the opposing player is compared to him. He has a small stature but a big heart and a real love for hockey. Connor works so hard for our team. He gives his 110% at every single game to defend our goal, penguin slides, and all. He is a key player on the team and encourages all his teammates. Congratulations Connor!
12U - Karson Wise
Honorable Mention - 12U House:
- Ryker Beck
- Jackson Larson
- Kaleb Riggs
- Jolson Rude
- Sam Vanderpool
Karson has stepped up to be the leader of our 12U house team and even in the toughest times he still comes away with a smile on his face. Carson leads by example with hard work and discipline. He has stepped up and played for multiple teams when needed and was always a leader on all of the teams he played with. Congratulations Karson!
14U - Adam Anselmo
Honorable Mention - 14U House:
- Cooper Abrams-Olmstead
- Mason Adams
- Kayden Hunter
- Cody Morrison
- Kaleb Riggs
- Grant Russell
- Malcolm Vanderpool
Adam has shown leadership over the season as the Captain of 14U Red. He has naturally taken the role. A few of his greatest strengths are being humble and having great sportsmanship on the ice. He is always respectful to coaches and referees. He knows when he has to rally the team yet isn’t afraid to have tough conversations. Adam is a born leader. He cares about his teammates and wants them to thrive in this sport. He checks in on players and is respectful toward leadership and parents. Adam has grown so much and has really put 100% into this sport and his team. Congratulations Adam!
16U - Preston Mortlock
18U - Aiden Matthews
Honorable Mention - 16U/18U House:
- Colin Buchanan
- Ben Eckley
- Brayden Krautkraemer
Preston has shown dedication to the game, and to his family and friends. He is responsible, respectful, and always has his head in the game. Congratulations Preston!
Aiden had a fantastic season and leads his team with much heart and hustle. Congratulations Aiden!
House division volunteers of the year
8U Novice - Jasmine Simms
Honorable Mention - 8U Novice:
- Don Wallace
- Bob Hartzog
- Lydia Duffy
- Eric Herrmann
Jasmine has been through a lot personally this season as well as serving as an Active Duty Air Force Officer with extremely challenging duties and yet, through all that, she has faithfully encouraged her son, Logan, to become a better athlete and student of the game through her devotion to the team. Congratulations Jasmine! Thank you for your service!
8U Intermediate - Tyler Hansen
Honorable Mention - 8U Intermediate:
- Jeremi Delcampo
- Ana Ehrler
- Ray Smith
- Beth Young
Tyler is always available to lend a hand. He is great with the kids and he's just such a nice guy! He volunteers for many events like Learn to Play and Academy in addition to the regular season and is positive with the kids Tyler is always willing to show up on the ice and try to help any way he can, encouraging players to work hard. Congratulations Tyler! Thank you for volunteering!
8U Advanced - Amy and Adrian Lawson
Honorable Mention - 8U Advanced:
- Katie Balfour
- Sena Herlevi
- Bob Nelson
- BreAna Powell
The Lawsons are always willing to help in any way possible. Anywhere from moving boards, keeping score, running time clock, crafting for team projects, helping find sponsorship opportunities, and even offering their home for team gathering! They're always thinking of others and offering ways to help alleviate stress or burdens for many families! Thank you, Lawsons! We appreciate you!
10U - Andrew Vega
Honorable Mention - 10U House:
- Matt Cheney
- Eric and Kelly Eikrem
- Rob Grant
- Cari Guttormson
- Kindra Hankins
- Tyson Hupp
- Jack Lebeau
- Jason Mayberry
- Corey Murphy
- Kris Overhauser
- Jarrod Ramsey
Andrew started to volunteer with the team this year getting on the ice with the kids. He is kind and encouraging to the kids and gives the kids great advice. They look up to his skill and try to keep up with his skating ability. He shows up to all the practices and games and gives his all to the kids. He is always helping out on the bench, during practice, and in the locker room. He is always giving the kids encouragement and making sure if one of them is having a tough time to have a chat with them and make sure they are ok. Congratulations Andrew! Thank you for volunteering your time and talent!
12U - Matt Rude
Honorable Mention - 12U House:
- Lori Bowen
- Kayley Harris
- Melissa Higel
- Kim Riggs
- Cassie Wise
- Heather Vanderpool
Matt is a volunteer assistant coach, he works out of town all week, then comes home on the weekend and spends hours at the rink or traveling with these kiddos! Congratulations Matt! Thank you for volunteering!
14U - Kyra Larson
Honorable Mention - 14U House:
- Mark Abrams
- Jen Larsen
- Shawn Wentworth
Kyra is always available to help with the clock, and scorekeeper and she is a constant supporter of our players. She is very caring and is there for the kids. Kyra has gone above and beyond for all our kids and parents. She gets information to everyone right away and encourages parents to get involved in any way they can. Congratulations Kyra! Thank you for all you do!
