3-on-3 Tournament Awards time!
The Ulf Dahlen Boardmaster Plaque
Winner: Garret Pilon - relentless, quick and precise with his stick, and stronger than his size would indicate
Other notables: Beck Malensyn, Brett Leason, Connor McMichael
The Rico Fata Best Skating Performance
Winner: Axel Jonsson-Fjallby - his skating really is special. Younger Hagelin-esque.
Other notables: Shane Gersich, Martin Fehervary, Martin Has
The Sasha Semin Golden Hands Award
Winner: Connor McMichael - the quick dangles in tight spaces are legit. This guy is going to make his living off the cycle.
Other finalists: Shane Gersich, Joe Snively, Garret Pilon
The Ivan Majesky "Holy Shot That Dude is a Monster" Medal
Winner: Tobias Geisser - Looked every bit as big as Protas, and is still lean. He's gonna be huge when he fills out.
Other finalists: Alex Alexeyev, Brett Leason, Aliaksei Protas
The Alex Oveckin Take Your Lunch Money Scholarship
Winner: Beck Malenstyn - I wish I'd been more attentive to who the victim was, but was too excited. Loose puck at center ice. Beck and victim #1 arrive at the same time, in full stride. Beck puts the guy on his ass, drives the middle and picks the corner of the goal. Highlight of the session for me.
The Bryan Muir Self-Forechecker of the Year
Winner: Aliaksei Protas - Poor guy. Skated himself into the corner on his own goal line against one forechecker. Just didn't have the quickness to shake him. He has an incredibly inefficient stride and was the only player I saw really sucking wind after a shift. Potentially fixable due to the poor fitness and mechanics.