18U - Amanda Krautkraemer
Honorable Mention:
- Caleb Mortlock
Thank you, Amanda, for your many years of service! You give your all every season and we appreciate you! Congratulations!
House Division Team Manager of the Year
The nominees are:
- Lori Bowen (12U)
- Elisha Caskey (8U Advanced)
- Shelby FitzGerald (8U Advanced)
- Carie Guttormson (10U)
- Kyra Larson and Chentel Morrison (14U)
The House Division Team Manager of the Year Award goes to Lori Bowen.
Lori has been an amazing team manager. Not only is she on top of literally everything, but she is also organized, thoughtful, and puts the kids first. She has gone above and beyond for her team, creating experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. She handles difficult situations with grace and professionalism. Lori is amazing at keeping her team and parents together and always moving forward. She is what this organization is all about. Congratulations Lori!
Gil Rapp House Coach of the Year
The nominees are:
- Chris Foster (8U Advanced)
- Bob Hartzog (8U Novice and 8U Advanced)
- Brendan Kidd (10U)
- Nick "Marv" Othmer (12U)
- Rob Wallen (10U)
The Gil Rapp House Coach of the Year Award goes to Nick "Marv" Othmer.
Nick is amazing and goes above and beyond and is a great example of an exceptional coach. Nick shares his love of hockey and even when things are rough he keeps the kids' spirits up. Coach Nick is dedicated to the growth and development of his players. He doesn't have his own player to coach but has stepped in to volunteer his time to coach not just one but multiple house/select hockey teams. Nick cares about his player's character and skill development and always has their best interests at heart. He creates a perfect blend of encouragement and challenge. His quiet manner generates enormous trust from the players. While he had assistant coaches when they were available, it was Coach Nick that was there for every practice and game for his team. Thank you, Nick, for your time and talent! Congratulations!
Rep/Select Division Players of the Year
10U - Vinny Ligouri
Honorable Mention - 10U Rep/Select:
- Jaxon Anderson
- Ole Anderson
- Colben Domarus
- Myles Farnworth
- Aiden Fernandez
- Deklan Overhauser
- Rowdy Ramsey
- Aedan Shinn
Vinny is hard-working, competitive, and resilient, but most importantly, he’s a great teammate. He’s a natural leader, inclusive and respectful. Vinny is a great athlete and an even better human being. He’s such a hard worker and great kid. He leads by example and is so good to all of his teammates. Congratulations Vinny!
12U - Ollie Diaz
Honorable Mention - 12U Rep/Select:
- Tyler Adams
- Brody Foster
- Landon McFetridge
- Tristan Payette
- Zane Snelson
- Brit Thorne
Ollie is extremely skilled and grew throughout the year to also be a tremendous team player! Congratulations Ollie!
14U - Rajan Matharu
Honorable Mention - 14U Rep/Select:
- Louie Bryant
- Raegan Mayberry
- Griffon Noyes
- Nick Overturf
- Brayden Smith
- Mitchell Wells
Rajan is a true Captain. Rajan stepped up and had an incredible year for the 14UAA team while commuting from Tri-cities. He brings his team together, always stays positive, is SO polite, and tries to lead his team by example. He’s a great student, a great kid, and a fantastic hockey player. We’re lucky to call him a Jr. Chief. Congratulations Rajan!
16U - Ben Humphreys
Honorable Mention - 16U/18U Rep/Select:
- Robby Berry
- Lance Buell
- Matthew Cordis
- Samantha Mayberry
- Cameron Oien
- Grayson Picicci
Ben has had an outstanding year on the ice, demonstrating exceptional skill and heart in every game. He has consistently been among the top players in goals, assists, and points throughout the years. Ben has a relentless work ethic and dedication to improving his game on and off the ice. He is a team player who inspires his teammates to perform at their best, setting an example through his hard work and determination. Ben's character makes him an outstanding candidate for this award. Congratulations Ben!
Rep/Select Division Volunteers of the Year
10U - Brian and Debbie Anderson
Honorable Mention:
- Rachel Anderson
- Matt Cheney
- Josh Dehler
- Charity Farnworth
- Julia Milla
- Chad Moss
- Kris Overhauser
Brian and Debbie are always there when needed, always willing to step up with clock, boards, penalty box, or any support the team needs! They are awesome volunteers for our organization! Congratulations Andersons! We appreciate you!
12U - Keri Copley
Honorable Mention:
- Kathy Bevan
- Jim Kaczmark
- Matt Rude
- Tim Snelson
- Heather Vanderpool
- Eric Wieber
Keri is our go-to volunteer, spending endless hours doing scorekeeping, clock, and locker room monitoring! She is the first one to respond to emails, and is always willing to lend a hand! She is always offering to do fun things for the kids (and the parents). She is a gem and a true asset to our organization! We don't care what her brother says - people really DO love Keri! Congratulations!
14U - Brandon and Amy Knowles
Honorable Mention:
- Mark Fassbender
- Larry Helton
- Kyra Larson
- Jason Mayberry
- Pat and Jessica Westbrook
Brandon and Amy are always willing to volunteer for ANYTHING. Brandon took stats for every single game, sharpened kids' skates, drove kids to many practices and games, and was locker room monitor many many times throughout the season for the team. Brandon is always promoting positivity with the kids and parents. Amy has done anything and everything to ensure that our 14UAA team has everything they need to be successful. She is an awesome team manager and I'm excited that they both get to attend Nationals this year! Congratulations Brandon and Amy!
16U - Kirsten Berry
Honorable Mention:
- Chris Florko
- Jerry Kiltz
- Terry Picicci
As a parent and volunteer for the 16U team, Kirsten was onsite in an official capacity at every home game and some away games. Kirsten is always there to lend a helping hand with a smile on her face. Overall, Kirsten's dedication, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to our hockey program make her an outstanding candidate for this award. Congratulations Kirsten!
18U - Gabi Eckley
Gabi has the best laugh and personality and when you're around her, she just makes everything more fun (including 18U Select hockey)! Thank you, Gabi, for your many years of service to our organization!
Rep/Select Division Team Manager of the Year
The nominees are:
- Nicole Adams, 12UA
- Kat Cordis, 16UAA
- Magan Ham, 10UB
- Amy Knowles, 14UAA
- Lindsay Payette, 12UB
The Rep Division Team Manager of the Year Award goes to Nicole Adams.
Everyone who volunteers to be a team manager is amazing and worthy of an award. Nicole Adams has been serving SAYHA with her heart and soul for several years. She gives her all to her team, parents, managers, and coaches. SAYHA would not be where it is today without Nicole! She has guided all the managers and stepped up to fill roles on the board AND manage her team. Any manager could call Nicole for help and she made herself available and helped find solutions. Her wealth of knowledge is immeasurable. Nicole's exceptional communication, organizational skills, and team-building events helped the team unite and build friendships! She has a passion for all our Jr. Chiefs and always wants the best for them. Nicole dedicates countless hours to our players and she wears multiple hats in the association, always going above and beyond to try and make sure the players have the best possible experience at the hockey rink. Congratulations Nicole!
Rep Division Coach of the Year
The nominees are:
- Tyler Ham, 10UB
- Brendan Kidd, 10U Select
- Cody Ogrin - 14UB
- Matt Thurston, 14UAA and 16UAA
- Chris Wagner - 12UA
The Rep Division Coach of the Year Award goes to Matt Thurston.
Matt puts in countless hours on and off the ice to improve ALL of the players at SAYHA, not just the players on his teams. He is truly interested in the long-term development of the association. This season, Matt coached two teams, was Rep Division Director, and showed up for all his players and families to the very best of his abilities. He is a role model for our kids. The dedication he gives is absolutely amazing! Coach Matt has many hats to wear and he does all of them 100%. He shows each time he is on the ice how much he loves his job and the kids he coaches. This season, the teams that Matt has coached have collected 2 West Kootenay, 1 OMAHA, and 1 PNAHA State banner with back-to-back wins to take another team to Nationals! Matt has done an incredible job of coaching, as well as performing all of the other duties to ensure SAYHA hockey programs are running smoothly. Thank you, Matt, for your dedication and service to Spokane Youth Hockey! Now go win at Nationals!
Teams of the Year
House Division Team of the Year
The nominees are:
- 8U Advanced - Hartzog
- 10U - Kidd
- 10U - Wallen
- 12U - Othmer
- 14U - Larson
The House Division Team of the Year is 10U Wallen.
These kids came together as a team and worked hard to improve together even through a tough season. They leaned on each other and supported each other with kindness and a positive attitude. This team works hard, has a great team dynamic, and makes the best out of any situation! They really connected and melded as a team and have grown so much this year. This group of players has been all heart! They are a young team with a few first-time kids/ parents, and the improvement we have seen at every game has been amazing. The kids never lost their drive and played each game like the champions they are. Congratulations 10U Wallen - House Division Team of the Year!
Rep/Select Division Team of the Year
The nominees are:
- 10UB - Ham
- 12UB - Green
- 14UAA - Thurston
- 14UB - Ogrin
- 16UAA - Thurston
The Rep Division Team of the Year is 14UAA - Thurston.
This team has come a long way from the beginning of the season with a great group of kids and great coaching. This season has been exciting to watch! Back-to-back state champions is difficult to do. Not many teams can have this type of success at the 14U Tier II level. The team has worked together in all aspects - from coaching, to playing, to cheering and providing opportunities, and their success shows. They have improved their skill and really bonded together. There is great camaraderie amongst the players and families, and have dominated (even while suffering through many injuries). They have worked so hard and come so far! Thank you for representing the Spokane Jr. Chiefs at Nationals! Bring back the banner!